He was born on 29 June 1840 (5, 11; 2 (24 in 1865), 6 [10 in 1850], 7 [20 in 1860], 8 [30 in 1870], 9 [39 in 1880]). He was born in Pennsylvania (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). He was born to Daniel Hilty and Mary Moorehead (5, 6, 7).
In 1850, he was living in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (6). He was living with his parents Daniel and Mary Moorehead, and others (presumably his siblings) (6). He had attended school within the year (6).
In 1860, he was living in Bell Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (7). He was living with his parents Daniel and Mary Moorehead, and others (presumably his siblings) (7). He was a farm laborer, and had attended school within the year (7).
He married Rachel Silvis, about 1861 (5). She had thirteen children, seven of whom were alive in 1900 and 1910, including (5, 13, 14):
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (2).
When he enlisted, he was 6 feet 3/4 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (2 [perhaps 6'1-3/4"]).
He was a substitute (1). He enlisted and was mustered into service on 15 March 1865 (1, 3). He was enlisted for one year, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, by Captain Colter (3). He was a private in company I (1, 16, 17).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 3). He was a private, in company I (16, 17).
In 1870, he was living in ward 21, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his wife Rachel, and their children Ida, Nancy, and Sadie (8). He was a carpenter, and owned $1,400 in real estate and $150 in personal property (8).
In 1880, he was living on Center Street, ward 21, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his wife Rachel, and children Ida, Nancy, Sadie, Franklin, Lucian and John (9). He was a carpenter (9).
In 1890, he was living in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (4). He was living on Lincoln Avenue (4).
On 19 April 1896, he died, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (5, 11). He was buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, on Lemington Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10, 11).
On 25 September 1896, his widow, Rachel Hilty, successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 18).
In 1900, his widow, Rachel Hilty, was living at 1009 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (13). She was living with her children Arthur, Anna, and John, and with John's wife Elina and daughter Freda (13).
In 1910, his widow, Rachel Hilty, was living at 1009 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (14). She was living with her daughter Anna (14).
In 1920, his widow, Rachel Hilty, was living at 1009 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (15). She was living with her daughter Annie (15).
His widow, Rachel S Hilty, probably died in 1921 (12). She was buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (12).
Besides the Michael Hilty whose information I have added below (the "Pittsburgh Michael Hilty"), two other Michael Hilty's lived in Pennsylvania, born before 1850. The pension index by name (entry 18) confirms that the Michael married to Rachel is the Michael Hilty who served in the 91st.
One (the "Armstrong Michael Hilty") was born on 1 April 1825, in Pennsylvania, to George M Hilty (Hiltabitel) and Rachel Tawney, married Mary Elizabeth Bortz in July 1850 (St James Lutheran Church, Bell Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania), had nine known children (William Solomon, Eliza Jane, Michael George, Daniel L, John F, Thomas Trees, James Braden, Mary Z, and Wilda L Guthrie), died on 31 August 1894 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania ('Western Pennsylvania Millirons' [see source 5 below]). (See also the following census records: 1880, Pennsylvania, Armstrong, Kiskiminitas, series T9, film 1096, page 223 D; 1870, Pennsylvania, Armstrong, Kiskiminetas, page 168 = 36 handwritten; 1860, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Kiskiminitas Township, page 664 = 102 handwritten; and 1850, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Washington Township, page 410 = 9 handwritten.)
The other (the "Indiana Michael Hilty") was named Albert Michael Hilty, was born in 1846, in Pennsylvania, to David Hilty and Elizabeth Kistler, married Harriet Hine on 16 September 1869 (St James Lutheran Church, Bell Township, Westmoreland County, PA), had seven known children (Arthur Murtin, Hannah Elizabeth, Minnie May, Mary Ella, Simon Luther, Sarah Emma, and Lottie), died in 1893, and was buried in Edgewood/Saltsburg Cemetery, Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania ('Western Pennsylvania Millirons' [see source 5 below]; this cites him in the 1870 and 1880 census as Albert Hilty, carpenter). (See also the 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Salem, page 388 verso = 24 handwritten.)
