Cullen Rhoads

Compiled by Susan Hill
©2000

Cullen RHOADS was born in 1826, died in 1875 in Sumner County Tennessee, married Julia Ann CALDWELL 17 January 1851.

Julia Ann CALDWELL was born in 1831 and died in 1893.

Cullen and Julia had four children:

  1. William Henry (my line) b. 1852, married Fannie Jane HUNT.
  2. David C. b. 1854, d. 1928, married 1st to Anna Ferris HAWKINS, 2nd marriage to Margie Caamilla SIMMONS.
  3. Arthela S. "Arrie" b. 1860, d 1910, married John B. MAGGART.
  4. Annie E. b 1869, d. 1939, married John W. DAVIS.


    August 31, 1853
    Mexican War declaration for benefits
    State of Tennessee, Macon County

    On this 31 day of August in the year 1853, personally appeared before me Samson S. Davis the undersigned one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the County and State. Cullin Rhoads, a resident of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee who living near the line has come over into the County of Macon to make this Declaration, be aged twenty eight years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 13th May 1846 and other acts allowing pensions to the officers and solders who were disable by wounds received or from diseases contracted while in the serves of the United States and in the line of their duty in the late War with Mexico. That he enlisted in the service of the United States on the 2nd day of June 1846 at Nashville, Tennessee in the 1st Regiment Tennessee Volunteers Commanded by Col. William Bleambell in the Company Commanded by Captain Robert A Bennett and was carried to Mexico and continued in service in the War with the Mexican Government until after the Siege of Moutery and during their stay there while engaged in the service of the United States and in the line of his duty on or about the 1st day of October 1846. He was attacked with a chill and fever while {paper is creased} continued at intervals for sometime and after two or three weeks was attended with coff. Declarant was however so far recovered as to be able to march to Tampico but with great difficulty and had to be carried mostly in one of the baggage wagons. Declarant states that his physician the Army doctor was Doctor Dorris of Nashville who gave his opinion at

    State of Tennessee}
    Macon county } I, Samson S. Davis one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said county do hereby certify that I am well aquatinted with Cullin Rhoads. That he is a resident of the county of Sumner in the State of Tennessee and that he signed and acknowledged their foregoing power of attorney before me this day to be his act and deed.
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto
    Set my hand ad official signature
    This 31st day of August 1853.
    Sampson S. Davis JP

    August 31 and September 2, 1853
    Attorney & Physicians

    Know all men by these present that I, Cullin Rhoads of the county of Sumner and State of Tennessee do hereby nominate and appoint Adam Fergusson of Carthags, my new and lawful attorney for me in my name to prosecute my claim for an Invalid Pension to provide all proof necessary with power one an more attorney to appoint under him. To receive my pension certificate when issued and further to do and perform any act or acts thing or things necessary to make the same valid and effective hereby satisfying and confirming all the acts my attorney shall lawfully do by virtue hereof witness my hand and seal this 31st day of august 1853.
    Attest Samuel Lewis
    Cullin Rhoads

    Justice of the Peace State of Tennessee}
    Macon County } I, William Robinson on of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Sullivan and Isaac N. Livingston that they are regular practicing Physicians and Surgeons and stand hugh in their professions and reputable as such and full faith and credit are due their opinions and statements.
    In testimony whereas I have hereunto set
    My hand and official seal this
    2nd day of September 1853
    William Robinson

    September 10, 1853
    Dr. John Daly
    State of Tennessee Sumner County

    I, one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Charles N. Talley who had made the foregoing affidavit that he is a resident of Sumner County a man of truth and veracity and full faith and credit are due his statement.
    In testimony where of I have here unto let
    My hand and official seal this 10th day
    of September 1853
    C.S. Bennett

    State of Tennessee}
    Sumner County } On this 10th day of September in the year 1853 personally appeared before me Christopher S. Bennett on of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county and State aforesaid John Daly a regular practicing Physician and Surgeon a resident of Hartsville in the County of Sumner aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law makes oath to the following certificate I do hereby certify; that Cullen Rhoads employed me to attend to his case shortly after his return from Mexico in service of the United States in Captain Bennett's Company of Volunteers. I can not state the exact time not having reference to my Book but I recollect very well examining his situation and it was shortly after his return the Rhoads was then affected with a sever coff and discharge from his lungs considerably. I formed the opinion at this time that his lungs were serious by affected from the expertorative. I sounded his breast with a stethoscope and was satisfied that his lungs were so affected and from what he then told me I formed the opinion that he contracted the disease while in service of the United State in Mexico. I gave him some medicine and prescription and afterwards he would send his brother after medicine, which I always sent to him how long this prescription was[ healernaut contencer (??).] I do not now recollect, my opportunities were not convenient to the see him after being to the distance he lived and I afterwards understood that he employed other Physicians who were more convenient. I do not know how his disease has progressed only from report. My opinion I was there formed that his disease was incurable and that he never could be a soundman again.
    Known to and subscribed before me this day and your first above written and I further certify thus I am not interested or concerned in the phase author of this claim.
    John Daly M.D.
    C.S Bennett

    State of Tennessee}
    Sumner County } I, Christopher S. Bennett on of the acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well aquatinted with Doctor Daly who had sworn to the foregoing certificate that he is a regular practicing Physician and reputable in his profession.
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto
    Let my hand and official seal this
    10th day of September 1853
    C.S. Bennett

    September 10, 1853
    Charles N. Tally Testimony
    State of Tennessee Sumner County

    On this 10th day of September 1853, personally appeared before me Christopher S. Bennett, the undersigned one of the acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county and State aforesaid Charles N. Tally a deselect of the county of Sumner aforesaid aged forty five years who being duly sworn according to law makes oath that he was a private in Captain Bennett=s Company 1st Regiment Tennessee Volunteers late War with Mexico. That Cullin Rhoads was also a private in said Company. That after the siege and taking of Montery in Mexico while there or near there stationed while in the service of the United States, Cullen Rhoads was taken sick and remained sick for some two or three weeks with chills and after the army stated said Rhoads was placed in a baggage wagon and had to be carried as he was sick and unable to march. Apliant was also sick and placed in the same wagon on their march to Tampico and became more acquainted with Rhoads sickness and discard. He, Rhoads, was at that time affected with diarrhea attended with cough and greatly weakened. His disease got worse as they approached Tampico and after they got there his fever returned and he was carried to the Hospital. Apliant was also sent to the Hospital as unfit for duty. But apliant was not so much weakened as Rhoads for it was thought he would die. Apliant got so far recovered as to be able to wait on him while in the Hospital waiters were leased and apliant done all in his power to wait on Rhoads as his life was disappearing. Rhoads got some better but he complained much of his breath and had a bad cough and the army being about to embark for Vera Cruz, Rhoads and apliant were discharged and came home together being pronounced unfit for duty the balance of the campaign. Apliant was well acquainted with Rhoads and knows that on entering the servers he was sound health man and so continued up to their time of his attack of disease near Monterey in service as aforesaid. That since his return home apliant has often seen Rhoads, conversed with him, and asked him always about his health. Apliant knows from these interviews and the altered and weakness appearance of Rhoads that he has never been well since his return from the army as before mentioned. The disease seemed to have settled upon his lungs and he always even since had complained of his breast and from observation apliant believes his disease has been regulrly growing worse ever since his return from Mexico, apliant therefore had no hesitation in saying from his own knowledge of him that he has never been well or able to perform the duties of a soldier or a support by manual labor
    Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and your first above mentioned and I further certify that I have no intention nor and I concerned in the prosecution of this claim
    C.S. Bennett
    Charles N. Talley

    September 28, 1853
    State of Tennessee}
    Macon County } I, Jefferson B. Short, clerk of the county court of said Macon County do hereby certify that Samson S. Davis and William Robinson whose names appear to the foregoing Declaration and power of attorney of Cullin Rhoads and the surgeons certificates and accompanying certificates. Were at the time their several attestations purport to bear date acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Macon aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified to act as such and administer oaths and that full faith and credit are due all their official act as such and that the foregoing signatures supporting to theirs are genuine.
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto
    Set my hand and office the seal of said
    Court at office in Lafayette this 28 September
    AD 1853
    JB SHORT clerk

    May 21, 1867
    Increase of an Invalid Pension

    FORM OF APPLICTION FOR THE INCREASE OF AN
    Invalid pension,
    Under the 1st section of the supplementary Pension Act of June 6, 1866

    State of Tennessee}
    SS.
    County of Sumner}
    On this 21 day of May, A.D. 1867, personally appeared before me Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Sumner, in the State of Tennessee Cullin Rhoads, aged 41 years, a resident of Dist. No. 15, in the County of Sumner, and State of Tennessee, and whose Post Office address is Gallatin in the county and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is a pensioner of the United States, duly enrolled at the Nashville, Tennessee Pension Agency, at the rate of $8.00 per month, by reason of disability incurred in the service of the United States in 1st Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers in the War With Mexico and that his present physical condition is such that he believes himself entitled to receive an increase pension of the Third grade provided for in the first section of the Supplemental Pension Act approved June 6, 1866. He further declares that he is disable in the following manner to wit:

    Shortness of breath, loss of the power and extent of lungs, disability to endure labor or to undergo continued activity or energy, loss of muscular power, chronic or continues cough and exfectorasion of mucus, weakness of kidneys.

    I hereby constitute and appoint W. W. Fergusson, Carthage, Tennessee my true and lawful attorney, to precut this my claim with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby revoking and countermanding all other authority that may have been given, and to obtain the Pension Certificate that may be issued, and to do all other lawful acts which I might do if personally present.
    Signature of claimant. Cullin Rhoads

    Also personally appeared before me at the time and place aforesaid, James Z. Fagg, of Macon County, and William H. Butler, of Macon County, whom I certify to be credible person, who being duly sworn according to law, declare, each for himself, that they well know Cullin Rhoads, who signed the foregoing declaration in their presence; and that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and that he is disable substantially in the manner alleged in said declaration. They further swear that they, or either of them, have no interest in this claim, either present or prospective, and that they are not concerned, directly or indirectly, in its prosecution.
    { James Z. Fagg
    Signatures of Witnesses
    {William H. Butler

    Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21 day of May, A.D. 1867; and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. I hereto affirm my signature and seal of office. John S. Bugg, Clerk
    Sumner county Court

    November 26th, 1875
    Jury of Inquest

    A Verdict
    of
    A Jury of
    Inquest held
    over the body
    of Cullen
    Rhoads

    Witnesses
    R. Durham
    H. Rhoads
    D. Rhoads
    H. Caldwell
    Jes. Duffer
    W.S. Duffer

    We, being duly elected, empanelled, sworn and charged by the Justice acting as coroner of county as a jury of Inquest to inquire how, when and what manner Cullen Roads came to his death on our oaths do say, that the said Cullen Roads being alone I his room on the 24th day of November 1875 in the county of Sumner did wickedly, unlawfully, and voluntarily shoot himself in the head with a rifle gun mortally wounding himself so as to cause his heath against the peace and dignity of state. Given and rendered by us. This the 26th day of November 1875.
    State of Tennessee}
    Sumner County }
    I hereby certify that I em's:
    Paneled the Jury of
    Inquest of the body of
    Cullen Roads held on
    This 26 day of November
    1875.
    I.W. Gilliam J.P.
    Names of Jury
    Robert Durham Foreman
    W.C. Meadow
    H. Perry
    W.J. Dillehay
    A. Anderson
    Joseph Dodson
    M.A. Gilliam

    August 8, 1879
    Doctors Death Certificate

    State of Tennessee} Personally appeared before the undersigned authority for the county and state
    Sumner County } aforesaid, William Colwell & Hardy Colwell Jr., who reside in the county and state aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law declare that- they was aquatinted with Cullen Rhoads and Julia Ann Culwell before their marriage and was present-and was eye witness to the marriage and have known then in line together as man and wife, from this marriage which tokes place on the 23 day of January 1851 upon his death which takes place on the 25 of November 1875. And have known the said July Ann Rhoads to have remained widow of said Cullen Rhoads from his death to the present time and is yet a widow.
    William Colwell
    Hardy Culwell
    Sworn into and acknowledged before me on the 8th day of August 1879 and I certify I am in no manner what ever in trusted in this claim.
    M. Fikes J.P.
    For Sumner County, Tennessee

    Also at the same time and place personally appeared before me M. Fikes, a justice of the Peace in and for the county and state aforesaid Dr. Robert Durham, a physician who was had been Rhoads Family Doctor for about six years, had treated him during that time for his disease he was after insane or across the line of sanity. I saw him about 15 minutes after he shot himself. He lived 24 hours after he shot himself and died. He shot himself with a rifle gun, the ball took exit past under the frontle artery.
    Robert Durham

    I certify M. Fikes, esq. Before whom the above affidavits were made is a Justice of the peace for the county and state aforesaid duly authorized to administer oaths and that the above is his signature.
    In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and official seal this the 11th day of August 1879
    O.H. Foster clerk of
    County Court, Sumner County

    February 17th 1887
    Claim of Widow for Service Pension

    Mexican War.
    CLAIM OF WIDOW FOR SERVICE PENSION.
    State if Tennessee, County of Sumner, SS:

    On this 17th day of February, A.D. one thousand eight hundred eighty seven, personally appeared before me Harris Brown Clerk County Court, the same being a court of record with in and for the County and State aforesaid, (1) Julia Ann Rhoads, aged 56 years, a resident of Coatstown, in the State of Tennessee who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of (2) Cullan Rhoads, deceased, who was the identical person who served under the name of (3) Cullen Rhoads as a soldier in the Company commanded by Captain Robert Bennett of Tennessee Vols., commanded by Col. Taylor in the War with Mexico; that her said husband enlisted at Hartsville, Tennessee on or about the 10th day of May, A.D. 1846, and continued in actual service in said war for the term of (4) 10 mos and whose service terminated, by reason of an honorable discharge, at Tampico Bay, on or about the 20 day of June, A.D. 1847. She further states that the following is a full description of her said husband at the time of his enlistment, viz: (5) about 6 ft 6 in high, Black hair, light complexion. She further states that she was married to the said Cullan Rhoads at the city (or town) of Coats Town, in the County of Sumner Tennessee, and in the State of Tennessee, on the 23 day of January, A.D. 1851 by one (6) Bartlett Turner, who was a (7) Justice of the Peace, and that her name before her said marriage was Julia Ann Culwell, and that she had not remarried since the death of said Cullan Rhoads; and she further states that her said husband died in Sumner County Tenn., in the State of Tenn., on the 25 day of Nov, A.D. 1875; and she further declares that the following have been the places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of his discharge from the Army, viz: (9) in Sumner County until fall of 1855 then in Kentucky 5 years then Wayne county Ill. 5 « years, then Sumner County to the present date. Furthermore, she says that she was born in the county of Sumner, in the State of Tennessee, on or about the 10th day of Nov., 1831, and that she is at this time 56 years of age, (10) [and that, being under 62 years of age, she is without other present means of support than her own manual labor, or the contributions of others not legally bound to support her, and is subject to a dependency equivalent to some cause prescribed or recognized by pension law of the United States as sufficient reason for the allowance of pension to dependent relatives] She further declares that she is not now under the political disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. She makes this declamation for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which she may be entitled, and hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Staddart of Wash D.C., her true and lawful Attorneys to prosecute her claim.

    And she further declares that she has theretofore made no application for (11) pension and that her residence is of Coatstown, of Sumner, State of Tennessee, and that her post office address is Coatstown. Sumner Co. Tennessee.
    Julia Ann Rhoads

    Two attesting witnesses who can write their names:
    W.E. Akins
    W.M. Stewart

    January 21, 1893
    Declaration for Widow Increase of Pension

    MEXICAN WAR
    Act approved January 5, 1893.
    Declaration for Widows Increase of Pension.
    State of Tennessee, County of Sumner, SS}

    On this 21 day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety 3 personally came before me, a Notary Public within and for the County and Sate aforesaid, Julia Ann Rhoads aged 61 years, a resident of the town of Coatstown, County of Sumner, State of Tennessee, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of the identical Cullan Rhoads who was ENROLLED in Co. G~ Capt. Bennett's Tenn. Vols. in the War with Mexico and was honorably DISCHARGED. That she is wholly disable for manual labor and is in such destitute circumstances that $8 per month are insufficient to provide her the necessaries of life. That she is a pensioner of The United States, enrolled at the Knoxville, Tenn. Pensions Agency at the rate of eight dollars per month, Certificate No. 3,692, and that she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining an Increase of her pension, under the act of January 5, 1893.
    She hereby appoints with full power of substitution and revocation,
    STODDART & CO., of Washington D.C.,
    Her true and lawful attorneys to prosecute her claim.
    That her POST OFFICE ADDRESS is Coatstown, County of Sumner, State of Tennessee.
    Claimant's signature Julia Ann Rhoads

    ATTEST; D.G. Gains
    J.B. Maggart



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