He was born in 1842/43, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, probably to Solomon Rookstool and Catharine [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 6 (18 in 1861), 7 (20 probably in 1863), 9 (25 in 1870), 10 (34 in 1880), 18 (23 in 1867; 25 in 1870, 30 in 1875, 35 in 1880, 40 in 1885, 45 in 1890, 45 years 6 months on 1 August 1890), 22 (7 in 1850), 23 (15 in 1860). place: 6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 22, 23. parents: 10, 20, 22, 23]
In 1850, he was living in ward 5, Spring Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his (presumed) mother Catherine and (presumed) brother Samuel. [source: 22]
In 1860, he was living in ward 20, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his (presumed) mother Catherine and (presumed) brother Samuel. [source: 23]
When he enlisted, he was a printer [sources: 6, 7]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 2-3/4 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and chestnut hair. [sources: 6, 7 (5'4", brown hair)]
In 1867, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had blue eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. [source: 18]
In 1870, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had blue eyes, dark hair, and a fair complexion. [source: 18]
In 1875, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had blue eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion. [source: 18]
In 1880, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had blue eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion. [source: 18]
In 1885, he was 5 feet 4-1/2 inches tall, and had blue eyes, light brown hair, and a dark complexion. [source: 18]
In 1890, he was 5 feet 3-7/8 inches tall, and had light blue eyes, dark brown hair, and a dark complexion. [source: 18]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 November 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Hall. He was a private in company G. [sources: 1, 6, 7, 8 (24 Nov), 15]
On 10 August 1863, he returned to his company. [source: 3]
On 30 December 1863, Sinex reported that he was one of 38 men who had less than fifteen months to serve who were unwilling to reenlist. On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave. [sources: 2, 4]
He was wounded on 21 June 1864. [source: 1]
He mustered out on 20 November 1864, when his term expired. He was a private, in company G. [sources: 1, 5, 8 (24 Nov), 11, 15]
In 1866, he was living at rear 808 Enquirer Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a laborer. [source: 21]
In 1867, he was living at rear 808 Enquirer Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a painter. [source: 21]
On 25 January 1867, he enlisted for three years in the US Army. He was a laborer. He served in company K of the 6th Infantry (and perhaps in company C of the 42nd infantry?). [source: 18]
On 25 January 1870, he was discharged from the army, near Cato, Kansas, becaause his term had expired. He was a private. [source: 18]
On 22 May 1870, he enlisted in the US army, for 5 years. He claimed his occupation was soldier. This was his second enlistment. He was a private in company D of the 10th Infantry. [source: 18]
In 1870, he was living in Travis County, Texas. He was a private, in the US Army. [source: 9]
On 22 May 1875, he was discharged from the army, at Austin, Texas, because his term had expired. He was a private. [source: 18]
He reenlisted on the same day, for 5 years, at Austin, Texas. [source: 18]
On 21 May 1880, he was discharged from the Army, at Fort Macinac, Michigan, because his term had expired. He was a private. His character was 'Excellent'. [source: 18]
In 1880, he was living at rear 810 Enquirer Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his mother and two siblings. He was in the army. [source: 10]
On 12 June 1880, he enlisted in the army for 5 years, at New York, New York. This was his fourth enlistment. He was a private in company C of the 13th infantry. [source: 18]
On 11 June 1885, he was discharged from the army, at Fort Stanton, New Mexico, because his term had expired. He was a private in company C of the 13th Infantry. His character was 'Excellent'. [source: 18]
On 23 June 1885, he reenlisted in the army for 5 years, at the US Military Academy at West Point. He enlisted in the Artillery Detachment at the US Military Academy. This was his fifth enlistment. [sources: 17, 18]
On 3 February 1888, his mother, Catharine Ruckstool, died, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The funeral was held from her residence, rear 818 Inquirer Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 20]
In 1890, he was living at West Point Military Academy, Orange County, New York. [source: 8]
On 22 June 1890, he was discharged, because his term had expired. His character was 'Very Good'. He had been serving in the Artillery Detachment at the US Military Academy at West Point. On 23 June 1890, he reenlisted in the Army. This was his seventh enlistment. [sources: 17, 18]
On 31 July 1890, he was discharged from the army, at West Point, New York, in accordance with General Order # 72, Adjutant General's Office, 1890. [source: 18]
On 1 August 1890, he reenlisted in the US Army, at West Point, New York. With five other men, he enlisted as an "Army Serv 2 M.D."
