Civil
War Pension Papers
These Pension Papers are taken from handwritten documents and are very hard to read. I have done my best to transcribed them exactly as written. These are not the full pension papers. I have only included those pages which give genealoical information or information about the person.
Deposition 0
Case of W.H. Morris, No. 77640
On this 10 day of Sept 1886 at Ashville, County of Pickaway, State of Ohio, before me, RW.S. Parker, a Special examiner of the Pension, Personally appeared George W. Dolby, who, being by him first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: his age is 33, P O Ashville, Ohio is a hotel business & brick maker.
I had W. employed for three seasons making brick, 1879, 80 & 81. and in 1881 W fell off one of the kilns and received severe injuries.
I did not see him fall but he was brought to my house and was confined to hi s bed 3 or 4 weeks.
W. complained he was jammed all over. He told me he was on top of the kiln throwing off wood & a stick caught him in the blouse & pulled him off. He did not fall less than 2 feet.
In referring to my books I found W. worked for me in 1878 and I think it was in 1878 that he got hurt for he had another man moulding for him.
W was a good hand before he was hurt. Did a full days work and then run all night after women. I don’t think W was a good hand after he got hurt as he was before at least I did not have him much.
W claimed that he was hurt in the spinal cord from the shock & I believe he declared for it. I am not certain.
I am not related to W. nor interested in his claim. I have fully comprehended the questions asked & my answers have been correctly recorded.
George W. Dolby
Deponent
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 10th day of Sept 1886 & I certify that the contents were fully made know to the deponent before signing
RWS Parker
Deposition 2
Case of W.H. Morris, No. 77640
On this 16 day of Sept 1886, at So Bloomingville, County of Hocking, State of Ohio, before me, RWS Pander, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Berry Harper, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: his age is 58 PO So Bloomingville O is a farmer
I have been more or less acquainted with W for generally 12 or 13 yrs I never worked with him and never was about him much and I known nothing of his physical condition except what I have heard W say. He says he is broken down and is not able to do much.
I had a little racket with W 8 or 9 yrs ago but he received no injuries from me.
I knocked him down. I hit him with my fist I blacked his eyes. I did not see him for a week or two afterward & other men can tell you more about his injuries than I can.
I did not stamp him with my feet. I cannot say more how badly he was hurt but he was not seriously hurt. I only hit him 2 or 3 times. His eyes were not injured that I know of. I never heard him or anybody else say they were.
I am not related to W. nor interested in his claim for pension.
I have fully comprehended the questions asked & my answers have been correctly recorded.
Benjamin Harper
Deponent
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 16th day of Sept 1886 & I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing
RWS Parker
Diseases of Women and Children
A Specialty
Office of
Frank C. Melcher,
Physician and Surgeon
South Bloomingville, Ohio April 23rd, 1895
Wm Locksen
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
In regard to case no. 584006, i.e. that of Mrs. W.H. Morris I will day that the woman above mentioned is in suffering condition having not been able to work for some time, and unless something is done with her claim soon it will never do her any good. There fore I urge you on her behalf to attend to her claim at once, I will further state that I am not related to her and in no way interested in her claim.
C.F. Melcher, M.D.
Witnesses J.C. Giles
State of Ohio Ross County ss.
In the matter of Pension Claim of Alice Morris wid of William H. Morris dec late private Co. C 178 Regt Ohio Vols
Personally appeared before me a Mayor in and for aforesaid County and State Ollie Calhoon who being duly sworn declares as follows to wit:
I am a daughter of the above named widow and do certify that the said Alice Morris widow of Wm H Morris has no income or way of making a living other than to look to her children for same. I have furnished her some money and groceries to help her as far as I could, further she is a lady not able to do her own house work.
I dictated this affidavit and am not interested in this claim other than to assist her in her condition
Ollie Calhoun
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of June A.D. 1894 and I further certify I read said affidavit to said affiant before she executed the same I am in no wis interested in said case. Witness my hand and seal
Peter Eby
Mayor
Of Adelphi, Ross Co, Ohio
July Term, A.D. 1852
The State of Ohio
Franklin Count SS:
At a Court of Common Pleas of the third subdivision of the fifth judicial district of the State of Ohio begun and held at the Court House in the city of Columbus, within and for said county on Tuesday the twentieth day of July in the Year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty two before his honor James L. Bates there were among others the following proceedings, to wit:
Alice Kruse
--VS-- Divorce.
Henry Kruse.
Be it remembered that heretofore to wit, on the 6th day of September A.D. 1851, came the complainant by her solicitor and filed in the office of the Clerk for said court the following petition for divorce, to wit, To the Hon. The judge of the court of the Common Pleas, within and for the county of Franklin, the State of Ohio, in Chancery sitting, complaining she weth unto your Honors your oratrix Alice Kruse formerly Alice Wilcox, that on the 3rd of September 1848 she was in said county duly and legally married to one Henry Kruse, of said County, and which marriage contract is still subsisting and in full force that since her said marriage she has been and still is a bona fide a resident of said county-that for more than a year last past her husband has been very dissipated and has grossly neglected his duty to your petitioner in the that for more than a year last past he has wholly neglected to provide for your petitioner the necessities of life that she has been obliged to maintain herself with out any help or assistance whatever from her said husband who when he earns anything expends it in intoxicating liquors, and if your petitioner by her industry and toil procures any property or money which he can has he has done, get hold of he also expends in dissipation. Your petitioner is unable to maintain herself and her said husband from her sole labor, she therefore prayeth that the said Henry Kruse may be made defendant to this her petition, and that the marriage contract existing between them may be set aside and annulled and she entirely freed from the obligations thereof, and she prays subpoena, etc, and Alice Kruse, E. Backus, Sol. For Pet. And afterwards to wit on the 8th day of September A.D. 1882, there issued from the office of the Clerk of said court the following subpoena, to wit, the State of Ohio, Franklin County SS, To the Sheriff of said county, Greeting: We command you to summons Henry Kruse to appear before the Hon. The judge of our court of Common Pleas of said county Franklin at the court house in the city of Columbus on the first day of their next term to answer a certain petition for divorce, exhibited against him y Alice Kruse and this he shall in no wise omit under the penalty of one thousand dollars and have you then and there this writ. (Seal) Witness, Lewis Heyl, Clerk of our said court, at the Court house aforesaid, this 8th day of September A.D. 1851. Attest: Lewis Heyl, Clerk,. And afterward, to wit at the November term A.D. 1851 of said court, this cause was continued, and afterward, to wit, at the March term A.D. 1852, of said court this cause is continued, and afterwards, to wit: on the 8ty day of May A.D.1852, there issued from the office of the clerk of the said court, the following subpoena, to wit, the State of Ohio Franklin County SS, To the Sheriff of said county, Greetings:- We Command you to summon Henry Kruse as heretofore we have commanded you to appear before the Hon. Court of Common Pleas of said Franklin county, at the Court House, in Columbus, on the 11th day of their next term to answer a certain petition for divorce exhibited against him by Alice Kruse and this he shall in no wise omit under the penalty of One thousand dollars and have then and there this writ (Seal). Witness, Kendall Thomas Clerk, of our said court at the Court house aforesaid this 8th day of May A.D. 1852, K. Thomas, Clerk. And afterward to wit, in due time, the Sheriff to whom said writ was directed returned the same with endorsement there on, as follows: to wit, served this writ and copy of the bill on Henry Kruse personally by copy May 10th, 1852, John Greenleaf, Sheriff fees, 90¢and afterwards, to wit, at the July Term A.D. 1852, of said court, came the parties by their counsel and this cause came on to be heard upon the petition and the testimony and the court find that due and legal notice of the pendency of the petition had been personally given to the defendant, that the said parties had been legally married as in the petition stated and that the said Henry Kruse since said marriage and before and at the time of the filing of this petition had and continued to grossly neglect his duty as a husband, it is there fore ordered and decreed that said marriage contract between the said Alice and the said Henry be and the same is hereby dissolved and annualized and set aside and both parties freed from the obligations thereof, and that the said Alice hold any and all property (if any there be) which belonged to her at the time of her marriage or which may now be in her possession, discharge of and from any claim or demand of the said Henry and that said Henry within ten days pay the costs herein and in default thereof that execution issue therefore.
James L. Bates, Judge.
Army of the United States
Certificate
Of Disability for Discharge
Private James McMurray of Captain James Carlins Company, (D) of the 83rd Ohio Regiment of the United States Vol Infr was enlisted by Capt. Boyer of the 83rd Ohio Regiment of Vol Infr at Harrison Ohio on the 10th day of August 1862 to serve 3 years; he was born in Dearborn Co in the State of Indianna is 18 years of age, 5 feet 4 ¾ inches high, Fair complexion, grey eyes, Brown hair, and by occupation when called a Farmer. During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty 61 days * Has been unfit for any active duty for 6 months.
Station: Millikens Bend La
Jas D. Strawbridge
Date: July 15th 1860
I certify, that I have carefully examined the said Jas McMurray of Captain Carlins Company , and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of Fatty degeneration of the heart – has been coming on for over 6 months and has done no duty for that time.
Jas D. Strawbridge
Examining Surgeon
The soldier to be addressed at
Town Harrison, County Hammilton Co. State Ohio
Adjutant General’s Office
Washington D.C.
August 24, 1866
It appears from the rolls on file in this Office, that James K.P. McMurray was in Co. D, 83rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, On the Muster Roll of Co. “D” of that Regiment for the months of March & April, 1864, he is reported “discharged Feb 16, 1864 at Camp Dennison Ohio” Similarly reported on the Muster out roll of company and regimental return for April 1864.
I am, sir, very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
Sam. Breck
Assistant Adjutant General
To Death & Dis records
A.G.O.
