He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1838/39. [sources: date: 4 (27 in 1861), 5 (34 in 1870), 10 (38 yrs 1 month 9 days at death on 13 Jan 1875), 12 (12 in 1850), 13 (21 in 1860). place: 4, 5, 10, 12, 13]
In 1850, he was living in ward 5, Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with William and Susan Wisper (presumably his parents), and with Sarah, Emeline, Adam, Andrew, and William H (presumably siblings). He had not attended school within the year. [source: 12]
In 1860, he was living in ward 18, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with William and Susan Wisper (presumably his parents), and with Adam, Andrew, and Alonza (presumably siblings). He was a glass blower. [source: 13]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, grey (?) eyes, and black hair. [source: 4]
His father, William Wispert, and brother Adam Wispert also served in the 91st.
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 9 October 1861. He was enrolled for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Zinn. He was mustered in as a private in company H. He had rifle number 100. [sources: 1, 2, 4, 14]
He was discharged at Warrenton, Virginia, on 16 November 1862 on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was a private, in company H. [sources: 1, 2 (15 Nov), 3, 4, 14]
He married Alice (or Ella) [unknown family name]. She was born in March 1844, in Ireland. She immigrated to the US in 1848. Their children include:
[sources: 5, 6, 7, 11]
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Alice, his child Anna, and three other people (including his brother Andrew and father William). He was a glass blower, and owned $400 in personal property. [source: 5]
On 13 January 1875, he died, of typhoid fever, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a glass blower. He died at, or was buried from, 948 Aramingo Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 17 January 1875, he was buried, at Palmer vault. [sources: 8, 10]
In 1880, his widow, Alice, was living at 1130 Crease, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her daughter Annie and with a boarder. She worked in a hosiery manufacturer. [source: 6]
On 11 January 1889, his widow, Ella Wispert, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 8, 9]
In 1890, his widow, Ella Wispert, was living at 1472 Cook Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 2]
In 1900, his widow, Ella Wispert, was living in the 33rd ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her daughter Anna and Anna's family. [source: 7]
In 1910, his widow, Alice Wispert, was living at 31 Seltzer Street, ward 33, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her daughter Anna and Anna's family. [source: 11]
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) (James Wispert)
2 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 17th division, 18th ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 351, page 2 (image 747 on Ancestry), line 21 (James Wispert)
3 company H, register of men discharged, #24 (James Wispert)
4 company H, descriptive roll, #35 (James Wispert)
5 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1405, page 495 (James Wispert)
6 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 327, microfilm series T9, film 1177, page 48 C = 11 handwritten (Allice Wispert)
7 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 33, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 864, microfilm series T623, film 1475, page 126 B = 5 handwritten (Ella Wispert)
8 pension index, by name (James Wispert)
9 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (James Wispert)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 13 January 1875 (James Wispert)
11 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 33, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 784, microfilm series T624, film 1404, page 82 = 6 B handwritten (Alice Wispert)
12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Kensington, ward 5, microfilm series M432, film 807, page 379 = 158 handwritten (James Wisper)
13 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 18, NE division (post office Kensington), microfilm series M653, film 1168, page 206 = 206 handwritten (James Wisper)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Wispert)
| line | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Dwellings visited | 1114 | |||||||
| Families visited | 1205 | |||||||
| Name | Wm Wisper [sic] | Susan " | Sarah " | Emeline " | James " | Adam " | Andrew " | Wm H " |
| Age | 45 | 40 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | M | M | M |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Carpenter | |||||||
| Real estate owned | 1000 | |||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Pa] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | 1 | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Dwelling number | 1312 | |||||
| Family number | 1471 | |||||
| Name | Wm Wisper | Susan " | James " | Adam " | Andrew " | Alonza " |
| Age | 62 | 52 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 8 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | m | m |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Carpenter | Glassblower | ditto | |||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||
| Place of birth | do [sc. Penna] | do | do | do | do | do |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | (1) | |||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Dwelling-house number | 945 | |||||
| Family number | 971 | |||||
| Name | Wispert James | Alice | Anna | Riley Celie | Wispert Andrew | William |
| Age | 34 | 32 | 10/12 | 21 | 23 | 70 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Glass Blower | Housekeeping | Tailoress | Glass Blower | No oc | |
| Real estate value | ||||||
| Personal estate value | 400 | |||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Ireland | Penna | Ireland | Penna | Penna |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Birth month if born within year | Aug | |||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||
| Attended school past year | ||||||
| Can't read | ||||||
| Can't write | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| street name | Crease | ||
| house number | 1130 | ||
| dwelling visit # | 93 | ||
| family visit # | 106 | ||
| name | Wispert Allice | " Annie M | Mackenroy [??] Alexander |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | F | F | M |
| age | 37 | 10 | 38 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | Daughter | Boarder | |
| single | 1 | 1 | |
| married | |||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | ||
| married during year | |||
| occupation | works in Hosiery [?] Mfg | at school | machinist |
| months unemployed | |||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | 1 | ||
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Ireland | Penn | Scotland |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | Penn | Scotland |
| mother's birthplace | Scotland | Ireland | Scotland |
| line | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 |
| street | [illegible] | ||||
| house number | 2859 | ||||
| dwelling number | 100 | ||||
| family number | 104 | ||||
| name | Patterson Wm John | - Anna M | - John A | - Alice | Wispert Ella |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Daughter | m-in-law |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F | F |
| birth date | April 1860 | Aug 1869 | March 1896 | April 1898 | March 1844 |
| age | 40 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 56 [?] |
| married? | M | M | S | S | W |
| # years married | 5 | 5 | |||
| mother of how many children? | 2 | 1 | |||
| # of children living | 2 | 1 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Ireland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| immigration year | 1848 | ||||
| # years in USA | 52 | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||
| occupation | Cloth Weaver | Operator Hosiery | |||
| # months not employed | 6 | 6 | |||
| # months in school | |||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | ||
| can write | yes | yes | no | ||
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | ||
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| free or mortgaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| # of farm schedule |
| line | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 |
| street | Seltzer Street | ||||
| house nr | 31 | ||||
| dwelling nr | 101 | ||||
| family nr | 101 | ||||
| name | Patterson John W | Anna M | John A | Alice V | Wispert Alice |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Daughter | Mother-in-law |
| sex | M | F | M | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 50 | 40 | 14 | 12 | 66 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | Wd |
| #years present marriage | 16 | 16 | |||
| mother of # children | 2 | 1 | |||
| mother of # living children | 2 | 1 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | U.S. English | U.S. English | U.S. English | U.S. English | Ire Irish |
| mother's birthplace | U.S. English | U.S. English | U.S. English | U.S. English | Ire Irish |
| immigrated | 1848 | ||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Knitter | Knitter | None | None | None |
| nature of industry etc. | Underwear Mill | Underwear Mill | |||
| employer etc. | W | W | |||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | |||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | |||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | Yes | Yes | |||
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| nr on farm schedule | |||||
| civil war vet | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf & dumb | |||||