He was born on 28 February 1849, in Germany. [sources: date: 6, 10; 2 (18 in 1864), 6 (51 in 1900), 11 (18 in 1865). place: 6, 10]
In 1849/50, he immigrated to the United States. He was a naturalized citizen by 1900. [source: 6]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. [source: 2]
When he enlisted in the regular army in 1865, he was 5 feet 4-1/4 inches tall, and had blue eyes, brown hair, and a brown complexion. [source: 11]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 14 July 1864. He enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a private in company A. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 14]
In January 1865, he was tried by court martial. [source: 7]
He apparently joined the regiment in February 1865. [source: 5]
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865. He was a private, in company A [sources: 1, 3, 14]
In August 1865, he reported that he was a brakesman. [source: 11]
He also served in company G of the 14th United States Infantry. He enlisted on 23 August 1865, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 23 August 1868, he was discharged, when his term expired, at Camp Lincoln, Arizona Territory. He was a private. [sources: 3, 4, 11]
On 5 November 1890, he applied successfully from Arizona for a pension. [sources: 3, 4]
On 23 July 1891, he married Sophia Cox, in Globe, Pinal County, Arizona. She was born on 22 March 1866, in Mason, Mason, Texas, to Thomas Reese Cox and Matilda Armendia Coots. She had been married to Walter Aaron ('Bud') Frazier, and had four children by him. She and Louis Sessler had at least one child:
[sources: 6 (4 children, 3 alive), 10 (also mentions a Louis Samuel Sessler, born 1892, as their child), 12, 13]
He received a pension of $6 per month effective 27 July 1895, under the Act of 27 June 1890. The pension certificate was dated 27 March 1896. [source: 9]
In 1900, he was living in Gila County, Arizona. He was living with his wife Sophia, his stepchildren Walter and James [?] Francis, and his son John W Sessler. [source: 6]
On 28 August 1907, he again applied for a pension. [source: 3]
His pension certificate was reissued on 25 May 1910, and he received $12 (?) per month, effective 18 May 1910. [source: 8]
His pension certificate was reisssued on 14 April 1913, under the Act of 11 May 1912. He received $13.50 per month, effective 11 June 1912. [source: 8]
Effective 28 February 1914 (?), his pension was increased to $15.50 per month. [source: 8]
On 22 November 1916, his wife, Sophia, died, in Globe, Gila, Arizona. [source: 10]
Effective 28 February, 1918, his pension was increased to $19 per month. [source: 8]
On 10 (?) June 1918, his pension was increased to $20 per month. [source: 8]
On 28 February 1920, his pension was increased to $32 per month. [source: 8]
On 1 May 1920, his pension was increased to $50 per month. [source: 8]
Effective 28 February 1923, his pension was scheduled to be increased to $25.50 per month. This scheduled increased was undoubtedly preempted by the other increases. [source: 8]
On 7 March 1921, he was dropped from the pension rolls, because he hadn't claimed his pension. He was last paid in the fourth quarter of 1920. [source: 8]
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) (Louis Selser)
2 company A descriptive roll, entry 154 (Louis Selser)
3 pension index, by regiment (Louis Sessler [sic])
4 pension index, by name (Louis Sessler)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 February 1865 [sic] (Louis Selser)
6 1900 US census, Arizona, Gila County, portions of Gila County outside of Globe, supervisor's district Arizona, enumeration district 18, microfilm series T623, film 45, page 246 A = 19 handwritten (Louis Sessler)
7 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (Louis Selser)
8 Veterans administration pension payment cards, 1907-1933, FamilySearch (Louis Sessler)
9 second card, Veterans administration, pension payment cards, 1907-1933, Louis Sessler, FamilySearch (Louis Sessler)
10 'Adling family tree', an Ancestry family tree, owner Sbarker 72, accessed 18 January 2014
11 Register of enlistments in the US army, 1798-1914, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 94, microfilm series M233, 1864-65, L-Z, page 149, entry 1080 (Louis Sessler)
12 Arizona marriage collection, 1864-1982, available on Ancestry, accessed 19 January 2014 (Louis Sessler)
13 message in RootsWeb AzGAB-L list, 23 July 2001, by Ann Patton
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Louis Selser)
| line | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| street | |||||
| house number | |||||
| dwelling number | 496 | ||||
| family number | 503 | ||||
| name | Sessler Louis | - Sophia | Frasier Walter | Frasier Jessie [?] | Sessler John W. |
| relationship | Head | Wife | S Son | S Son | Son |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M |
| birth date | Feb 49 | Mar 66 | July 83 | Feb 85 | June [?] 97 |
| age | 51 | 34 | 16 | 15 | 2 |
| married? | M | M | S | S | S |
| # years married | 8 | 8 | |||
| mother of how many children? | 4 | ||||
| # of children living | 3 | ||||
| birthplace | Germany | Texas | Texas | Texas | Arizona |
| father's birthplace | Germany | Texas | Texas | Texas | Germany |
| mother's birthplace | Germany | Texas | Texas | Texas | Texas |
| immigration year | 50 | ||||
| # years in USA | 50 | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | Na | ||||
| occupation | Miner | Coal Breaker [?] | |||
| # months not employed | 6 | 0 | |||
| # months in school | 5 | ||||
| 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 |
| ISSUES. | |||
| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| Reis | 12 [?] | 18 May, 1910 | 25 May, 1910 |
| REISSUE | 13 1/2 | June 11, 1912. | APR 14 1913 |
| 15 1/2 | Feby 28 1914 [?] | ||
| 19 [?] | Feby 28, 1918 | ||
| 25 1/2 [?] | Feb 28, 1923 | ||
| 20 | June 10 [?], 1918 | ||
| 32 | Feby 28 1920 | ||
| 50 | MAY 1 1920 | ||
| ISSUES. | |||
| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| 6 | July 27, 1895 | Mar 27, 1896 | |