Page 46

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF Tennessee, COUNTY OF Washington, SS:

In the matter of Pension of Lucinda widow of John S. Nelson, Co."K" 2nd Regiment United States, Vol.

On this 7" day of Dec. A.D., 1896, personally appeared before me a clerk of a Court, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, John P. Taylor, aged 66 years (Note: which would make him being born ca 1830), a resident of Jeraldstown, in the County of Greene, and State of Tennessee, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

I am a brother of the above named Claimant (Lucinda Nelson). Her husband died on the 17" day of last month as I am very immediately informed as. It is general neighborhood report that said Nelson died on the day mentioned. Said Nelson and Claimant were married in Washington Co. Tenn, in the summer of 1866. The soldier (Nelson) had been previously married to a woman by the name of Ann Gate, and she only lived a few weeks, or months, and died and she did not have any children. the Claimant was not previously married before her marriage to said Nelson and he was not otherwise married only as above stated. The Claimant has not remarried since said Nelson’s death. They were never divorced from each other and claimant lived with him until his death (Nov. 17", 1896). Soldier left no children under the age of sixteen (16) years by claimant. Claimant is very poor as she has only a small piece of rough mountain land left her by the soldier that he paid fifty dollars for and it is not worth that amount and she really has no personal property to amount to anything. She is dependent upon her daily labor for a support. Said John S. Nelson was not in any prior service of the military nor the Naval services of the U.S.A. other than Co. "K" of the 2nd U.S.A. I know these facts because of my personal acquaintance with the soldier (Nelson) from before the war of 1861-5 and up to his death. I make this affidavit orally to M.L. Peeples, who has recorded it to writing for me in my presence in Jonesboro, Tenn date given on apposite page. I make it from personal knowledge without the aid of any written or printed statement or direction from any one.

His Post office address in Jearldstown, Tenn.

John P. Taylor
Note: Chas. S. Mason, Deputy County Court Clerk swore to John P. Taylor’s credibility.

Page 47

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF Tennessee, COUNTY OF Washington, SS:

In the matter of Pension of Lucinda widow of John S. Nelson, Co "K", 2nd Regiment U.S. Vol.

On this 14 day of Dec.. A.D. 1896, personally appeared before me, a Clerk of a Court, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, Joseph M. Nelson aged 40 (Note: which would make him being born ca 1856), years a resident of Morning Star in the County of Washington, and State of Tennessee, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

I am a half-brother of the above named John S. Nelson. Said John S. Nelson died at his home at Clover Bottom Sullivan, Co. Tenn Nov. 17, 1896. I was present when he died and was at his funeral and burial. Said soldier (Nelson) was first married to an Ann Gate, and she only lived a short time and died. Said Nelson then married the Claimant in this case. Soldier was not otherwise married only as above stated. His widow (Lucinda) was not previously married before her marriage to said Nelson and she has not remarried since his death. Said soldier (Nelson) and the Claimant were never divorced from each other and Claimant lived with him until his death. Soldier left no children under the age of sixteen years by Claimant. This widow has no property that is personal to amount to anything. Her husband left her twenty-five acres of rough mountain land that he paid fifty dollars for and I think the same is assessed of fifty dollars. She is really wholly dependent upon her daily labor for a support. I make this statement orally to M. L. Peeples, who has recorded it to writing for me in my presence in Jonesboro, Tenn date above given. I make it from my personal knowledge of the facts in this case. I make it without ....? the aid of any written or printed statements or recital from anyone.

His Post Office address is Morning Star, Tennessee.

Note: Jacob Leab, County Court Clerk swore to these men as being credible.

Page 48

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF Tennessee, COUNTY OF Sullivan, SS:

In the matter of Pension of Lucinda widow of John S. Nelson, Co."K", 2nd regiment U.S. Infy.

On this 5th day of May A.D., 1897, personally appeared before me. W.N.N. Gaines, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, S. W. Horn, aged 54 years, a resident of District No. 14 in the County of Sullivan, and State of Tennnessee well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

I have been in the practice of medicine for ten years graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Baltimore, MD. I was called to see John S. Nelson on July the 7th 1896 and found him suffering from chronic diarrhea and piles or hemorrhoids and disease of the lungs and very enemic he being predisposed to tuberculosis and the diarrhea running the system down cause the tuberculosis to develop rapidly which possibly would not had the system not been run down by the diarrhea which cause a suitable hidus (?) for the tubercle bacilus to develop. I kept no memoranda of the pulse rate or temperature but can say they run the usual course in this case as in others similar to it. The diarrhea was such as to cause me to believe that the tuberculosis had extended to the bowels. I gave him treatment for time to time and he continued to grow weaker until about the 17th of November 1896 at which time he died. The diarrhea played the leading part as I regarded it as the leading cause of his death and the tuberculosis the resulting cause or secondary part the piles also contributing to his death. In my opinion death was the result of the diarrhea as it was the leading disease in his illness. I make this statement from my professional knowledge of the case and in my own hand writing.

S.W. Horn, M.D.

