John D Lentz
Before the war
He was born in January 1818 (40). He was 43 years old when he enlisted (30, 29 [62 in 1880] 37 [32 in 1850], 38 [40 in 1860], 39 [52 in 1870], 40 [62 in 1880], 52 [82 at death in 1900]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (29, 37, 38, 39, 40, 52).
In 1842/43, he married Louisa M [unknown surname] (40). In 1900, she had had seven children, three of whom were alive (40).
In 1850, he was living in the 5th ward of Moyamensing, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (37). He was a farmer (37). He was living with his wife Louisa, and three children (David, Anna, and Elizabeth), along with three other people (37).
In 1860, he was living in the first ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (38). He was a quarryman, and owned $25,000 in real estate and $1,000 in personal property (38). He was living with his wife Louisa, six children (Anna, David, Elizabeth, Emma, William, Laura), and four other people (38).
In June 1861, he was captain of the Ellsworth Guard, which was a Home Guard company from the First Ward of Philadelphia (43).
He was living in Philadelphia when he enlisted (30).
During the war
He was enrolled and mustered in and appointed captain of company E on 9 September 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3, 22, 30, 33 [20 Aug 61], 44, 50, 54).
On 4 May 1862, Lentz and company E were ordered to report to Gilbert at Old Capital Prison, with four days cooked rations and all their camp equippage (12).
On 29 June 1862, he, along with the other commissioned officers in the regiment (except Colonel Gregory), signed a statement denying accusations that they were on the verge of open mutiny, that the regiment had been reduced to 400 men, and that Colonel Gregory was too lenient to Confederates and too harsh to men in the regiment (42).
In July 1862, he was a recruiting officer for the regiment (46).
He was Deputy Provost Martial in Alexandria, Virginia, and sent Levi Elder (69th New York) to the slave pen, on 8 August 1862 after 9 AM (28, 36).
On 15 December 1862 he and his men were posted as pickets, replacing pickets of the 126th Pennsylvania Infantry (and temporarily under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Rowe of the 126th). Lentz and a dozen men were posted at a block-house at Fredericksburg, Virginia. They were the middle line of pickets. They were not informed when the Union Army retreated across the river, because Lieutenant Bonsall of the 126th Pennsylvania Infantry mistook Acting 2nd Lieutenant Baker as the commander of the company, and gave the order to retire only to Baker. Nevertheless, Lentz and his men escaped the Confederates, and returned safely to camp, with only eleven men missing. (6, 7, 8, 51)
He was promoted (on 2 April 1863) effective 20 December 1862 to major, after Major Todd's death (1, 3, 4, 22, 27, 30, 49, 54).
On 7 February 1863, he was a captain, and was acting major (24).
He was commanding the regiment on 17 March 1863, while Captain Joseph Sinex was on an eight-day leave (26).
He was present at the Battle of Gettysburg, as major (14).
On 22 July 1863, the War Department detached him to Philadelphia to collect conscripts (15, 16). He was still there on 14 November 1863 (15) and 7 March 1864, when Lieutenant Colonel Sinex asked that he be returned (16).
On 5 August 1863, he was appointed President of a General Court Martial, which met at 1105 Girard Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (48).
On 12 October 1863, the Philadelphia Press published a letter signed by men on duty at Camp Cadwalader, including John Lentz, asking Pennsylvanians to re-elect Governor Curtin (13).
He was reported returned from detached service on 17 April 1864 (32).
He took command of the regiment on 12 May 1864, after Lieutenant Colonel Sinex was wounded (1 [p.191], 5), and was still in command on 8 June 1864 (17, 19).
Walter describes him as usually 'good-natured', but upset that Walter had missed the attack on the Myers' or Galt house (11).
He was in command on 31 May 1864 (organization table).
On 20 June 1864, William McGlencey was detailed as a private servant for him (13).
He was not in command on 3 July, 4 July (18), or 5 July 1864, but was on 10, 21, 22, and 24 July 1864 (various orders). (But the consolidated morning reports from 3 July 1864 through 18 July 1864 have him as commanding the regiment.)
He was commissioned, but not mustered in as, lieutenant colonel, on 12 July 1864 (30). On 3 August 1864, he received orders to take position in the fort where Lt Walcott's battery was stationed. On 9 August 1864, he wrote a report of the 91st's actions from 4 May to 30 July 1864 (20). Sellers assumed command on 9 August 1864, because Lentz was absent sick (21).
On 10 August 1864, he was in the Division Hospital, sick (35).
Having resigned, he was discharged by special order 323, War Department, on 28 September 1864 (1, 2, 4, 22, 23, 30, 33 [9 Sep 64], 41).
After the war
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (39). He was a grocer, and owned $1,000 in personal property (39). He was living with his wife Louisa, and three children (39).
In 1880, John D Lentz was a farmer, living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (29). He was living with his wife and two children (29):
- Louisa Lentz (wife), 54 years old, born Pennsylvania (parents born in Wales)
- William D Lentz (son), 25 years old, a farmer, born in Pennsylvania
- Laura N Lentz (daughter), 19 years old, born in Pennsylvania
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivor's Association (10).