(written in margin: Discharge appv at Headquarters Dept Tenn July 22, 1863
Army of the United States
Certificate of Disability For Discharge
Private James K.P. McMurry fo Lut. Wm A Beasley Company, (D) of the 83 Ohio Regiment of United States Inf Vols was enlisted by Capt Boyer of the regiment of at Harrison O. on the 10th day of August 1862 to serve three years; he was born in Dearborn Co. in the State of Indiana is 17 years of age, 5 feet 4 ¾ inches high, fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, and by occupation when enlisted a farmer. During the last tow months said soldier has been unfit for duty 60 days. * Disease hereditary concluded since enlistment has done no duty for 8 months.
Station: Dennson US Gov Hosp
Date: January 22 1864
B C Craft
Surg USA in charge
I certify, that I have carefully examined the said James K.P. McMurry of Beasleys Company, and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of confirmed epilepsy – hereditary
Is unfit to enter the Invalid Corps
Disability – ¼
D.D. Palmer
A.A. Surgeon USA
The soldier desires to be addressed at
Town; Harrison, County Hamilton State Ohio
(in the margin: Approved, John D. Carpenter, Surg. USA Dept of Hospital
Deposition
Case of Hiram P. McMurray Crt. No. 393764
On this 15 day of March, 1901, at Connersville, County of Fayette, State of Ind., before me, J.H. Hines, a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Hiram P. McMurray, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says: My age is 61 years next May. P.O. and residence, Connersville, Ind., Occupation none now. I was formerly a farmer.
I am the identical Hiram P. McMurray who served as a corporal and private Co. D 83 Ohio Vol Inf. – ( enliste in Aug. 1862 at Harrison, Ohio; and was discharged in July 1865 at Galveston, Texas. I had no other service in the Army or navy of the U.S.
I am now pensioned at $8.00 per month under the old law on account of rheumatism. I am paid through the Indianapolis agency.
I claim additional pension under the old law on account of injury to spine and rheumatism. I do not know of any other disability that I may have had in the army.
For the five years next before my enlistment, I lived with a mile and a half of Harrison, Hamilton Co., Ohio, and was a farmer. I had not sickness or disability during that time. There might have been days when I did not feel good – at and before my enlistment I was a sound able bodied man and especially free from rheumatism and injury to spine. I was up in line and inspected with the other members of my Co. I was not stripped.
My intimate associates next before my service were: James Benson, Harrison, Hamilton Co. Ohio
Mrs. Mary Simms, Widow of James Simms, Harrison, Ohio
Julin Burk Harrison, Ohio
Elisha Burk Harrison, Ohio
Jerry Wilson, Harrison, Ohio
Second page, cont
George Kern, Harrison, Ohio, worked with me at the engine house
Frank (Curly) Kratz, Harrison, Ohio
Sam Reed, Harrison, Ohio (also a comrade)
Sam Hossley, Harrison, Ohio
I do not know anyone that knew me at Hagerstwon. I was there but a short time.
Q. By whom can you prove that you suffered from injury to spine from 1885 to 1890?
A. L.D. Ashcraft, Connersville, Ind. – No, he was not there during that time and would not know.
George Selby, Connersville, Ind – I can’t think of any others now but I will go with you this afternoon to find some one.
Q. Why did you not file a claim for injury to back when you filed your first claim?
A. I don’t know.
I can’t tell about the liver trouble. I have aches and pains all through me.
I am pretty nearly totally disabled for manual labor on account of injury to back and you might say it has been that way ever since I filed my claim. I try to work at times.
I am married now & my wife and I have separated. Her name is Louisa McMurray. Her maiden name was Louisa Laughlin. She is at Fairfield, Franklin Co., Ind. We were married at Harrison, Ohio in 1880 by Mason J. Cloud, a justice & I got the license at Cincinnati, Ohio but was married at Harrison, Ohio, but over in Ind. Harrison is on the State line. I had been married before but she had not been. My first wife was Barbara A. Cloud. I married her at in Dearborn Co., Ind. I got the marriage license at Lawrenceburg, Ind. We were married Dec. 11, 1866. She died in 1870 at Harrison, Ohio. My second wife was Margaret Hayhurst. We were married in Dearborn Co., Ind in 1872. I got the license at Lawrenceburg, Ind. She died Feb. 17, 1874 at Harrison, Ohio.
Q. Do you wish to be present in person or represented by an attorney or both at the taking of testimony by me in your claim for pension
A. it is immaterial.
I have fully understood your questions.
My answers are correctly recorded herein.
Hiram P. McMurray
Claimant recalled:
I do not know exactly the year I came here. I know I filed my claim for injury to back and spine while I was living at Harrison, Ohio. I then was a yar at Hagerstown, Ind. before I moved to Connersville. If that claim was filed in 1889, I did not come here before 1890 and for that reason, I can find no evidence here of my condition from 1885 to 1890
Hiram P. McMurray
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of March 1901, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
J.H. Hines
Special Examiner
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