He was born on 19 May 1825, in Baltimore, Maryland. [sources: date: 12, 16; 3 (37 in 1861), 4 (45 in 1870), 10 (36 in 1861), 13 (25 in 1850), 14 (37 in 1860), 15 (50 in 1880). place: 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
In 1848, he married Catherine Willhelm. They apparently had at least these children:
[sources: 4, 12, 13, 14]
In 1850, he was living in Baltimore, Maryland. He was living with his wife Catharine and daughter Rebecca. He was a weaver. [source: 13]
In 1860, he was living in Baltimore, Maryland. He was living with his wife Catherin, and (presumed) children Rebecca, Mary, David, Anna, and Andrew. He was a factory hand, and owned $50 in personal property. [source: 14]
When he enlisted in the 2nd Maryland, he was a weaver. [source: 10]
When he enlisted in the 2nd Maryland (in 1861), he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. [source: 10]
He also served in company B of the 2nd Maryland Infantry. On 18 June 1861, he enlisted and was mustered in as a private, at Baltimore, Maryland. He was enlisted by Captain Brunner [sources: 1 (14 May 61), 3 (14 May 61), 6, 8, 10 (18 Jun 61), 11 (8 Jun 61)]
He appears on the company B 2nd Maryland muster rolls for 18 June to 31 August 1861, September-October 1861, and for November-December 1861, but is not listed as present or absent. On the January-February 1862 muster roll, he was reported present. [source: 11]
On the March-April and May-June 1862 muster rolls for company B of the 2nd Maryland Infantry, he was reported absent sick, in hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. [source: 11]
On the July-August 1862 muster roll for company B of the 2nd Maryland Infantry, he was reported absent, 'Retained in 91st Penna. Regt (cause unknown)'. The September-October 1862 muster roll, similarly, reports him absent, 'Detained in 91st Regt. Penn. Cause unknown Left by Regt. at Gen Hospl. Annapolis'. The 2nd Maryland seems finally to have given up, since the November-December 1862 muster roll reports that he deserted on 12 December 1862, from camp opposite Fredericksburg, Virginia, and he is not listed on any later muster rolls. [source: 11]
He was either transferred, or temporarily assigned, to the 91st Pennsylvania (perhaps because of his hospitalization). He was a private in company D. [sources: 1, 9]
He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, on 8 March 1862 or 1 July 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was a private, in company D. [sources: 1 (2 Mar 62), 2 (1 Jul 62, medical board), 3 (3 Mar 62), 9, 11 (28 Jun 62)]
On 18 June 1863, he successfully applied for a pension. [sources: 5, 8]
On 15 November 1868, his wife, Catherine, died. [source: 12]
In 1870, he was living in Baltimore, Maryland. He was working in a cotton factory. He was living with three children, presumably his, who were all working in a cotton factory. [source: 4]
In 1878, he married Virginia T Ashlin. She was born in Occtober 1844, in Virginia. [sources: 12, 16]
In 1880, he was living in Hampden, Baltimore County, Maryland. He was living with his wife Virginia. He was a labourer, and had been out of work for 2 months in the previous year. [source: 15]
In 1890, he was living at 152 Cedar Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. He had rheumatism and neuralgia. [source: 11]
In 1900, he was living at 3344 Cedar Avenue, ward 16, Baltimore, Maryland. He was living with his wife Virginia. He was not working. [source: 16]
He died on 3 November 1903. He was buried either in Saint Mary's Episcopal Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland, or in Loudon Park National Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland. [sources: 6 (St Mary's), 7 (Loudon Park), 12 (3 Jul 1902)]
On 13 July 1903, his widow, Virginia T Skipper, successfully applied from Maryland for a pension. [sources: 5, 8]
On 6 March 1909, the Adjutant General's Office officially determined that the desertion charge was erroneous. [source: 10]
In 1910, his widow, Virginia Skipper, was living at 3415 Chestnut Avenue, ward 13, Baltimore, Maryland. She was a weaver, in a cotton mill. [source: 17]
In 1920, his widow, Jennie Skipper, was living in Charlottesville Road, in Cunningham, Fluvanna, Virginia. She was living with her nephew George W Houchins. [source: 18]
In 1930, his widow, Virginia Skippir, was living on Monticello Road #5, in Cunningham, Fluvanna, Virginia. She was living with her nephew George W Houchins. [source: 19]
On 24 February 1931, his widow, Virginia, died, in Fluvanna, Virginia. [source: 12]
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) (Elisha Skipper)
2 company D, register of men discharged, entry 11 (Elisha Skipper)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (Elisha Skipper)
4 1870 US census, Maryland, Baltimore County, microfilm series M593, film 569, page 191 = 63-64 handwritten (Elisha Skipper)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Elisha Skipper)
6 Find a grave, memorial 23087469 (created by Farrady, added 25 November 2007, accessed 15 December 2010) [identification is confirmed by reference to his service in company B of the 2nd Maryland volunteer infantry] <(Elisha Skipper)
7 Find a grave, memorial 2503356 (imported from US Veteran's Affairs, added 3 March 2000, accessed 15 December 2010) [identification is likely, given the date of death] (Elisha Skipper)
8 pension index, by name (Elisha Skipper)
9 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Elisha Skipper)
10 compiled service record, co. B, 2 Maryland Infantry (Elisha Skipper)
11 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Maryland, Baltimore, enumeration district 407, page 1 (image 702 of 724 on Ancestry) (Elisha Skipper)
12 'Elisha Skipper', in 'Poteet family tree', an Ancestry family tree, owner katfromkansas, accessed 5 Apr 15 (Elisha Skipper)
13 1850 US census, Maryland, Baltimore, microfilm series M432, film 280, page 308 recto = 615 handwritten = 177 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elisha Skipper)
14 1860 US census, Maryland, Baltimore, district 3, microfilm series M653, film 468, page 224 handwritten = 17 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elisha Kipper [sic])
15 1880 US census, Maryland, Baltimore County, Hampden, enumeration district 243, microfilm series T9, film 496, page 196 A = 56 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elisha Skipper)
16 1900 US census, Maryland, Baltimore ward 16, Baltimore city, enumeration district 215, microfilm series T623, film 615, page 128 = 5 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Eliza [sic] Skipper)
17 1910 US census, Maryland, Baltimore, ward 13, enumeration district 212, microfilm series M1283, film 557, page 233 = 7 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Virginia Skipper)
18 1920 US census, Virginia, Fluvanna, Cunningham, microfilm series T625, enumeration district 92, film 1889, page 29 = 8 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Jennie Skipper)
19 1930 US census, Virginia, Fluvanna, Cunningham, microfilm series T626, film 2443, page 256 = 5 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Virginia A Skippir)
| line | 39 | 40 | 41 |
| Dwellings visited | 1173 | ||
| Families visited | 1243 | ||
| Name | Elisha Skipper | Cath " | Rebecca " |
| Age | 25 | 22 | 1 |
| Sex | m | f | f |
| Color | |||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Weaver | ||
| Real estate owned | |||
| Birthplace | Md | Md | Md |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | |||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Dwelling number | 1460 | ||||||
| Family number | 1454 | ||||||
| Name | Elisha Kipper [sic] | Catherin [sic] | Rebecca " | Mary C " | David W " | Anna O " | Andrew I " |
| Age | 37 | 35 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | F | M |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | Factory Hand | ||||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||
| Value of personal estate | 50 | ||||||
| Place of birth | Maryland | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | |||||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 |
| Dwelling-house number | 381 | |||
| Family number | 388 | |||
| Name | Skipper Elisha | - Annie | - Andrew | - Martha |
| Age | 45 | 14 | 12 | 9 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | " " " [sc. Works in Cotton Fac] | " " " | " " " | |
| Real estate value | ||||
| Personal estate value | ||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Md] | " | " | Md |
| Father foreign born | 1 | |||
| Mother foreign born | 1 | |||
| 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 ... |
| line | 38 | 39 |
| street name | ||
| house number | ||
| dwelling visit # | 421 | |
| family visit # | 421 | |
| name | Skipper Elisha | - Virginia |
| color | W | W |
| sex | M | F |
| age | 50 | 33 |
| month born if born in year | ||
| relationship | Wife | |
| single | ||
| married | 1 | 1 |
| widowed/divorced | ||
| married during year | ||
| occupation | Labourer | Keeping House |
| months unemployed | 2 | |
| currently ill? | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf/dumb | ||
| idiotic | ||
| insane | ||
| disabled | ||
| school this year | ||
| can't read | ||
| can't write | ||
| birthplace | Maryland | Virginia |
| father's birthplace | Md | Va |
| mother's birthplace | Md | Va |
| line | 51 | 52 |
| street | Cedar Avenue | |
| house number | 3344 | |
| dwelling number | 66 | |
| family number | 66 | |
| name | Skipper Eliza [sic] | - Virginia T. |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| color | W | W |
| sex | M | F |
| birth date | May 1825 | Oct 1844 |
| age | 75 | 55 |
| married? | m | m |
| # years married | 22 | 22 |
| mother of how many children? | 0 | |
| # of children living | 0 | |
| birthplace | Maryland | Virginia |
| father's birthplace | Maryland | Virginia |
| mother's birthplace | Maryland | Virginia |
| immigration year | ||
| # years in USA | ||
| naturalized citizen? | ||
| occupation | nothing [?] | Weaver Cotton Mill |
| # months not employed | 0 | |
| # months in school | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R. | |
| free or mortgaged | ||
| farm/house | H. | |
| # of farm schedule | ||
| line | 25 |
| street | Chestnut Avenue |
| house nr | [3415] |
| dwelling nr | [116] |
| family nr | [120] |
| name | Skipper Virginia |
| relationship | Boarder |
| sex | F |
| color | W |
| age | 57 |
| marital status | Wd |
| #years present marriage | |
| mother of # children | 0 |
| mother of # living children | 0 |
| birthplace | Virginia |
| father's birthplace | Virginia |
| mother's birthplace | Virginia |
| immigrated | |
| naturalized/alien | |
| speaks English | English |
| occupation | Weaver |
| nature of industry etc. | Cotton Mill |
| employer etc. | W |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | |
| can read | Yes |
| can write | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | Yes |
| owned/rented | |
| owned free or mortagaged | |
| farm/house | [H] |
| nr on farm schedule | |
| civil war vet | |
| blind | |
| deaf & dumb |
| line | 69 |
| street | Charlottesville Road |
| house number | [FM] |
| dwelling visit number | [140] |
| family visit number | [144] |
| name | Skipper Jennie |
| relationship | Aunt |
| own/rent | |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | |
| sex | F |
| race | W |
| age at last birthday | 74 |
| marital status | Wi |
| year of immigration | |
| naturalized/alien | |
| year of naturalization | |
| attended school since Sept 1919 | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| birth place | Virginia |
| native language | |
| father's birthplace | Virginia |
| father's native language | |
| mother's birthplace | Virginia |
| mother's native language | |
| can speak English | yes |
| occupation | none |
| industry, business | |
| employment status | |
| number of farm schedule |
| line | 9 |
| street | Monticello Road #5 |
| house number | |
| dwelling visit # | 74 |
| family visit # | 95 |
| name | Skippir [sic] Virginia A |
| relation | Aunt |
| owned/rented | |
| value or rent | |
| radio | [blank] |
| farm | [yes] |
| sex | F |
| color | W |
| age | 85 |
| married? | Wd |
| age 1st marriage | 43 |
| school/college since 9/29 | No |
| can read & write | Yes |
| birthplace | Virginia |
| father's birthplace | Virginia |
| mother's birthplace | Virginia |
| native language | |
| immigration year | |
| naturalization | |
| can speak English | yes |
| occupation | None |
| industry | |
| worker class | |
| at work yesterday | |
| unemployment schedule # | |
| veteran? | |
| war | |
| farm schedule # |
Apl 1862. Absent sick in Genl Hospital Annapolis Md. since Mar. 26 /62.
July 1862. Absent. Was in Genl. Hospl Annapolis Now in 91st Regt. P.V.
Aug 1862. Absent. Sent to Hospl on march
Sept 1862. Absent retained in 91. Penna Regt. Cause unknown.
Oct + Nov 1862. Absent sick or wounded.
It has this day (Mch 6, 1909), been determined by this Department from the records that the charge of desertion of December 12, 1862, against the above named man is erroneous.