Either could be the Michael Hilty who served in the 91st Pennsylvania. However, the age at enlistment matches best the Michael Hilty who was living in Pittsburgh by 1870.
Further, two Michael Hilty's served in the Civil War. Besides the one who served in the 91st, another served in company I of the 78th Pennsylvania infantry, who was 37 and a teamster when he enlisted, born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (enrolled 18 Feb 1865, Allegheny PA and discharged 20 May 1865 from the Post Hospital at Nashville Tennessee). He applied for a pension on 17 December 1890, which he apparently did not receive. Given his age, and association with Armstrong County, he is presumably the Armstrong Michael Hilty. [sources: the service cards available on the Pennsylvania State Archives site ("ARIAS") ("Michael Hiltz"), and the Pension index by unit cards available on Footnote, both accessed 8 December 2010)]
And the Indiana Michael Hilty seems to have gone by the name 'Albert' fairly early on, which makes him less likely to be the Michael Hilty who served in the 91st.
Finally, the gedcom I cite as source 5 below claims the Pittsburgh Michael Hilty served in the 91st Pennsylvania.
Overall, then, I think it is very probable that the Pittsburgh Michael Hilty is the one who served in the 91st.
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) (Michael G Hilty)
2 company I, descriptive roll, #65 (Michael Hilty)
3 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (Michael S Hilty)
4 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburg, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 106, page 1 (image 255/413 on Ancestry) (Michael S Hilty)
5 'Western Pennsylvania Millirons', a gedcom, available at RootsWeb WorldConnect (contact Margaret Janco, last updated 28 Feb 2006, accessed 8 December 2010) (Michael Stake Hilty) [identity is confirmed by reference to his service in the 91st; see also my note 'identification' above] [other gedcom's available on RootsWeb have similar--though not quite identical--information, but do not mention his military service]
6 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Washington Township, microfilm series M432, film 836, page 408 verso = 84 handwritten = 810 handwritten (Michael Hilty)
7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Bell Township, microfilm series M653, film 1195, page 70 = 104 handwritten (Michal Hilty)
8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, ward 21, microfilm series M593, film 1298, page 186 recto = 13 handwritten (Michial Hilty)
9 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, ward 21, precinct 4, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 148, microfilm series T9, film 1094, page 495 D = 24 handwritten (Michael Hilty)
10 Pennsylvania veterans burial records, available on Ancestry (transcribed 4 December 2010) (Michael S Hilty)
11 Find a grave, memorial 27271378 (accessed 9 December 2010) (Michael S Hilty)
12 Find a grave, memorial 27271527 (accessed 9 December 2010) (Rachel S Hilty)
13 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, ward 21, supervisor's district 18, enumeration district 247, microfilm series T623, film 1362, page 66 = 5 A handwritten (Rachel Hilty)
14 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, ward 12, supervisor's district 23, enumeration district 441, microfilm series T624, film 1303, page 27 = 9 B handwritten (Rachel Hilty)
15 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, ward 12, supervisor district 29 [?], enumeration district 518, microfilm series T625, film 1521, page 261 = 4 A handwritten (Rachael Hilty)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael S Hilty)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael S Hiltz)
18 pension index, by name (Michael S Hilty)
| line | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwellings visited | 449 | ||||||
| Families visited | 449 | ||||||
| Name | Daniel Hilty | Mary | Michael | Margaret | Lavinia | George W | Sarah |
| Age | 32 | 31 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10/12 |
| Sex | m | f | m | f | f | m | f |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Farmer | ||||||
| Real estate owned | 1500 | ||||||
| Birthplace | do sc. Pa] | do | do | do | do | do | do |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Dwelling number | 769 | |||||||||
| Family number | 718 | |||||||||
| Name | Daniel Hilty | Mary " | Michal [sic] " | Margaret " | Lavinia " | George " | Sarah " | Martha " | Daniel " | Anna " |
| Age | 40 | 40 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Sex | m | f | m | f | f | m | f | f | m | f |
