He was born in 1828/29 (6 (32 in 1861), 7 (32 in 1861), 9 [55 in 1885], 15 [55 in 1885], 16 [40 in 1870]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16).
When he enlisted, he was a tailor (6, 7).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (6, 7).
He also served as a private in company E of the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry (8, 9, 10, 11, 15). He enlisted in April 1861, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (15). He was discharged on 3 July 1861, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (15). He served for three months (8, 15).
He enlisted and was mustered into service in the 91st Pennsylvania on 21 December 1861 (1, 6, 7, 15). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Casner (6, 7, 15). He was mustered in as a private in company K, perhaps by L T Mattack (1, 6, 7 [Lt D H Lentz], 18).
He was severely wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, and was sent to the hospital at Portsmouth Grove, Rhode Island (1, 2, 13 [missing], 14 [missing], 15). He suffered a gunshot wound of his left side (15). He was reported missing in action on 7 May 1863 (3). On 19 May 1963, he was reported gained from missing in action (4).
He returned to the regiment on 23 April 1864, but was in poor enough condition that he had to be under the surgeon's care (2, 5). He was detailed to assist in the division hospital on 8 May 1864, and remained there until the wounded had been removed (2).
He was returned to the Portsmouth Grove hospital, and on 28 June 1864, the regiment had not heard from him (2). He had apparently been charged with desertion then, and his wife had requested that the charge be removed (2). Gregory supported her request (2).
He was discharged on 6 January 1865 by general order (1), or on 21 December 1864 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when his term expired (12, 15 [Jan 1865]). He had served for twenty-seven months (9). He was a private, in company K (18). The regiment was not notified until 20 April 1864 (12).
On 10 April 1867, he applied successfully for a pension (10, 11).
In 1870, he was living in the West Ward of Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania (16). He was living with his wife Hannah, and his daughters Mary Ida and Effie (16). He was a tailor, and owned $100 in personal property (16).
In 1880, he was living on Grande Street, in the West Ward of Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with his wife Hannah L, and daughters Mary and Effie (17). He was a tailor (17).
On 23 May 1885, he was admitted from Pennsylvania to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Central Branch, in Dayton, Ohio (9, 15). He had a wound in his side, and was receiving a pension of $4 per month (9). He had gray eyes, and gray hair (15). He was a tailor (15). He had been living in Lewiston, Pennsylvania (15). He was married, to Hannah L Cooper, who was living at Lewiston, Pennsylvania (15). He was receiving a pension of $4.00 per month (15).
In 1885, he was living at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Central Branch (8). He was admitted on 23 May 1885 (8). He was 55 years old (8). He had a wound in his right or left side (8). He received a pension of $4 per month (8).
On 7 September 1886, he was discharged from the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (15).
On 14 April 1896, his widow, Hannah L Cooper, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (10, 11).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 letter, Gregory to Breck, 28 June 1864
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Wm R Cooper)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 19 May 1863 (W R Cooper)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 23 April 1864 (Cooper)
6 company K, descriptive roll (Wm R Cooper)
7 company K, third descriptive roll (William R Cooper)
8 National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Report of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the said board for the year ending June 30, 1885. January 7, 1886. Serial Set volume 2415, session volume 10, 49th Congress, 1st Session, House Miscellaneous Document 38, page 173 (William R Cooper)
9 Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the Board for the year ending June 30, 1887. Serial Set volume 2565, session volume 1, 50th Congress, 1st Session, House Miscellaneous Document 86, page 221 (William A [sic] Cooper)
10 pension index, by name (William R Cooper)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (William R Cooper)
12 company K, monthly report, April 1865 (Wm R Cooper)
13 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Wm R Cooper)
14 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (William R Cooper)
15 US National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938, Dayton, Registers, C, transcribed from Ancestry, 25 January 2011 (William R Cooper)
16 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Mifflin County, Lewistown, West Ward, microfilm series M593, film 1375, page 368 = 20 [17?] handwritten (William R Cooper)
17 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Mifflin County, Lewistown, West Ward, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 175, microfilm series T9, film 1156, page 132 = 13 A handwritten (W R Cooper)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William R Cooper)
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Dwelling-house number | 148 | |||
| Family number | 165 | |||
| Name | Cooper William R | " Hannah | " Mary Ida | " Effie |
| Age | 40 | 35 | 4 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Taylor [sic] | Keeping home | At home | At home |
| Real estate value | ||||
| Personal estate value | 100 | |||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Pennsylvania] | " | " | " |
| Father foreign born | ||||
| Mother foreign born | ||||
| Birth month if born within year | ||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||
| Attended school past year | ||||
| Can't read | ||||
| Can't write | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| street name | Grande Street | |||
| house number | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 140 | |||
| family visit # | 155 | |||
| name | Cooper W. R. | - Hannah L. | - Mary | - Effie |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| age | 48 | 45 | 14 | 12 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | wife | dau | dau | |
| single | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | Tailor | Keeping house | ||
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | ||||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | ||||
| birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| father's birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Md | Pa | Pa |
| Time and Place of Each Enlistment. | April 1861 Harrisburgh Pa | Dec 1861 Phila Pa |
| Rank. | Pri | Pri |
| Company and Regiment. | 25 Pa. Logan Guard | K 91 Pa Inf |
| Time and Place of Discharge. | 3 July 1861 Harrisburgh Pa | Jan 1865 Phila Pa |
| Cause of Discharge. | Ex of term 3 Mos. | Ex of term |
| Disabilities when Admitted to the Home. | GSW l side May 3 /63 Chancellorsville Va | |
| Where Born. | Pa Phila |
| Age. | 55 |
| Height. | 5 8-1/2 |
| Complexion. | [illegible] |
| Color of Eyes. | gray |
| Color of Hair. | gray |
| Occupation. | Tailor |
| Residence Subsequent to Discharge. | Lewiston Pa |
| Married or Single. | Married |
| Name and Address of Nearest Relative. | Wife Hannah L Lewiston Pa |
| Rate of Pension. | Date of Admission Re-Admission and Transfer. | Condition of Re-admission. | Date of Discharge and Transfer. | Cause of Discharge. | Date of Death. | Cause of Death. |
| $4 00 #90.771 | May 23 1885 | Sept 7. 86 | Dpd GO 26 |
| PAPERS. | |
| Annual Ex. | |
| Admission Paper | 1 |
| Army Discharge | |
| Certificate of Service | |
| Pension Certificate | 1 |
| EFFECTS | |
| Cash | |
| Pension Money | |
| Personal | |
| Total | |