He was born on 9 June 1842 (12, 17, 19; 6 [22 in 1864], 9 [20 in 1861], 10 [27 in 1870], 11 [38 in 1880], 12 [57 in 1900], 13 [68 in 1910]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16).
When he enlisted, he was a carpenter, and was living in Altoona (6, 7).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair (6, 7).
He also served in company H of the 3rd Pennsylvania Infantry (8, 9, 15, 17, 19). He served from 21 April 1861 until 21 July 1861 (9, 17 [Aug 1861]). He served as a private (19).
He enlisted on 9 August 1861 at Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania (1, 7, 17). He was mustered in as a sergeant in company M of the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry, on 1 September 1861, at Washington, DC (7, 8, 17, 19).
He was promoted to first sergeant (17).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 15 February 1864, at Rappahannock, Virginia (1, 6 [13th], 7 [15 Feb], 15 [13 Feb], 17 [mustered out 13 Feb]). He was enlisted for three years, at Licken Run, Virginia, by Lieutenant Adams (6). He was mustered in by Captain Gentry (6).
He was transferred from company L of the 62nd Pennsylvania to the 91st PA on 20 July 1864 (1, 17). On 21 July 1864, he, and the other members of companies L and M, were assigned to company G (2). On 22 July 1864, they were transferred to company K, following brigade orders to assign them to the smallest company (3). He was then on duty at Brigade Head Quarters (3). He was in company K (1, 19, 20 (1st sgt)).
He was promoted to first sergeant (7, 17).
On 30 July 1864, he was placed in charge of a detail ordered to report to the 5th Corps Hospital at City Point, which was ordered to report to Brigade headquarters on 1 August 1864 (4, 5 [1 Aug]). He was then a first sergeant (5). He was still there in September (?) 1864 (5).
He was discharged at Washington DC, on 20 September 1864, as a first sergeant (1, 7, 17 [28 Sep 1864]).
He also served as 2nd lieutenant in company H of the 215th Pennsylvania Infantry (8, 9, 15, 17, 19). He was mustered in on 21 April 1865 (9, 17).
He was mustered out on 28 September 1865 (15, 17 [17 Aug 1865]). He was first sergeant of company K (20).
In 1866/68, he married Kate [unknown family name] (12, 13). In 1900, she reported having had three children, three of whom were alive (12). In 1910, she reported having had three children, two of whom were alive (13).
In 1870, he was living in Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (10). He was living with his wife Kate, with various Renner's (probably his wife's family), and with a servant (10). He was a clerk at a railroad office (10). His wife owned real estate worth $6,000 (10).
On 3 June 1871, he was Captain of the Keystone Zouaves (17).
On 27 November 1872, he was Major and Aide de Campe of the 16th division, National Guard of Pennsylvania (17).
On 11 July 1873, he was Major and Judge Advocate (17).
On 14 August 1874, he was Major and Division Quartermaster of the 5th division, National Guard of Pennsylvania (17).
In July 1877, he resigned (17).
He became a prviate in company D of the 5th Regiment of Infantry [in the Pennsylvania National Guard] (17).
On 15 August 1879 he was promoted to First Sergeant (17).
In 1880, he was living in 1113 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (11, 17). He was living with his wife Kate, with their children William, Mary, and Walter, and with various Renner's, along with a servant (11). He was a railroad clerk (11).
On 23 March 1880, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania National Guard (17).
On 12 March 1888, he successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (8, 15).
In 1890, he was living in Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (9).
In 1900, he was living at 1113 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (12). He was living with his wife Kate, their son Walter, and a servant (12). He was a clerk (12).
On 15 [?] February 1907, he again applied for a pension (15).
In 1910, he was living at 1113 8th Avenue, Altoony, Blair County, Pennsylvania (13). He was living with his wife Kate, his sisterin law Anna Renner, a nephew, and a servant (13). He was a clerk at a railroad office (13).
He died on 22 February 1919, at Altoona, Pennsylvania (15, 17, 19). He was buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (17, 19).
On 1 March 1919, his widow, Kate E Garden, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (8, 15).
In 1920, his widow, Kate Garden, was living at 1113 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (14). She was living with her sister Anna Renner, and a servant (14).
Katharine E Garden (wife of J R Garden) died on 8 [?] December 1920 (18). She was buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania (18).
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 special order 65, HQ 91st PA, 21 July 1864 (John R Garden)
3 special order 66, HQ 91st PA, 22 July 1864 (John R Garden)
4 special order 186, HQ 5th Army Corps, 30 July 1864
5 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (John R Garden [?])
6 company K, third descriptive roll (John R Garden)
7 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 18 May 2005 (John R Garden [2 cards])
8 pension index, by name (John R Garden)
9 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Altoona, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 27, page 2 (John R Garden)
10 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Altoona, ward 2, microfilm series M593, film 1309, page 58 = 17 handwritten (John R Garden)
11 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Blair, Altoona, ward 2, supervisor's district 8, enumeration district 153, microfilm series T9, film 1102, page 34 = 12 D handwritten (John R Garden)
12 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Altoona, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 40, microfilm series T623, film 1380, page 60 = 2 A-B handwritten (John R Garden)
13 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Altoona, ward 2, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 36, microfilm series T624, film 1316, page 51 = 5 A handwritten (John R Garden)
14 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Altoona, ward 2, supervisor's district 20, enumeration district 43, microfilm series T625, film 1538, page 68 = 8 A handwritten (Kate Garden)
15 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (John R Garden)
16 Report of the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, for the year 1880. Head-quarters National Guard of Pennsylvania, Adjutant General's Department, Harrisburg, November 30, 1880. Executive Document, No.3. page 136 (John R Garden)
17 Find-A-Grave, memorial #20729325 (accessed 30 Dec 2009) (John R Garden)
18 Find-A-Grave, memorial #20729327 (accessed 30 Dec 2009) (Katherine E Garden)
19 Page 194. Floyd G Hoenstine. Military services and genealogical records of soldiers of Blair County, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Telegraph Press, 1940. (John R Garden)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John R Garden)
| RANK, NAME, RESIDENCE, RANK FROM. | Original Entry into Service. Subsequent Service and Commission. | Service of other States, and of the United States. | Born. | Received Military or Medical Instruction. |
| Second Lieutenant. John R. Garden, Altoona, March 23, 1880. |
Captain, Keystone Zouaves, June 3, 1871; maj. and A.D.C., 16th div., N.G.P., Nov. 27, 1872; maj. and judge adv., July 11, 1873; maj. and div. quar. mas., 5th div. N.G.P., Aug. 14, 1874; res., July, 1877; priv., D, 5th regt. inf., Aug. 15, 1879; 1st sgt. | Priv., H, 3d regt. Pa. vols., April, 1861; mus. out, Aug. 1861; sgt., M, 62nd regt. Pa. vols., Aug. 9, 1861; 1st sgt.; mus. out Feb. 13, 1864, by reason of re-establishment as vet. vol., and transf. to K, 91st. Pa. vols.: 1st sgt. K, 91st Pa. vet. vols.; mus. out Sept. 28, 1864; 2d lt., H, 215th Pa. vol. inf., April 21, 1865; mus. out Aug. 17, 1865. | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Dwelling-house number | 114 | |||||||
| Family number | 120 | |||||||
| Name | Renner Jacob | - Samuel A | - Annie M | - William H | - Harry | Garden John R. | - Kate L | Logue Annie |
| Age | 64 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 9 | 27 | 24 | 21 |
| Sex | M | M | F | M | M | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | No occupation | Clerk at R.R. Office | At Home | Merchant | At Home | Clerk at R. R. Office | At Home | Domestic Servant |
| Real estate value | $6,000 | |||||||
| Personal estate value | $500 | $1,000 | ||||||
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| Father foreign born | ||||||||
| Mother foreign born | ||||||||
| Birth month if born within year | ||||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | |||||||
| Can't read | ||||||||
| Can't write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| street name | 8th Avenue | |||||||||
| house number | 1113 | |||||||||
| dwelling visit # | 128 | |||||||||
| family visit # | 106 | |||||||||
| name | Garden John R | - Kate E | - William R | - Mary A | - Walter D | Runner Jacob | Runner Annie | Runner W H | Runner Harry | Radkey [?] Lucy |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F | M | M | F | M | M | F |
| age | 38 | 38 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 75 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 16 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Son | Son | Servant | ||
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | |||||||||
| married during year | ||||||||||
| occupation | R R Clerk | Keeping house | At School | At Home | Gentleman | Clerk | At School | Servant | ||
| months unemployed | ||||||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||||||
| blind | ||||||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||||||
| idiotic | ||||||||||
| insane | ||||||||||
| disabled | ||||||||||
| school this year | ||||||||||
| can't read | ||||||||||
| can't write | ||||||||||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Scotland | Pennsylvania | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| line | 50 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| street | Eighth Avenue | Eighth Ave | ||
| house number | 1113 [?] | |||
| dwelling number | 28 | |||
| family number | 31 | |||
| name | Garden John R | Garden Kate E | - Walter | Osterman [?] Emily |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Servant |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F |
| birth date | June 1842 | June 1839 | Oct 1873 | May 1880 |
| age | 57 | 60 | 26 | 20 |
| married? | M | M | S | S |
| # years married | 33 | 33 | ||
| mother of how many children? | 3 | |||
| # of children living | 3 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Scotland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Clerk [illegible] R.R. | Machinist | Servant | |
| # months not employed | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| # months in school | ||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| owned/rented | R | |||
| free or mortgaged | ||||
| farm/house | H | |||
| # of farm schedule | ||||
| line | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| street | 8th Ave | ||||
| house nr | 1113 | ||||
| dwelling nr | 71 | ||||
| family nr | 91 | ||||
| name | Garden John R | - E Kate | Renner M Anna | - R Robert | Dunkley Anna |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Sister in Law | Nephew | Servant |
| sex | M | F | F | M | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 68 | 72 | 70 | 24 | 26 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 42 | 42 | |||
| mother of # children | 3 | ||||
| mother of # living children | 2 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | |||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Clerk | None | None | Machinist | Housemaid |
| nature of industry etc. | R. R. Office | R. R. Shop | Family | ||
| employer etc. | W | W | W | ||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | ||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |||||
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| nr on farm schedule | |||||
| civil war vet | UA | ||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf & dumb | |||||
| line | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| street | Eighth Ave | ||
| house number | 1113 | ||
| dwelling visit number | 178 | ||
| family visit number | 196 | ||
| name | Garden Kate | Renner Anna M | Pritchet Mary H |
| relationship | Head | Sister | Servant |
| own/rent | R | ||
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | |||
| sex | F | F | F |
| race | W | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 82 | 80 | 18 |
| marital status | Wd | S | S |
| year of immigration | |||
| naturalized/alien | |||
| year of naturalization | |||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | |||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
| native language | |||
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
| father's native language | |||
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
| mother's native language | |||
| can speak English | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| occupation | None | None | Housework |
| industry, business | Private Family | ||
| employment status | W | ||
| number of farm schedule | |||