| Color | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Coopper [sic] | Farm Laborer | Serving | " | ||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 3,000 | |||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 700 | |||||||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Pennsylvania] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Dwelling-house number | 99 | ||||
| Family number | 98 | ||||
| Name | Hilty Michial [sic] | Rachel | Ida M | Nancy S | Sadie |
| Age | 30 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Carpt | Keep H | |||
| Real estate value | 1400 | ||||
| Personal estate value | 150 | ||||
| Birthplace | 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 | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| street name | Center St | |||||||
| house number | ||||||||
| dwelling visit # | 219 | |||||||
| family visit # | 222 | |||||||
| name | Hilty Michael | - Rachel | - Ida | - Nancy E. | - Sadie Alice | - Franklin | - Lucian | - John |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F | M | M | M |
| age | 39 | 38 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||||
| relationship | wife | daughter | daughter | daughter | son | son | ||
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||||
| married during year | ||||||||
| occupation | Carpenter | Keeps house | At home | At home | At school | " do | ||
| months unemployed | ||||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||||
| blind | ||||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||||
| idiotic | ||||||||
| insane | ||||||||
| disabled | ||||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| can't read | ||||||||
| can't write | ||||||||
| birthplace | Pa | do | do | do | do | do | do | do |
| father's birthplace | Pa | do | do | do | do | do | do | do |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | do | do | do | do | do | do | do |
| line | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| street | Lincoln Avenue | |||||
| house number | 1009 | |||||
| dwelling number | 82 | |||||
| family number | 87 | |||||
| name | Hilty Rachel | - Arthur P. | - Anna M | - John W. | - Elina H | - Freda V. |
| relationship | Head | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter-in-law | Grant-Daughter |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | F | M | F | M | F | F |
| birth date | June 1842 | Oct 1881 | Jan 1885 | Feb 1878 | July 1879 | Nov 1897 |
| age | 57 | 18 | 15 | 22 | 20 | 2 |
| married? | Wd | S | S | M | M | S |
| # years married | 3 | 3 | ||||
| mother of how many children? | 13 | 1 | ||||
| # of children living | 7 | 1 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | ||||||
| # years in USA | ||||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||||
| occupation | Machinist | At School | Carpenter | |||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | ||||
| # months in school | 10 | |||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| owned/rented | O | |||||
| free or mortgaged | F | |||||
| farm/house | H | |||||
| # of farm schedule | ||||||
| line | 95 | 96 |
| street | Lincoln Avenue | |
| house nr | 1009 | |
| dwelling nr | 179 | |
| family nr | 192 | |
| name | Hilty Rachel | - Anna M |
| relationship | Head | Daughter |
| sex | F | F |
| color | W | W |
| age | 67 | 28 |
| marital status | Wd | S |
| #years present marriage | ||
| mother of # children | 13 | |
| mother of # living children | 7 | |
| birthplace | Pennsyvlania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| speaks English | English | English |
| occupation | Own Income | Cashier |
| nature of industry etc. | Meat Market | |
| employer etc. | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | |
| can read | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||
| owned/rented | O | |
| owned free or mortagaged | F | |
| farm/house | H | |
| nr on farm schedule | ||
| civil war vet | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf & dumb | ||
| line | 12 | 13 |
| street | Lincoln Ave | |
| house number | 1009 | |
| dwelling visit number | 65 | |
| family visit number | 68 | |
| name | Hilty Rachael | - Annie |
| relationship | head | daughter |
| own/rent | O | |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | F | |
| sex | F | F |
| race | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 77 | 33 |
| marital status | W | S |
| year of immigration | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| year of naturalization | ||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| native language | ||
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's native language | ||
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's native language | ||
| can speak English | yes | yes |
| occupation | none | bookkeeper |
| industry, business | butcher [??] shop | |
| employment status | W | |
| number of farm schedule | ||