He was born in 1842/43 (2 (21 in 1864), 5 (67 in 1910)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2).
When he enlisted, he was a tinsmith (2).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair (2).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 10 February 1864 (1, 2, 3). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Shipley (2). He was mustered in service by Lieutenant Burke (2). He was a private in company D (1, 9-11).
He entered Emory Hospital on 19 March 1865 (2). His descriptive list was sent to Campbell US Hospital on 30 May 1865 (2).
He was discharged on general order on 24 June 1865 (1, 3). He was a private, in company D (9-11).
On 13 April 1889, he successfully applied for a pension from Pennsylvania (6, 7).
In 1890, he was living at 254 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 4). He had contracted lumbago and a hernia while he was in the army (3). The city directory lists no occupation for him (4).
On 8 February 1910, he died (5). The funeral was held Sunday at 2903 West Allegheny Avenue (his late residence) (5). Members of Greble Post, number 10, GAR were invited to attend (5). He was buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (5, 8).
On 26 February 1910, Henrietta Somers, his widow, successfully applied for a pension from Pennsylvania (6, 7).
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 Summers)
2 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 59 (Joseph Sommers)
3 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 158, page 1 [sic, actually 2] (image 1160 on Ancestry), line 15 (Joseph Somers)
4 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (Joseph Sommers)
5 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer, 10 February 1910, page 13 (Joseph Somers)
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Joseph Somers)
7 pension index, by name (Joseph Somers)
8 Find a grave, memorial 35857776, created by Margaret Orthodox, added 14 Apr 2009 (accessed 10 June 2012) (Joseph Summers)
9 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Sommers)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Sumers)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Summers)
SOMERS.--On February 8, 1910, JOSEPH SOMERS, aged 67 years. Relatives and friends, also Greble Post, No 10, GAR, and Co D, 91st Regiment, PV, are invited to attend funeral services, on Sunday, at 2.30 PM, at his late residence, 2903 W Allegheny ave. Interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery.