He was born in Somerset [County], Pennsylvania (5, 6, 7, 8). He was 41 years old when he was enlisted (5, 6, 7 [70 in ?1888], 8 [70 in ?1888]).
He was a boatman when he was enlisted (5, 6).
He was 5 feet 6-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (5, 6).
He was mustered into service in the 62nd Pennsylvania on 9 August 1861 (1).
On 2 July 1864, Colonel Switzer detailed him in the Brigade Quartermaster Department (4).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 24 February 1864 (1, 5, 6). He was enlisted for three years, at Licken Run, Virginia, by Lieutenant Adams (5, 6). He was mustered in by Captain Bernard (5, 6).
He was transferred on 20 July 1864 from company M of the 62nd Pennsylvania to the 91st (1, 10 [24 Feb]). On 21 July 1864, he, and the other members of companies L and M, were assigned to company G (2). On 22 July 1864, they were transferred to company K, following brigade orders to assign them to the smallest company (3). He was then present, as a private (3). He served as a private in company K (1).
He was still detailed in the Brigade Quartermaster Department in September (?) 1864 (4).
He was still detailed in the 2nd Brigade Quartermaster Department on 30 April 1865 (11).
In June 1865, he was detailed in the Brigade Commissary (12).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 10 [9 Jul]). He served for sixteen months (7, 8).
On 18 October 1880, he successfully applied from Kansas for a pension (9, 10).
On 11 October 1888, he was admitted to the National Soldiers Home (7, 8). He was admitted from Kansas (7, 8). He was paralyzed (7, 8). He was not receiving a pension (7).
In 1889, he was present in the Western Branch of the National Soldiers Home (7).
On 22 November 1892, he died, in the Western Branch of the National Soldiers Home (8). He was receiving a pension of $12 per month (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) (John Shaeffer)
2 special order 65, HQ 91st PA, 21 July 1864 (John Shaffer)
3 special order 66, HQ 91st PA, 22 July 1864 (John Shaffer)
4 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (John Shaeffer)
5 company K, third descriptive roll (John Shaeffer)
6 company K, fourth descriptive roll (John Shaeffer)
7 Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the Board for the fiscal year 1889. Serial Set volume 2768, session volume 9, 51st Congress, 1st Session. House Miscellaneous Document 77. Page 312. (John Schaffer)
8 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893. Serial Set volume 3151, session volume 1, 53rd Congress, 1st Session. House Miscellaneous Document 35. Page 717. (John Schaffer)
9 pension index, by name (John Shaffer)
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (John Shaffer)
11 company K, monthly report, April 1865 (Jno Schaffer)
12 monthly return, company K, June 1865 (Jno Shaeffer)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)--but I didn't check all reasonable spellings of his name]