He was born in 1842/43 (3 (19 in 1862), 6 [15 in 1860]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6).
In 1860, he was living in ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6). He was living with Jacob and Mary Kessler (presumably his parents), and with John, Sarah, William, Michael, George, and James Kessler (presumably his siblings) (6).
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 20 August 1862 (1, 3). He was mustered in as a private, in company D (1, 3, 9, 10).
He was killed on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1, 2, 3 [missing in action, supposed killed], 7, 8 [missing]). He was a private, in company D (9, 10).
On 23 June 1880, his mother, Mary Kessler, successfully applied for a pension (4, 5).
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) (Joseph Kessler)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Joseph Kesler)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 9 August 2004 (Joseph Kessler)
4 pension index by name (Joseph Kessler)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Joseph Kessler)
6 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 6 = 6 handwritten (Joseph Kessler)
7 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Joseph Kessler)
8 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (Joseph Kessler)
9 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Kesler)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Kessler)
| line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Dwelling number | 29 | ||||||||
| Family number | 38 | ||||||||
| Name | Jacob Kessler | Mary | John | Sarah | Joseph | William | Michael | George | James |
| Age | 49 | 46 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| Sex | m | f | m | f | m | m | m | m | m |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation | Gardener | ||||||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 1,000 | ||||||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Phila] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |