He was 21 years old when he was enlisted (6, 12 [31 in 1870]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 12).
He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark blue eyes, and brown hair (6). He had curly [?] hair (6). The company descriptive roll also notes that his "Right heart [was] higher on max [??] prominence than the left" (6).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 20 August 1861 (1, 6, 7, 8). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (6, 7 [Lt Col]). He served in company C, initially as a private (1).
He was appointed corporal on 24 December 1861 (4, 5).
On 8 September 1863, Sinex reported that he was in Philadelphia and able to rejoin the regiment, and requested his return (2).
His descriptive list was sent on 30 June 1864, but the descriptive roll does not say where it was sent (6).
On 7 August 1864, he was reported regained from desertion (10).
He mustered out as a corporal, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 3 September 1864, when his term expired (1, 3 [has 20 Aug 64], 6, 7, 8, 11 [3 Sep]).
On 22 September 1869, he applied successfully for a pension (9, 13).
In 1870, he was living in Newton Township, Camden County, New Jersey (12). He was living with his wife Louisa, and a child, Mary Moody (12). He was a clerk (12).
According to the pension index by regiment card, he died on 22 September 1869 (13). This seems unlikely.
On 7 June 1882, his widow, Louisa Gessler, successfully applied for a pension (9, 13).
In 1890, his widow, Louisa Gessler, was living at 924 South 5th Street, Camden, Camden County, Pennsylvania (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)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 8 September 1863
3 letter, Sellers to Bennett, 9 September 1864
4 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 1, corporals (James P Gessler)
5 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, corporals (James P Gessler)
6 company C, descriptive roll, entry 34 (James P Gessler)
7 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 12 (James P Gessler)
8 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New Jersey, Camden County, Camden, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 174, page 4 (James P Gessler)
9 pension index, by name (James P Gessler)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 7 August 1864 (Corpl Gessler)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 9 September 1864 (Jas P Gessler)
12 1870 US census, New Jersey, Camden County, district 25 Newton Township (post office Gloucester City), microfilm series M593, film 855, page 289 = 117 handwritten (James P Gessler)
13 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (James P Gessler)
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Dwelling-house number | 947 | ||
| Family number | 1049 | ||
| Name | Gessler James P | - Louisa R | Moody Mary |
| Age | 31 | 30 | 9 |
| Sex | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Clerk | Keeping House | At home |
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Pennsylvania] | " | Virginia |
| Father foreign born | |||
| Mother foreign born | |||
| 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 ... |