His Post office address is Kendricks’ Creek, Tennessee

Note: W. H. H. Gaines Notary Public swore to the credibility of Dr. Horn.

Page 49

State of Tennessee,
Washington County.

I Jacob Leab, Clerk of the County, Court in and for the County of Washington, and State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that Marriage license were issued on July 21st 1866, for John S. Nelson, to marry Lucinda Taylor, and that said License have been returned to office showing that said parties were legally married on July 26, 1866, by Jess Riggs, a Minister of the Gospel. All of which appears of record in my office.

Given under my hand and Official Seal of Office in Jonesboro, Tenn. This May 7" 1897.

Jacob Leab
Clerk of the County Court.

Page 50

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF Tennessee, COUNTY OF Washington, SS:

In the matter of Pension of Lucinda Widow of John S. Nelson, Co. "K", Regiment 2nd. U.S. Infy.

On this 7" day of May 1897 A.D., personally appeared before me a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths. James I. Taylor, aged 54 years, a resident of Jonesboro, J. O. Taylor age about 40 years a resident of Jonesboro, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

The above named Lucinda Nelson is our sister, and we know and have to state that she has not remarried since the death of her husband, (John S. Nelson), who died Nov. 17" 1896. at his home near Clover Bottom, Sullivan, Co. Tenn. claimant has no children under the age of sixteen years. Claimant and soldier were never divorced from each other, and Claimant was no previously married before her marriage to said John S. Nelson. Soldier was previously married before his marriage to Claimant, to a Miss Tate, and she died, and he married the Claimant in this case. James I. Taylor further states that he has heretofore made an affidavit in support of this claim. See same on file.

James I. Taylor
J. O. Taylor

Note: J. H. Peoples a Notary Public swore to James and J.O.’s credibility.

Page 51

No. 445.725                                                      Original

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF PENSIONS

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED That in conformity with the laws of the UNITED STATES Lucinda Nelson Widow of John S. Nelson who was a Private Co. K 2nd Regt. United States Vo. Infty. is entitled to a pension at the rate of twelve dollars per month, to commence on the Eighteenth day of November 1896 and to continue during her widowhood.

GIVEN AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
this second day of June one
thousand eight hundred and ninety
seven and of her Independence of
the United States of America, the
one hundred and twenty first.

Cornelious A. ......?
Secretary of the Interior

Countersigned
J.L. Davenport
Acting Commissioner of Pensions

Page 52

Form 2992.

415167
In answering this letter
address "Auditor for the
War Department," and refer
to above number.

Requesting Abstract of Evidence

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF AUDITOR FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D.C., March 2, 1910

Hon. Commissioner of Pensins,

Sir:

Please transmitt an abstract of any evidence on file in your Office in the case of John S. Nelson, Co. K. 2nd U.S. Vols. tending to show the marriage and death of said soldier.

Claimant, Lucinda Nelson
Post-office address, Fall Branch, Tenn
No. of pension certificate, 445725.

Repectfully,

Auditor,
By ......

Page 53

3-4-10

March 9, 1910

Auditor for the
       War Department.

Sir:

Replying to your call of the 2nd instant, received the 7th, (F. 314-415167), relative to the case of Lucinda Nelson of Fall Branch, Tenn., as widow of John S. Nelson, Co. K, 2nd U. S. Vo. Inf., Widows Ctf. No. 445725, you are advised that Dr. S. W. Horn of Sullivan, Tenn., testified under date of May 5, 1897 that John S. Nelson died Nov. 17, 1896.

A certified transcript from the marriage records of Washington County, Tenn., shows that John S. Nelson and Lucinda Taylor were married July 26, 1866.

Other evidence shows that the claimant had not been previously married.

Very respectfully,


              Commissioner.

Page 54

PENSIONER DROPPED.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES PENSION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

May 31, 1913

Certificate No. 445.725

Class C.W. Widow

Pensioner Lucinda Nelson

Soldier John S. (Nelson)

Service Pri. K 2 U.S. Inf.

THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

SIR: I have the honor to report that the above=named pensioner who was last paid at $12, to 4 Feb, 1913 has been dropped because of Death April 18, 1913

Death reported by P.M. at Fall branch, Tenn.

Very respectfully,

A.G. Thompson
United States Pension Agent

Note-Every name dropped to be thus reported at once, and when cause of dropping is death, state date of death when known

Page 55

Note: When Lucinda died, she owed D. & W. Roller money for merchandise she had bought on credit. The following pages are concerning the account. I have never heard of D&W Roller. I assume it must have been a country store, similar to our present day hardware stores.

H.B. Clay, Vice-President

John G. Preston, Vice-President

David Roller, President                                                                                 John B. Nall, Cashier

BANK OF KINGSPORT

CAPITAL, $20,000.00

Kingsport, Tenn. July 8th 1913.

Bureau of Pensions,
               Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Enclosed find papers sworn to by D. & W. Roller, showing an account due them by Mrs. Nelson for provisions furnished her before her death. I trust these papers will receive due consideration from the department.