In 1890, he was living at 1850 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (33, 34). (The city directory does not list an occupation for him (34).)
He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 15 August 1899 (4, 31, 54).
In 1900, he was living at 3808 Aspen Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (40). He was retired (40). He was living in his daughter and son-in-law's house (40).
He died of valvular disease of heart, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 7 August 1900 (4, 52, 54). He was a gent[leman] (i.e., retired) (52). He was living at, or died at, 3808 Aspen Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (52). He was buried on 10 August 1900, in Lafayette Cemetery (52).
Sources
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, and pp.188, 191)
3 List of commissioned officers, company E
4 pension index, by regiment (John D Lentz)
5 Joseph Welch, in Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, volume 1 (1914), pp.500-507, at page 505.
6 report by Lentz about Frederickburg
7 report by Gregory (regimental commander) about Frederickburg
8 report by Butterfield (corps commander) about Frederickburg
9 newspaper accounts of the 91st's arrival in Philadelphia on veterans' furlough
10 newspaper account of survivor's meeting, 1884, Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2
11 Thomas F Walter, 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier', Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail v.3, #47, p.1.
12 special order 31, 91st PA Infantry, 4 May 1862.
13 special order 47, headquarters, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 20 June 1864
14 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
15 letter, Gregory to Marvin, 14 November 1863
16 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
17 special order 41, HQ 91st PA (John D Lentz commanding), 8 June 1864
18 letters, Eli Sellers, commanding 91st PA, 4 July 1864
19 letter, Lentz, 22 July 1864
20 report, Lentz, 9 August 1864. An edited version was printed in Report of Major John D Lentz, Ninety-first Pennsylvania Infantry, 9 August 1864. Official Reports series 1 volume 36 part 1 pages 555-557, at page 557.
21 letter, Sellers to Scott, 30 August 1864
22 Regimental descriptive book
23 special order 323, War Department Adjutant General's Office, 28 September 1864
24 consolidated morning report, 7 February 1863
25 picture of company E chest, with Lentz's name inscribed
26 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 17 March 1863 (John D. Lentz)
27 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 April 1863 (John D Lentz)
28 general order 27, HQ Military District of Washington, 12 September 1862 (Captain John D Lentz)
29 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Falls of Schuylkill, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 607, microfilm series T9, film 1187, page 589 = 27D handwritten (John D Lentz)
30 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (John D Lentz)
31 pension index, by name, searched on <www.ancestry.com> 21 May 2004 (John D Lentz)
32 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 April 1864 (Major Lentz)
33 1890 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 775, page 1, line 8 (John D Lentz)
34 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, transcribed at <www.ancestry.com> (searched Dec 2004) (John D Lentz)
35 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 10 August 1864 (Major Lentz)
36 court martial record, E Carroll Brewster, including testimony by Lentz (John D Lentz)
37 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, 5th ward of Moyamensing, microfilm series M432, film 809, page 481 verso (John Lutz [sic])
38 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, precinct 5, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 345 = 247 handwritten (John D Lentz)
39 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 232 = 160 handwritten (John D Lentz)
40 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 24th ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 556, microfilm series T623, film 1466, page 67-68 = 5B-6A handwritten (John D Lentz)
41 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 October 1864 (John D Lentz)
42 'Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1862, page 2 (John D Lentz)
43 'The Home Guard organization', Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 June 1861, page 2 (John D Lentz)
44 'Camp Chase at Gray's Ferry' Philadelphia Inquirer 19 October 1861 page 8 (John D Lentz)
45 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (JD Lentz)
46 '$100 bounty', Philadelphia Inquirer 15 July 1862 page 5 (John D Lentz)
47 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (JD Lentz)
48 'General court martial', Philadelphia Inquirer 5 August 1863 page 8 (John D Lentz)
49 'Promotion in the Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers', 'Promotion in the Ninety-first regiment ...', Philadelphia Inquirer 15 May 1863 page 8 (John D Lentz)
50 'Local intelligence', Philadelphia Inquirer 19 September 1862 page 8 (John D Lentz)
51 court-martial record, trial of James B Bonsall, 3 January 1863, and trial of D B Baker, 3 January 1863, National Archives, Record Group 153 (Judge Advocate General, Army), file KK691; and court-martial record, trial of James B Bonsall, 12 January 1863, and trial of D B Baker, 12 January 1863, National Archives, Record Group 153 (Judge Advocate General, Army), file KK664 (John D Lentz)
52 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 7 August 1900, #3526 (John D Lentz)
53 'An urgent appeal from the soldiers', Philadelphia Press, 12 October 1863, page 2 (John Lents [sic])
54 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (John D Lentz)
1850 census
[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, 5th ward of Moyamensing, microfilm series M432, film 809, page 481 verso]| line | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Dwellings visited | 334 | |||||||
| Families visited | 504 | |||||||
| Name | John Lutz | Louisa " | David " | Anna " | Eliz " | Jos Rementer | Jas McZilany [?] | Marg. Carson |
| [Is Jos Rementer the Joseph Rementer who joined company E in 1862?] | ||||||||