On 14 April 1891, he died. He died of heart disease. He was buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, Orange County, New York. [sources: 16, 19]
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, 30 December 1863
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 10 August 1863 (Private Rookstool [?])
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 January 1864 (Rookstool)
5 company G, register of men discharged, #48 (William Rookstool)
6 company G, descriptive roll, #64 (William Rookstool)
7 company G, second descriptive roll, [#25] (William Rookstool)
8 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New York, Orange County, West Point Military Academy, supervisor's district 4, enumeration district special, page 5 (William Rookstool)
9 1870 US census, Texas, Travis County (post office Austin [?]), microfilm series M593, film 1606, page 200 = 4 handwritten (William Rookstool)
10 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 241, microfilm series T9, film 1174, page 551 C = 15 handwritten (William Rookstool)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 30 April 1865 (Rookstool)
12 [deleted]
13 [deleted]
14 [deleted]
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Rookstool)
16 Find a grave, memorial 132848242, created by SLGMSD, added 15 Jul 2014, accessed 8 Mar 15 [the note lists him as 'Pvt, AS Men 2nd MD.'] (William Rookstool)
17 US, returns from military posts, various dates (William Rookstool)
18 US army, register of enlistments, 1798-1914 (William Rookstool)
19 Interment control forms, records of the office of the quartermaster general (Wm Rookstool)
20 death notice, Philadelphia inquirer Monday 6 February 1888, page 5 (Catharine Ruckstool)
21 Philadelphia city directories
22 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Spring Garden, ward 5, microfilm series M432, film 819, page 168 verso = 336 (FamilySearch) (William Rukstool)
23 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 20, division 1, microfilm series M653, film 1171, page 252 = 254 handwritten, FamilySearch) (William Rookstool)
The two other candidates living in Philadelphia are pretty clearly not the William Rookstool who served in the 91st.
A William Rookstool was born on 29 May 1845, Philadelphia, to George Rookstool and Hannah Thomas, married Georgiana Boyer on 21 June 1872, and died on 15 October 1915 at Philadelphia, and was buried at Westminster Cemetery. He is the right age to be the William Rookstool who served in the 91st. However, since he was a butcher in Philadelphia in 1880 and 1900, he's not likely to have been at West Point in 1890. And he is clearly not the William Rookstool who died at West Point in 1891, who is likely to be the William Rookstool there in 1890.
Another William Rookstool living in Philadelphia in 1860 is ten years older than the descriptive rolls (entries 6 and 7 below) indicate.
| line | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Dwellings visited | [165] | ||
| Families visited | 130 | ||
| Name | Catherine Rukstool | Samuel " | William " |
| Age | 40 | 15 | 7 |
| Sex | F | M | M |
| Color | |||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | |||
| Real estate owned | |||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Penna] | " | " |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | |||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Dwelling number | 1609 | ||||
| Family number | 1816 | ||||
| Name | Margret Kurtz | Jane Allbright | Catherine Rookstool | Samuel " | William " |
| Age | 74 | 11 | 35 | 25 | 15 |
| Sex | F | F | F | M | M |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Shoe Maker | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | 75000 | ||||
| Value of personal estate | 100 | ||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 37 | |
| Dwelling-house number | ||
| Family number | ||
| Name | Rookstool William | |
| Age | 25 | |
| Sex | m | |
| Color | w | |
| Occupation | " [private USA] | |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | ||
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania | |
| 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 ... | 1 | |
| [the '1' in the "can't vote" column is larger than the '1' in the "can vote" column; all people on this page who have a '1' in one of those columns have a '1' in both] | ||
| line | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 |
| street name | Enquirer Street | |||
| house number | 810 rear | |||
| dwelling visit # | 140 | |||
| family visit # | 150 | |||
| name | Rookstool Catharine | - Samuel | - William | Crosby Margaret |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | F | M | M | F |
| age | 65 | 44 | 34 | 75 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | Son | Son | Sister | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| married | ||||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | |||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | Keeping House | Boot Fitter | in the Army | Huckster |
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | ||||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | 1 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
RUCKSTOOL.--On the 3d inst., CATHARINE RUCKSTOOL, widow of Solomon Ruckstool.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, this afternoon, at 2 o'clock, from her late residence, rear of No.. 818 Inquirer street.