The pension index by regiment cards have him enlisting under the alias 'Josiah Fether'; I assume that this relates to his enlistment in the 84th Pennsylvania (7).
He was born on 13 August 1824 (6; 3 (40 in 1864), 4 [33 in 1860]). He was born to Philip Feather and Mary Ann Mock (6). He was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania (3, 4).
In 1860, he was living in Union Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (4). He was living with Mary Ann Feathers (presumably his wife), and Rachel Claar (4). He was a farm laborer, and owned $100 in personal property (4).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (3).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, hazel eyes, and sandy hair (3).
He also served in company A of the 84th Pennsylvania Infantry (5, 7, 8). He mustered in on 6 September 1861 (8). He probably served for 2 years and 4 months (8).
He was drafted (1, 3). He was mustered into service in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry on 3 June 1864 (1). He enlisted for one year (3). His service was credited to the 16th Congressional District (3). He served as a private in company G (1, 9, 10, 11, 12).
He deserted on 4 July 1864, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (3).
He was arrested on 20 September 1864, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania (3). The person who arrested him received $15 for expenses (3).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1). He was a private, in company G (10, 11, 12).
On 8 November 1880, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (5, 7).
In 1890, he was living in Tyrone, Blair County, Pennsylvania (post office Birmingham, Huntingdon County) (8).
He died on 16 December 1905 (6). He was buried in Claar Cemetery, in Kimmel Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (2, 9).
On 17 February 1906, his widow, Mary Feather, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (5, 7).
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) (Josiah Feathers)
2 message in PABEFOR-L mailing list, 5 November 2002, from David and Carol Eddleman, transcribing lists of buried soldiers from the Bedford Inquirer, 22 May 1908 (Josiah Feathers)
3 company G, second descriptive roll, [#49] (Josiah Feather [?])
4 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Union Township, microfilm series M653, film 1072, page 638 = 20 handwritten (Josiah Feather)
5 pension index by name (Josiah Feather alias Josiah Fether)
6 'Richey/Diehl family ancestry', a gedcom, on Rootsweb WorldConnect (viewed June 2007, last revised 6 March 2005, contact Vic Ritchey) (Josiah Feathers)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (and second card) (Josiah Feathers alias Josiah Fether)
8 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Tyrone, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 44 (Josiah Feathers)
9 Page 188. Floyd G Hoenstine. Military services and genealogical records of soldiers of Blair County, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Telegraph Press, 1940. (Josiah Feathers)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Josiah Feather)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Josiah Feathers)
12 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Josiah Fether)
| line | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Dwelling number | 908 | ||
| Family number | 865 | ||
| Name | Josiah Feather | Mary Ann " | Rachel Claar |
| Age | 33 | 25 | 12 |
| Sex | m | f | f |
| Color | |||
| Occupation | " " [sc. Farm Lab] | ||
| Value of real estate owned | |||
| Value of personal estate | 100 | ||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | " | " |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||
| Cannot read & write | 1 | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |