He was born on 16 August 1829, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, to Jacob Wiser and [unknown]. [sources: date: 9 (16 Aug 1839 [sic], 12; 2 (37 in 1864), 4 (37 in 1864), 10 (40 in 1870), 11 (50 in 1880), 13. place: 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (Cochran's Mill). parents: 9]
In 1857/68, he married Martha R Frick. She was born in November 1837, to Henry Frick and Nancy Rowley. They apparently had twelve children, including these:
[sources: 10, 11, 12 (12 children 5 living in 1900), 13]
When he enlisted, he was a farmer. [source: 2]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and auburn hair. [source: 2]
He was drafted. He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private for one year, on 21 September 1864, at Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted and mustered into service by Captain Kecker [?]. He was a private in company E. [sources: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 (15 Sep), 14]
He seems not to have reached the 91st until March 1865; I do not know why. [source: 2]
He was discharged by War Department general order, at Camp Cadwalader, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 1 June 1865. He was a private, in company E. [sources: 1, 3, 4, 5 (30 May), 7 (7 June), 14]
In 1870, he was living in South Bend Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his (presumed) wife Martha, their (presumed) children Jacob, Ann C, Mary Emma, George W, and Lewis, and Kaithe [?] Roley. He was working on a farm; Martha owned real estate worth $100 and personal property work $290. [source: 10]
In 1880, he was living in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Martha, and children Mary, George W, Lewis, and William J. He was a farmer. [source: 11]
In 1890, he was living in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. [source: 7]
In 1900, he was living in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Martha, and sons George W and William. He was a farmer, and had not been out of work in the previous year. [source: 12]
On 9 August 1890, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 5, 6]
On 14 March 1907, he again applied for a pension. [source: 5]
His wife Martha R Wiser apparently died in 1909, and was buried in Cochrans Mill United Methodist Church Cemetery, Cochrans Mill, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 8, 13]
On 22 June 1909, he died, in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was a retired farmer. He died of intestinal obstruction (for three weeks in April 2009) and gradual decline from infirmities of old age. On 24 June 1909, he was buried in Cochrans Mill United Methodist Church Cemetery, Cochrans Mill, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 5, 8, 9]
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 company E descriptive roll, entry 186 (John Weiser)
3 company E, register of men discharged, number 47 (John Wiser)
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (John Weiser; rolls have 'Wiser')
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (John Wiser [sic])
6 pension index, by name (John Wiser [sic])
7 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Burrell Township, enumeration district 6, page 1 (John Wiser [sic])
8 Find a grave, memorial 26507378, created by Burke Stoughton, added 30 April 2008, accessed 18 February 2015 [the pictured headstone reads: 'WISER JOHN 1829-1909 MARTHA R. 1837-1909 JACOB 1860-1888 ROZELLA 1882-1896 W. J. McCRACKEN 1888-1896' (note that '3' and '8' aren't easy to distinguish in the picture)] (John Wiser)
9 death certificate, Pennsylvania, Armstrong county, 22 June 1909 (John Wiser)
10 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, South Bend Township, microfilm series M593, film 1301, pages 403 verso = 20 handwritten to 404 recto = 21 handwritten (FamilySearch (John Wiser)
11 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Burrell Township, enumeration district 3, microfilm series T9, film 1095, page 74 = 10 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (John Wiser)
12 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Burrell Township, enumeration district 7, microfilm series T623, film 1373, page 94 = 7 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (John Wiser)
13 'John Wiser', in 'Erami family tree', an Ancestry family tree, owner eramijen, accessed 18 February 2015 (John Wiser)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Wiser)
| line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 |
| Dwelling-house number | 150 | |||||||
| Family number | 150 | |||||||
| Name | Wiser Martha | - John | - Jacob | - Ann C | - Mary Emma | - George W | - Lewis | Roley Kaithe [?] |
| Age | 31 | 40 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 11/12 | 57 |
| Sex | F | M | M | F | F | M | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Keeping House | Works on Farm | ||||||
| Real estate value | 100 | 2000 | ||||||
| Personal estate value | 290 | 1152 | ||||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Pennsylvania | Penna |
| Father foreign born | ||||||||
| Mother foreign born | ||||||||
| Birth month if born within year | Aug | |||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | |||||||
| Can't read | 1 | |||||||
| Can't write | 1 | 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 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| street name | ||||||
| house number | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 74 | |||||
| family visit # | 77 | |||||
| name | Wiser John | - Martha | - Mary | - George W | - Lewis | - Wm J |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | M | M |
| age | 50 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 4 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||
| relationship | Wife | Daught | Son | " | " | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||
| married during year | ||||||
| occupation | Farmer | Keeping House | At Home | " " | " " | |
| months unemployed | ||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||
| idiotic | ||||||
| insane | ||||||
| disabled | ||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| can't read | 1 | |||||
| can't write | 1 | |||||
| birthplace | Pa | " | " | " | " | Pa |
| father's birthplace | Pa | " | " | " | " | [blank] |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | " | " | " | " | Pa |
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| street | ||||
| house number | ||||
| dwelling number | 122 | |||
| family number | 123 | |||
| name | Wiser John | - Martha | - George W | - William |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M |
| birth date | Aug 1829 | Nov 1837 | Nov 1867 | Sept 1875 |
| age | 70 | 62 | 32 | 24 |
| married? | M | M | S | S |
| # years married | 42 | 42 | ||
| mother of how many children? | 12 | |||
| # of children living | 5 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Farmer | Painter | Painter | |
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| # months in school | ||||
| 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 | F | |||
| # of farm schedule | 122 |
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Nov. 1908 to June 22 1909 that I last saw him alive on April 26 1909 and that death occurred, on the date stated above, at 4 A.M. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:
Intestinal obstruction for 3 weeks in April 09 Gradual decline from infirmities of old age (Duration) [blank] Days