He was born in 1839/40, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 6 (21 in 1861), 12 (31 in 1870), 15 (40 in 1880), 18 (1839). place: 6, 12, 20]
He graduated from Girard College. [source: 17]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 11 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark blue eyes, and brown hair. He had curly [?] hair. The company descriptive roll also notes that his "Right heart [was] higher on max [??] prominence than the left". [source: 6]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff. He was a private in company C. [sources: 1, 6, 7 (Lt Col), 8, 14]
He was appointed corporal on 24 December 1861. [sources: 4, 5]
On 8 September 1863, Sinex reported that he was in Philadelphia and able to rejoin the regiment, and requested his return. [source: 2]
His descriptive list was sent on 30 June 1864, but the descriptive roll does not say where it was sent. [source: 6]
On 7 August 1864, he was reported regained from desertion. [source: 10]
He mustered out as a corporal, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 3 September 1864, when his term expired. He was corporal, in company C. [sources: 1, 3 [has 20 Aug 64], 6, 7, 8, 11 [3 Sep], 14]
He married Louisa A [unknown family name]. She was born in 1839/40. [sources: 17, 19 (1840)]
On 22 September 1869, he applied successfully for a pension. [sources: 9, 13]
In 1870, he was living in Newton Township, Camden County, New Jersey. He was living with his wife Louisa, and a child, Mary Moody. He was a clerk. [source: 12]
On 6 September 1880 he died. He was a clerk, or salesman. He 'was taken suddenly ill at the Lansdowne entrance to the West Park ... and died before a physician arrived'. He died of heart disease and Bright's disease of the kidney. On 9 September 1880, he was buried, in Mechanic's Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Invited to the funeral were members of Apollo Lodge, number 9, Knights of Pythias; Greble Council, number 103, Order of United American Mechanics, and Stephen Girard Beneficial Society. The funeral was held from his late residence, 1204 Hibberd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 13 (died 22 Sep 69), 15, 16 (Mechanics), 17, 18 (Mt Peace), 20 (Mechanics)]
On 7 June 1882, his widow, Louisa Gessler, successfully applied for a pension. [sources: 9, 13]
In 1890, his widow, Louisa Gessler, was living at 924 South 5th Street, Camden, Camden County, Pennsylvania. [source: 8]
On 25 May 1899, he and several others were reburied in Mount Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 18]
On 15 January 1908, his widow, Lousia A Gessler, died. She died of Brights disease. She was buried in Mt Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 17, 19, 21]
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, Sinex to Marvin, 8 September 1863
3 letter, Sellers to Bennett, 9 September 1864
4 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 1, corporals (James P Gessler)
5 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, corporals (James P Gessler)
6 company C, descriptive roll, entry 34 (James P Gessler)
7 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 12 (James P Gessler)
8 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New Jersey, Camden County, Camden, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 174, page 4 (James P Gessler)
9 pension index, by name (James P Gessler)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 7 August 1864 (Corpl Gessler)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 9 September 1864 (Jas P Gessler)
12 1870 US census, New Jersey, Camden County, district 25 Newton Township (post office Gloucester City), microfilm series M593, film 855, page 289 = 117 handwritten (James P Gessler)
13 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (James P Gessler)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James P Gessler)
15 'Sudden deaths', The Times (Philadelphia PA), Tuesday 7 September 1880, page 4 (James P Gessler)
16 death notice, Philadelphia inquirer, Thursday 9 September 1880, page 5 (James P Gessler)
17 headstone inscription, transcribed from a photo on Find a grave, memorial memorial 130738504, James B [sic] Gessler, created by Paul R, added 2 June 2014, accessed 7 February 2015 (James P Gessler)
18 Find a grave, memorial 130738504, created by Paul R, added 2 June 2014, accessed 7 February 2015 (James B [sic] Gessler)
19 Find a grave, memorial 130738519, created by Paul R, added 2 June 2014, accessed 7 February 2015 (Louisa A Gessler)
20 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 September 1880 (James P Gessler)
21 Mt Peace records, in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Historic Pennsylvania Church and town records (James Gessler)
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Dwelling-house number | 947 | ||
| Family number | 1049 | ||
| Name | Gessler James P | - Louisa R | Moody Mary |
| Age | 31 | 30 | 9 |
| Sex | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Clerk | Keeping House | At home |
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Pennsylvania] | " | Virginia |
| 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 ... |
James P. Gessler, forty years old, a clerk, residing at 1204 Hibberd street, was taken suddenly ill at the Lansdowne entrance to the West Park yesterday afternoon and died before a physician arrived. The body was taken home.
GESSLER.--On the 6th instant, JAMES P. GESSLER, in the forty-first year of his age.
The relatives and friends of the family, also Apollo Lodge, No. 9, K. of P.; Greble Council, No. 103, O.U.A.M., and Stephen Girard Beneficial Society, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, this afternoon, at 1 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 1204 Hibberd street. To proceed to Mechanics' Cemetery [sic].
| 1 grave North 1 Int | James Gessler | May 25 1899 | Removed from Mechanics Cem | ||
| 2 " " 1 " | Samuel Clifton | " " " | " " " " | ||
| 3 " " 1 " | Henry S While + 3 children | " " " | " " " " | ||
| 4 " " 2 " | Louisa A Gessler | Jan 19 1908 | Pa | 934 S "5" st Camden | Brights Disease |