He was born in 1837/38, in Bellfonte [?], [Centre County,] Pennsylvania, to Gottlieb Schiefer and Catharine [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 9 (25 in 1863), 15 (40 in 1880), 18 (44 in 1882), 19 (44 in 1882), 20 (12 in 1850), 21 (21 in 1860), 22 (31 in 1870). place: 9, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22. parents: 18, 20, 21]
In 1850, he was living in Upper Delaware Ward, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Gottleib and Catherine Schaffer, and with his (presumed) siblings Henrietta, Louisia, Henry, Elemia, Julian, and Amelia. He had attended school within the year. [source: 20]
In 1860, he was living in ward 13, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Gottleib G and Catharine Schiefer, and with his (presumed) siblings Julianna and Amelia. He was a painter. [source: 21]
When he enlisted, he was 6 feet 3-5/8 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. [source: 9]
He enlisted and was mustered in on 10 September 1861 or on 16 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith. He was a private, initially in company A. [sources: 1 (10 Sep), 9 (16 Sep), 23-26 (C)]
On 16 June 1862, Andrew Brown (C) wrote his father and sister a letter, in which he said that he had sent his 'likeness' with William Sheifer (C), and also asked them to 'Send two cakes of silver soap with Sheifer for cleaning Brass', informing them that they 'can see him at the [United] States hose house'. [source: 17]
He may have been detailed as cook for the brigade teamsters on 8 May 1863. [source: 6]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was then in company C. [source: 12]
On 27 September 1863, he returned to his company. [source: 8]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer. [source: 1]
He was transferred to company C on 16 February 1864. He may have been mistakenly transferred to company A when he reenlisted (see fact of the week #102). [sources: 1, 3]
On 1 March 1864, Colonel Gregory detached him to collect conscripts, at Philadelphia. He returned from detached service on 16 April 1864. [sources: 2, 11]
He was detailed by General Griffin for duty in the division ordnance train on 10 June 1864. He was still there in September (?) 1864. [sources: 5, 7]
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company. He was a private, in company C. [sources: 1, 23-26]
He married Catharine [unknown family name]. She was born in 1842/43, in Ireland. They seem to have had at least these children:
[sources: 15, 22]
On 14 March 1870, he applied successfully for a pension. [sources: 13, 14]
In 1870, he was living in ward 20, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Catharine, their (presumed) children Kate and Julia, and a domestic servant. He was a grocer, and owned $500 in personal property. [source: 22]
In 1880, he was living at 1964 Thompson Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Catherine, and children Katie, Julia, Joseph, Ella, and William G. He was a house painter. [source: 15]
On 14 August 1882, he died, at 1964 East Thompson Street, ward 25, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died of apoplexy. He was a painter. On 17 or 18 August 1882, he was buried, either at Fernwood Cemetery (death certificate) or at Franklin Cemetery (newspaper death notice). Members of the Chosen Friends' Lodge, no. 100, International Order of Odd Fellows, the Gus. W. Town Post, No. 46, Grand Army of the Republic, the U S Hose Company, and the Relief of Disabled Firemen Association, as well as surviving members of the 91st, were invited to attend his funeral. The funeral was held from his late residence, 1964 E Thompson Street, below E Alleghany Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 18, 19]
On 14 October 1882, his widow, Catharine Schieffer, applied unsuccessfully for a pension. [sources: 13, 14]
On 27 June 1890, minor dependents including Joseph Schieffer applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 13, 14]
On 24 November 1906, Julia A Tissot, daughter of William G and Catherine M Schiefer, died. Perhaps she is the Julia who is his daughter. [source: 16]
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) (William Schieffer, William Scheiffer)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864 (William Scheiffer)
3 special order 4, HQ 91st PA, 16 February 1864 (William Scheiffer)
4 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864
5 special order 44, HQ 91st PA, 10 June 1864
6 consolidated morning report, HQ 91st PA, 9 May 1863
(Private Shaeffer)
[The report lists him under co.C, which seems inconsistent with entry (3) above, but I have no other candidates.]
