Born to German-born parents, in 1860 he claimed he was a shoemaker living in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, although he is not found in that census, and it is more likely he was residing in Montgomery County - at least by no later than mid-1863. He stood 5' 7" tall and had brown hair, blue eyes, and "tattoo marks on [his] right arm."
A Civil War veteran, he was drafted and mustered into federal service at Norristown, Montgomery County, August 20, 1863, as a private with Co. C, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. On May 29, 1864, he transferred to Co. K, 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was serving with that regiment when he was captured on the picket line at the battle of Cold Harbor June 1, 1864. Incarcerated initially in Richmond, Virginia, he was then transferred to the stockade at Andersonville, Georgia. By the time of his parol at Jacksonville, Florida, on April 29, 1865, he "was almost blind and had to be led." Hospitalized in Philadelphia, he was there honorably discharged June 22, 1865. Bates spells his name "Retherser," Arias spells it "Rettihiser," and Andersonville's records say both "Ratherser" and "Redhiser."
He married Mary Jane "Jennie" Kennedy August 30, 1867, but they separated in 1880 and divorced April 22, 1883. They had no children. He then married Jennie Leightner June 24, 1883, in York, but they also had no children. Cause of death is listed as "hemiplegia" with "arteriosclerosis" a contributing factor.
A Civil War veteran, he was drafted and mustered into federal service at Norristown, Montgomery County, August 20, 1863, as a private with Co. C, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. On May 29, 1864, he transferred to Co. K, 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was serving with that regiment when he was captured on the picket line at the battle of Cold Harbor June 1, 1864. Incarcerated initially in Richmond, Virginia, he was then transferred to the stockade at Andersonville, Georgia. By the time of his parol at Jacksonville, Florida, on April 29, 1865, he "was almost blind and had to be led." Hospitalized in Philadelphia, he was there honorably discharged June 22, 1865. Bates spells his name "Retherser," Arias spells it "Rettihiser," and Andersonville's records say both "Ratherser" and "Redhiser."
He married Mary Jane "Jennie" Kennedy August 30, 1867, but they separated in 1880 and divorced April 22, 1883. They had no children. He then married Jennie Leightner June 24, 1883, in York, but they also had no children. Cause of death is listed as "hemiplegia" with "arteriosclerosis" a contributing factor.
Born to German-born parents, in 1860 he claimed he was a shoemaker living in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, although he is not found in that census, and it is more likely he was residing in Montgomery County - at least by no later than mid-1863. He stood 5' 7" tall and had brown hair, blue eyes, and "tattoo marks on [his] right arm."
A Civil War veteran, he was drafted and mustered into federal service at Norristown, Montgomery County, August 20, 1863, as a private with Co. C, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. On May 29, 1864, he transferred to Co. K, 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was serving with that regiment when he was captured on the picket line at the battle of Cold Harbor June 1, 1864. Incarcerated initially in Richmond, Virginia, he was then transferred to the stockade at Andersonville, Georgia. By the time of his parol at Jacksonville, Florida, on April 29, 1865, he "was almost blind and had to be led." Hospitalized in Philadelphia, he was there honorably discharged June 22, 1865. Bates spells his name "Retherser," Arias spells it "Rettihiser," and Andersonville's records say both "Ratherser" and "Redhiser."
He married Mary Jane "Jennie" Kennedy August 30, 1867, but they separated in 1880 and divorced April 22, 1883. They had no children. He then married Jennie Leightner June 24, 1883, in York, but they also had no children. Cause of death is listed as "hemiplegia" with "arteriosclerosis" a contributing factor.
A Civil War veteran, he was drafted and mustered into federal service at Norristown, Montgomery County, August 20, 1863, as a private with Co. C, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. On May 29, 1864, he transferred to Co. K, 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was serving with that regiment when he was captured on the picket line at the battle of Cold Harbor June 1, 1864. Incarcerated initially in Richmond, Virginia, he was then transferred to the stockade at Andersonville, Georgia. By the time of his parol at Jacksonville, Florida, on April 29, 1865, he "was almost blind and had to be led." Hospitalized in Philadelphia, he was there honorably discharged June 22, 1865. Bates spells his name "Retherser," Arias spells it "Rettihiser," and Andersonville's records say both "Ratherser" and "Redhiser."
He married Mary Jane "Jennie" Kennedy August 30, 1867, but they separated in 1880 and divorced April 22, 1883. They had no children. He then married Jennie Leightner June 24, 1883, in York, but they also had no children. Cause of death is listed as "hemiplegia" with "arteriosclerosis" a contributing factor.
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