Yours truly,

                       John B. Nall, Cashier.

Please return pension certificate if possible

Page 56

MONTHLY STATEMENT

JULY 8, 1913
D & W ROLLER

KINGSPORT, TENN

TO MRS. LUCINDA NELSON
1913

Page 57

Lucinda Nelson the widow of John S. Nelson, pension certificate #445725, she died April 17, 1913. Amount due D. & W. Roller at her death $36.81.

John B. Nall
Notary Public

Page 58

July 16, 1913

Mr. John B. Nall,
            Cashier, Bank of Kingsport,
                        Kingsport, Tennessee

Sir:

Replying to your letter of the 8th instant, received the 10th, in the case of Lucinda Nelson, certificate number 445,725, you are advised that there is no law authorizing the Bureau to pay the bill of D. & W. Roller, presented with your letter.

The pension accrued from the date to which payment was last made to the date of the pensioner’s death is available to reimburse the person who bore the expenses of her last sickness and burial, if she did not leave assets sufficient to meet such expenses.

The articles enumberated in the statement present by you are not considered expenses incident to the last sickness.

The pension certificate must be retained with the other papers in the case.

Very respectfully,

E.L. Trenior
Acting Commissioner.

Page 59

Fall Branch, Tenn

Feb 15, 1915

Hon Sam R. Sells.

Dear Mr. Sells: --Mrs Lucinda Nelson who was drawing a pension under Certificate #445725 under Civil War died more than a year ago, her coffin has never been paid for, burial clothes, ect. Now isn’t there a way to have the Gov. bear these expenses tis a shame for a widow of a Federal Soldier die leaving things this way, please write me giving me instruction

Your friend
T.J. Duncan

Note: The reply concerning Mr. Duncan’s letter

Sam R. Sells
1st Tenn. District

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON

Feb 17, 1915.

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Sir:

I enclose herewith letter which will explain itself, and will ask that you send the party necessary blanks and instructions in the case of Mrs. Lucinda Nelson and oblige.

Yours Very Truly,

Sam R. Sells

One enc.

Page 60

Feb. 19, 1915.

Mr. T. J. Duncan,

Fall Branch, Tennessee

Sir:

At the request of Hon. Sam R. Sells dated the 17th instant,  in the case of Lucinda Nelson, certificate number 445,725, you are informed that the Federal Government makes no allowance for defraying theexpenses of the pensioner’s las sickness and bural other than to the extent of the pension accrued to the date of her death, and then only in the event she did not leave assets sufficient to meet such expenses. A blank form upon which to  present a claim for the accrued pension as reimbursement is herewith enclosed. The law and instructions are printed on the  blank.

Very respectfully,

            ? M. Saltzgaber

                        Commissioner.

Page 61

Feb. 19, 1915.

Hon. Sam R. Sells,

House of Representative,

Washington, D.C.

My Dear Mr. Sells:

Replying to your letter of the 17th instant, inclosing a communication of Mr. T. J. Duncan, of Fall Branch, Tenn., in the case of Lucinda Nelson, certificate number 445,725. I have the honor to advise you that the Federal Governmont makes no allowances for dfraying the expenses of the pensioner’s last sickness and burial other than to the extent of the pension accrued to the date of her death, and then only in the event she did not leave assets sufficient to meet such expenses. A blank form upon which to present a claim for the accrued pension as reimbursement ... ? has been mailed to Mr. Duncan.

Very truly yours,

            ..? M. Saltzgaber

                        Commissioner.

Page 62

IN CONCLUSION

On parts of the files are notes written by the lawyers, commissioners, etc. needing different forms of evidence, proof, etc., but one note worth mentioning is "(John S. Nelson) .... ...captured on picket Monday evening Nov 23d/63 at Missionary Ridge"

Reading pension files can be enlighting. They give us a glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. If you let yourself go and imagine being one of these people, you can almost feel the tension, desperation and hope they dealt with each day.

I love reading about the Civil War. I am amazed by the far reaching effects of this war. It is like throwing a pebble in the water and watching the rings continue to spread out. In this, the twenty-first century, we are still feeling the effects of the pebble.

Recently, we went to Virginia to do some researching. We stopped at a service station just outside of Lynchburg, VA. While we were getting gas, the attendant noticed our Tennessee tags. He said told us his family and some friends were coming to Tennessee to visit the Dixie Stampede in Pidgeon Forge. We had just been there the month before, so we told him about what would happend when he went in. We told him he would be put on either the North side or the South side and the program was based on the Civil War. In his Virginian accent he informed us he would not allow them to put him on the Northern side. "No good Southerner would tolerate that." He said.

I hope you enjoy reading these files. If you find anything in them that pertains to your ancestors, please let me know. I would love to hear about them.

The spelling has been written as it is in the file.

My mailing address is:

Gladys M. Owens
321 Woodland Lane
Church Hill, TN 37642

My e-mail is:

gladysowens@hotmail.com

Introduction | Index | Pages 1- 15 | Pages 16 - 30 | Pages 31 - 45 | Pages 46 - 62 |