Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Civil War Pensioners in Defiance County - 1884 - Part 1, Defiance

   "PENSIONERS
A List of Wounded and Disabled Soldiers in Defiance County
Below is a list of persons in Defiance County who were on the pension list of the United States, January 1, 1884, together with their injuries and the amounts they received."
The Defiance County Express, January 17, 1884, pg. 16

DEFIANCE

Smith, King, dependent father, $18.00
Van Dusen, Matilda, dependent mother, $8.00
Wells, Mary, dependent mother, $8.00
Stephens, Margaret, dependent mother, $8.00
Smith, Elizabeth, dependent mother, $8.00

Durell, Elizabeth, dependent mother, $8.00
Haymaker, Elizabeth R. dependent mother $8.00
Stewart, Elizabeth, widow, $8.00
O'Hern, Mary, widow, $10.00
Thornton, Mary E., widow, $20.00                




Miller, Mary, widow, $8.00
 Lee,Ann, widow, $8.00
Craig, Catherine, widow, $8.00
Clark, Susan, widow, $8.00
Boggs, James M. widow, $18.00

Brickmaster, Sarah A., widow, $8.00
Newell, Nancy, widow, $8.00
Myers, Jane, widow, $8.00
Strong, Emma, G., widow, $25.00
Hollinshead, Jeremiah, widow, $12.00

Hanna, Kezia, widow, $14.00
Mansfield, Job, widow, $10.00
Wiley, Frances M., widow, $10.00
Fryman, Rachel, widow, $8.00
Kepler, Rachel, widow, 1812, $8.00


Stoddard, Sophronia S., widow, 1812, $8.00
Shoup, Elizabeth, widow, $8.00
Morse, Betsey, widow, $8.00
Wisler, John, survivor 1812, $8.00
Beal, Joseph, disease of abdominal viscera, $6.00

Grainger, Joseph A., injury to abdomen, $8.00
Kibble, Joseph, injury to spine, $6.00
Wall,,Joseph, fracture right arm, $6.00
Brown, Joseph, wound in left shoulder, $2.00
Hall, George, wound in right leg, $2.66 2/3

Capper, George, wound in neck, $4.00
Andrews, George, disease in eyes, $6.00
Richardson, John E. , chronic diarrhea, $6.00
Rhamy, John W., sunstroke, $4.00
Morris, John H., injury to abdomen, $8.00

Relue, John, rheumatism, $6.00
Lewis, John, rheumatism, $24.00
Butler, John, inflammation of eyes,$72.00
Anderson John, disease of heart, $10.00
Scheuerman, John, loss of right leg, $24.00

By this time, you might be wondering how the amount of the pension is decided for each individual.  All pensions were approved under the Pension Bureau which was under the Federal government.  The first Pension Act was approved during the war, on July 14,1862, and it declared that an $8 pension would be provided to soldiers with total disability for the performance of manual labor. Dependents of soldiers killed on duty were also allowed $8 an month.  Later acts of government raised that rate, but the first recipients only received the benefits awarded at the time of application. Rank and severity of the injury were also factors considered.

The Pension Bureau reviewed each application and came to a decision on the amount awarded.  Sometimes investigators were sent out to verify the claim.  In the case of one of my ancestors, a representative of the Bureau came to Defiance County and interviewed neighbors and employers, as well at doctors to testify to the severity of the wounds received on duty.  It was vital that any disability was caused by service in the war.  

Hutter, John, loss of left thumb, $4.00
Fullmer, John, wound right leg, $4.00
Fisher, John B., wound in head, $4.00
Barringer, John W., loss of right arm, $21.00
Bitterman, John, wound left thigh, $6.00

Stucky, John, wound in head, $2.00
Ward, John  wound in neck $2.00
Jubenville, John, wound left leg, $4.00
Higgins, Wm. wound in left leg, $4.00
Hill, William I., wound in left hand, $8.00

Sponsler, William C., wound in thigh, $8.00
Soals, William L., wound left leg, $4.00
Ebright, William, wound in the left thigh, $2.00
Pickerington, William, rheumatism, $6.00
Crow, William H. chonic bronchitis, $4.00

Shulters, William D., chronic diarrhea, $4.00
Kline, William H., rheumatism, $5.33 1/3
Pickard, William, injury to abdomen, $4.00
Krontz, Jacob, wounded legs, $5.00
Bixby, Jonah E., wounded in both hands, $10.00

Continued in Part 2



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