7 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (William G Shaeffer)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 September 1863 (Private Shieffer)
9 company C, descriptive roll, entry 62 (William G Schiefer)
10 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 8 July 2004 (Wm G Schieffer--co. A only; the card simply refers to a company C card, which I could not find)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 16 April 1864 (Scheifer)
12 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Wm G Schaeffer)
13 pension index, by name (William G S Schieffer)
14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (William G S Schieffer)
15 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 522, microfilm series T9, film 1184, page 68 B = 22 handwritten (William G Schiefer)
16 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 26 November 1906 page 5 (Julia A Tissot)
17 letter, Andrew Brown to his father and sister, 16 June 1862, Alexandria, Virginia, in his father's pension certificate file, WC 134,972 (William Sheifer)
18 death notice, Philadelphia inquirer, Thursday 17 August 1882, page 5 (William G Schiefer)
19 death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 14 August 1882 (William Shiefer)
20 1850 US census, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Upper Delaware ward, M432, film 816, page 109 recto = 217 handwritten, Wm Schaffer (FamilySearch) (Wm Schaffer)
21 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 13, microfilm series M653, film 1163, page 690 = 270 handwritten (FamilySearch) (William Schiefer)
22 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 20, district 65, microfilm series M593, film 1406, page 402 verso = 126 handwritten (FamilySearch) (William Schiefer)
23 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William G Scheiffer)
24 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William G Schiefer)
25 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William G Scheifer)
26 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William G Schieffer)
| line | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| Dwellings visited | 354 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 471 | ||||||||
| Name | Gottleib Schaffer | Catherine " | Henrietta " | Louisia " | Henry " | Emelia " | Julian " | Wm " | Amelia " |
| Age | 50 | 47 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
| Sex | " [sc. m] | f | f | " | m | f | " | m | f |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Labourer | ||||||||
| Real estate owned | |||||||||
| Birthplace | Germany | " | Pa | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Dwelling number | 1842 | ||||
| Family number | 1960 | ||||
| Name | Gottleib G Schiefer | Catharine do | Julianna do | William do | Amelia do |
| Age | 63 | 57 | 23 | 21 | 20 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | F |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Saleslady | Painter | Saleslady | ||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||
| Value of personal estate | 500 | ||||
| Place of birth | Wittemberg [sic] | do | Penna | do | do |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | |||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | |
| Dwelling-house number | 883 | ||||
| Family number | 940 | ||||
| Name | Schiefer William | - Catharine | - Kate | - Julia | Areter Sarah |
| Age | 31 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Grocer | Keep House | Dom. Servant | ||
| Real estate value | |||||
| Personal estate value | 500 | ||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Ireland | N. Jersey | " " | Penna |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | |||
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Birth month if born within year | |||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||
| Attended school past year | |||||
| Can't read | |||||
| Can't write | 1 | ||||
| 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 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| street name | Thompson Street | ||||||
| house number | 1964 | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 168 | ||||||
| family visit # | 169 | ||||||
| name | Schiefer William G | - Catherine | - Katie | - Julia | - Joseph | - Ella | - William G |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | M | F | M |
| age | 40 | 37 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| month born if born in year | |||||||
| relationship | wife | Daughter | Daughter | son | Daughter | son | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||||
| widowed/divorced | |||||||
| married during year | |||||||
| occupation | House painter | Keeping house | At school | At school | At school | At school | At school |
| months unemployed | |||||||
| currently ill? | |||||||
| blind | |||||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||||
| idiotic | |||||||
| insane | |||||||
| disabled | |||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| can't read | |||||||
| can't write | |||||||
| birthplace | Penn | Ireland | New Jersey | New Jersey | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| father's birthplace | Germany | Ireland | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Germany | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland |
SCHIEFER.--On the 14th inst., WILLIAM G., son of the late Gottlieb and Catharine Schiefer, aged forty-four years.
Relatives and friends, also Chosen Friends' Lodge, No.100, I.O.O.F., surviving members of the 91st Regiment P.N.G [sic], Gus. W. Town Post, No. 46, G.A.R., U.S. Hose Co., and the Relief of Disabled Fireman Asso, are respectfully invited to attend his funeral this afternoon, at 2 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 1964 E. Thompson street, below E. Alleghany ave., Twenty-fifth ward. To proceed to Franklin Cemetery.
TISSOT.--On November 24, 1906, JULIA A., wife of Henry P Tissot and daughter of the late William G and Catherine M Schiefer. Residence, Upland Terrace, Bala. Due notice of the funeral will be given.