Biographies & Personal Stories
Amy Lyn Hedrick's Family History
Please do not use
this information in your personal trees, websites, or any published
articles without sourcing where the information was retrieved (i.e. this
website via Amy Lyn Hedrick) and the author of said information (i.e.
History of Berrien & Van Buren Counties, Michigan" for example).
Please be respectful of personal copyrights on biographies created by
myself and others.
CUTHBERT, David A. (1819-???)
History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan; pg. 240
This gentleman was born Aug. 16, 1819,
in Yorkshire, England. At the age of eleven years his father hired him
out to work on a farm for twelve months. He continued laboring as a
farm-hand until he was twenty-seven years old, when he married
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Arlington.
Two children were born of this union, viz., David T., born June
15, 1847, and John A., born July 10, 1850. In 1853, Mr.
Cuthbert decided to try his fortunes in America. His first
stopping-place after arriving in this country was Rochester, N.Y.,
where, with his family and without means to go any farther, he was
obliged to stay. But, used to labor, he soon obtained work, and as soon
as he succeeded in getting money enough to get away, moved to Michigan,
rented land in Cass and Berrien Counties until 1865, when he found
himself possessed of means enough to purchase a home of his own, and
bought at one time 40 and at another 80 acres. Oct. 2, 1875, he had the
misfortune to lose his wife. Being somewhat discouraged and unsettled
at this affliction, he resolved to visit his native land; but upon again
looking on those old familiar haunts of his boyhood all seemed changed.
As he expresses it, “Everything looked so narrow that it did not seem
like home.” Returning to Michigan in 1877, in October, 1878, he
married, for his second wife, Mrs. Louisa J., widow of Henry
Renbarger.
He has been in politics a Democrat, but declares himself
untrammeled, and intends now to cast his vote for the candidate whom he
considers best fitted for the office to be filled, regardless of party.
In religion he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church since 1849. his first wife was also a member of the same church.
FORLOW, Samuel
(1814-???)
History of Cass County, Indiana; From the Earliest Time to the Present;
pgs. 889-890
SAMUEL FORLOW, an old and highly
respected citizen of Noble Township, was born in Pennsylvania, September
28, 1814. He was the third son born to John and Catharine
(Waldsmith) Forlow, the former of whom was born to John and
Barbara (Segendoller) Forlow, in Pennsylvania, and the latter was
born to John and Susana (Hassler) Waldsmith, also in
Pennsylvania. He had four brothers and five sisters, whose names were
Benjamin, John, Jacob, William, Catharine,
Elizabeth, Susana, Hannah and Magdalene, of
whom Benjamin, William, Elizabeth, Hannah
and Magdalene are living. When he was seventeen years old he
came with his parents to Butler County, Ohio. Owing to the poor
advantages for schooling during his early life, his education was quite
limited. In the fall of 1851 he moved to Defiance County, Ohio, where
he lived on a farm until April, 1852, when he came to this State, and
settled on a farm in Carroll County, where he remained until August,
1865, when he came to this county, and located where he now lives,
Section 22, Noble Township. August 8, 1840, he was married to Maria
Zinn, a native of Pennsylvania, born February 28, 1813, and daughter
of Jacob and Catherine (Kumler) Zinn, natives of
Pennsylvania. To them one child, James, was born, May 14, 1841.
James was married, November 11, 1869, to Mrs. Kate Renbarger,
a native of Wetzel County, W. Va., born May 4, 1842. She was the
daughter of Martin V. and Sarah (Clovis) Carney, who were
natives of the States of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. April
11, 1863, she (Kate Carney, the wife of James) was married
to Henry W. Renbarger, who died Jun 9, 1865, leaving one child,
Clem V., born February 17, 1864. Our subject is a member of the
Presbyterian Church. He held the office of township trustee in Noble
Township one term. Politically he is a Democrat. He owns 336 acres of
good land, well improved. He is an influential citizen, and enjoys the
respect of all who know him.
FULLEN, Shelby (1819-???)
Original transcription located at:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~injohnso/biosketch/whiteriver/fullens.txt
This is the Johnson County, Indiana GenWeb page. Bio was transcribed
by Cheryl Zufall Parker.
Samuel Fullen, the paternal grandfather of our
subject, was born in Ireland, December 28, 1766, and was united in
marriage with Elizabeth Fullen, the paternal grandmother of our
subject. This union resulted in the birth of three sons and five
daughters: Ruhama, John, Nancy, Charles, Samuel, Sarah,
Minerva, and Mary. Samuel Fullen was an early settler of
Kentucky, coming from Virginia to that state, and in an early day, he
removed to this state. His death occurred in Rush County, about 1842.
John Fullen, the father of our subject, was born in
Kentucky, November 8, 1793. He was reared on a farm, and came to Indiana
with his father. His occupation was farming. He was married in Indiana
to Jemima Harrell, the daughter of Jeremiah Harrell, a
native of Virginia. Her parents were early settlers of Indiana, where
she was born.
The above marriage resulted in the birth of the following
children: Shelby and John. The father was called away
September 10, 1821. The mother afterward married a Mr. Horton,
and became the mother of other children. She died in Indiana, about
1839.
Shelby Fullen, the subject of this sketch, was born
in Fayette County, Ind., October 3, 1819. He was reared on a farm, and
received a fair education in the country schools. In early life he
taught school, but his chosen occupation has been farming. March 7,
1840, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Sutton, the
daughter of Philip and Sarah L. (Childra) Sutton. Both
parents were born in Preble County, Ohio, and were of German parentage,
their ancestors being early emigrants to, and settlers of, New Jersey.
Mrs. Fullen was born in Johnson County, Ind., August
31, 1824. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed by the
following children: Philip, deceased, Jemima, Sarah
Annie, Delilah, deceased, Rachel, Louisa, deceased,
John W., Mary E., deceased, Elizabeth K., deceased,
Emma I., deceased, Matilda M., deceased, and Woodberry W.
Mr. Fullen's widowed mother came to Johnson County,
about 1822. Her husband had visited the county and entered land, and
returned to Fayette County and died. After our subject's marriage he
settled in this county, and with the exception of a short time, he has
continued to live in the county. He and wife are members of the United
Brethren Church. Mr. Fullen is a representative farmer and
citizen, and enjoys the esteem of his neighbors. He has filled the
office of justice of the peace and assessor of his township, and has
always been a progressive man.
HEDRICK, Abraham (1806-1894)
History of Grant Co., Indiana, Brand & Fuller, 1886 Chicago; pg. 851.
Abraham Hedrick is a native of Virginia, born
in 1804, being a son of Jacob and Catherine (Meese) Hedrick.
Abraham
Hedrick is one of the oldest and most favorably known of the old pioneers of
Grant County now living here. He was reared on a farm by his parents,
receiving an ordinary education for the times. In 1833 he started out for
Indiana where he expected to establish for himself a home in the new country,
and located in Pleasant Township, where he entered a tract of land and on which
he has since resided. He married, in 1834, Sarah Cramer, a daughter of
William and Julia A. (Rider) Cramer, who were of German extraction. To
their union these five children have been born: Julia A., born in 1835;
Catherine S., born in 1837; Mary J., born in 1839; Rosa, in 1841; and
Sarah F.,
in 1843. September 23, 1885, the wife and mother died. For some
years previous to her death she was blind, which affliction she bore with
fortitude and patience. Mr. Hedrick has followed farming throughout his
career, and now owns a fine farm of 280 acres, upon which, with two of his
children, he is living a quiet and retired life. His genial manners and
square dealing have won for him the high regard of his neighbors and made for
him a large circle of friends. He cast his first presidential ballot for
Gen. Jackson, and believing him good, old-fashioned Democracy good enough for
him, has steadily and faithfully been an advocate of the best principles of that
party.
HEDRICK, George Washington (1843-1935)
Posted by Huntington County volunteer on Sun, 10 Jun 2001
From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901, pages
645-647
George W. Hedrick, one of the influential and prosperous
farmers of Wayne township, Huntington county, Indiana, is a fine product of the
county, having been ushered into the world in this vicinity on June 22, 1844,
his parents being Jacob and Mary (Bane) Hedrick. Both were natives of the
state of Virginia, the father being of German lineage. They settled in
this county, and it was here that the mother was called to a peaceful rest.
The father then moved to Grant county, and afterward took up his residence in
Van Buren, where he died. The family consisted of three sons and five
daughters, the two eldest daughters dying at an early age. Following is a
list of their names and places of residence, viz: James, a soldier in the One
Hundred and First Regiment, laid down his life for his country at Murfreesboro;
Jacob married Mary Losure, and is employed as a rig-builder in the oil fields,
making his home in Van Buren; Mahala married Abe Endsley, a prominent Grant
county farmer; Catherine B. is the wife of William Bane of Huntington;
Nancy is
now Mrs. Thomas Campbell, and lives in Warren; Sarah J. died when quite young;
Susan married Cornelius Myers, of Pleasant Plain; and George W., the subject of
this sketch.