| Age | 32 | 31 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 35 | 28 | 24 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | F | M | M | F |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | " [sc. Farmer] | Laborer | " | |||||
| Real estate owned | ||||||||
| Birthplace | Penna | " | " | " | " | " | Ireland | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||||||
1860 census
[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, precinct 5, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 345 = 247 handwritten]| line | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Dwelling number | 1727 | |||||||||||
| Family number | 1967 | |||||||||||
| Name | John D Lentz | Louisa " | Anna " | David " | Elizabeth | Emma | William | Laura | George Cox | Margaret Gravin [?] | Margaret Mills | Letitia Smith |
| Age | 40 | 40 | 15 [?] | 17 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 28 [?] | 16 | 30 |
| Sex | m | f | f | m | f | f | m | f | m | f | f | f |
| Color | ||||||||||||
| Occupation | Quarryman | Clerk | Servant | Servant | School Teacher | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 25,000 | |||||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 1000 | |||||||||||
| Place of birth | Penn | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | Ireland [?] | " | Penn |
| Married within year | ||||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Cannot read & write | 1 | |||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
1870 census
[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 232 = 160 handwritten]| line | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Dwelling-house number | 155 | ||||
| Family number | 169 | ||||
| Name | Lentz John D. | - Louisa | - Emma | - William | - Laura V. |
| Age | 52 | 50 | 19 | 15 | 11 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Grocer | Keep house | At house | In Grocery Store | At School |
| Real estate value | |||||
| Personal estate value | $1,000 | ||||
| Birthplace | Penn | Penna | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| Father foreign born | |||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | ||||
| 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 ... |
1880 census
[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Falls of Schuylkill, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 607, microfilm series T9, film 1187, page 589 = 27D handwritten][I did not transcribe the five boarders living with them]
| line | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| street name | Farms | ||||
| house number | |||||
| dwelling visit # | 217 | ||||
| family visit # | 231 | ||||
| name | Lentz John D. | - Lousia [sic] | William D | Laura D | Penn [? Emma E. |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F | F |
| age | 62 | 54 | 25 | 19 | 17 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Daughter | ||
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Farmer | Keeps house | Farmer | At home | Servant |
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | |||||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | |||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Wales | Penna | Penna | Germany |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Wales [sic] | Wales [sic] | Wales [sic] | Germany |
[1890 veterans' census]
[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 775, page 1 (image 2472 on <www.ancestry.com>)][line] 8
[house] 25
[family] 25
[name] Lentz John D.
[rank] Capt + Major
[company] E
[unit] 91 Pa Inf
[enlistment date] 20 Aug 1861
[discharge date] 9 Sept 1864
[length of service] 3 years 1 month 19 days
[post office address] 1850 North 23rd Phila. Pa
[disability incurred] [blank]
[remarks] Commissioned Lt. Col. but not mustered
1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory
[searched transcription on <www.ancestry.com>]John D Lentz, h 1850 N 23d
John B Quay, clerk, h 1850 N 23d
1900 census
[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 24th ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 556, microfilm series T623, film 1466, page 67-68 = 5B-6A handwritten]| line | 99 | 100 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| street | Aspen Street | Aspen Street | ||||||
| house number | 3808 | |||||||
| dwelling number | 86 | |||||||
| family number | 93 | |||||||
| name | Quay [?] John B. | Laura V [?] | Quay Raymond T | - Royd B | - Emma L | Lentz John D | - Louisa M | Ford Ida |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Daughter | F in law | M in law | Servant |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | F | M | F | F |
| birth date | May 1865 | Mar 1865 | Jan 1892 | July 1894 | Nov 1897 | Jan 1818 | May 1818 | May 1879 |
| age | 35 | 35 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 82 | 82 | 21 |
| married? | M | M | S | S | S | M | M | S |
| # years married | 12 | 12 | 57 | 57 | ||||
| mother of how many children? | 3 | 7 | ||||||
| # of children living | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Wales | England |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Wales | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | ||||||||
| # years in USA | ||||||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||||||
| occupation | R.R. Operator | Retired | Servant | |||||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| # months in school | ||||||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | O | |||||||
| free or mortgaged | M [?] | |||||||
| farm/house | H | |||||||
| # of farm schedule | ||||||||
death certificate
[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 7 August 1900, #3526, John D Lentz][source: www.familysearch.org]
3526
RETURN OF A DEATH
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, John D. Lentz
2. Color, White
3. Sex, Male
4. Age, 82 yrs
5. Married
6. Date of Death, Aug 7th 1900
7. Cause of Death, Valvular Dis of Heart
W Gross M.D.
Residence, WM D GROSS M.D.
101 [?] NORTH 40th St.
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, Gent
9. Place of Birth, Phila
10. When a Minor, [blank]
11. Ward, 24"
12. Street and Number, 3808 Aspen St.
13. Date of Burial, August 10th 1900.
14. Place of Burial, Lafayette Cemetery
Good and Son Undertaker.
Residence, 921 Spruce St.
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revised 9 Nov 08
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