George W. Hedrick went to live with his uncle,
Henry Bane,
after the death of his parents. Mr. Bane was a farmer of Wabash county,
and as George was a bright lad of eleven years he was considerable help in the
work about the farm. He was permitted to attend school a portion of each
winter, and in this way obtained a fair education, but when the war of the
Rebellion broke out George, then a young man of seventeen, thought of nothing
but becoming a soldier and entering the ranks. His uncle was a Democrat,
and tried by every means in his power to dissuade the patriotic youth from his
purpose, but without avail, and he finally ran away and enlisted in the Twelfth
Indiana, under Captain David Coverly, Company C, in August, 1862. They
went into camp at Indianapolis, where they were daily drilled while waiting four
weeks for uniforms and their equipments. Leaving camp, they proceeded to
Cincinnati and then to Richmond, Kentucky, where the entire company were taken
prisoners and held three days before being paroled and returned to Indianapolis.
There they were granted a thirty-day furlough, and as soon as the time had
expired Mr. Hedrick again reported at Indianapolis for duty, and remained in
camp three months, drilling and practicing for work in the field. They
were first sent to Cairo, Illinois, and then to Vicksburg, besieging that city
until it surrendered. Mr. Hedrick participated in the engagements at
Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis, Chattanooga, and other places, receiving a severe
wound in the left arm at the battle fought at Atlanta on July 22, 1864.
This wound incapacitated him for further duty in the field, but he was not
mustered out until the close of the war, in August, 1865.
Mr. Hedrick was frugal in his expenditures and managed to
save about one hundred and fifty dollars from the money paid him as a soldier,
and to this was added the wages received by him working at odd jobs after his
return home. The field of his labors included Grant, Wabash and Huntington
counties, and as soon as his capital was large enough to warrant he expended it
in the purchase of twenty-six acres of land, which was purchased the more
cheaply as it was heavily wooded. This land was cleared off and sold at an
advanced price and Mr. Hedrick at once purchased another tract of eighty-five
acres, for the greater part of which he was obliged to go in debt. He has
given a worthy example of industry and persistency which it would profit others
to emulate in whatever calling they may be engaged. He has been successful
in accumulating two fine properties, one farm being located in Wayne township,
this county, the pleasant and comfortable home of Mr. Hedrick and his family;
the second is in Wabash county. His accumulations are the outcome of
honest toil and endeavor, for, unlike many young men who start out to do for
themselves, Mr. Hedrick was obliged to rely on his own ability, receiving no
help from any source. It is true that he now receives fourteen dollars a
month pension from the government for injuries received, but if perfect health
were his he would gladly forego the paltry fourteen dollars.
He has been twice married, his first wife being
Miss Mariah Prickett, who died February 27, 1874, leaving two children, one of whom survived
but a short time. The second child was Ella, wife of George Garrison, of
North Manchester. In 1875 he placed at the head of his household Miss Mary Harrold, and the offspring born to this union were four in number, namely;
Charles E., born March 17, 1876; Jennie, born September 27, 1877, died shortly
after her marriage with Otto Creviston; Timer, born August 8, 1880, died in
infancy; and Frennie, born March 21, 1885. Mr. Hedrick and his family are
members of the Christian church at Banquo, in which he serves on the board of
trustees. They are excellent neighbors and are highly thought of by the
entire community. Mr. Hedrick is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows at Banquo, and has represented that body in the Grand Lodge. He is
also an active worker in the Grand Army Post, attended the national encampment
at Washington, D. C., as well as at Indianapolis, and takes unbounded pleasure
in meeting comrades of his old regiment at the reunions, recalling incidents of
the past and talking over bygone days. In politics he is a Republican, and
has frequently served as delegate to county conventions to look after the best
interests of the party. Mr. Hedrick is now building a fine residence on
his property in Wabash county, its style of architecture being of the modern
type, with every possible convenience, and when completed will be additional
evidence of what can be accomplished by perseverance and industry.
HEDRICK, Jessie David (1869-1948)
Huntington Co., Indiana History & Families 1834-1993
Compiled by the Huntington County Historical Society
Jessie David Hedrick and Eva Searles Hedrick
farmed near Mt. Etna, Indiana; and in the early 1900s, they moved to Grant
County. This farm was on Hwy. 37, north of Marion, on the west side of
road at the top of Hummell Hill.
He and his family operated a dairy farm. They had 26
cows, along with four wagons that delivered their own processed milk to
customers in Marion and the surrounding area. It was a thriving business.
On election night, Nov. 8, 1925, a fire of unknown origin
destroyed the barn, cows, processing equipment, and delivery wagons. The
Marion Fire Department helped extinguish the fire even though the farm was one
and a half miles from the city limits.
Jessie moved his family north of Mt. Etna and returned to
farming. All six of the Hedrick boys and a few local lads had a baseball
team. Alvan [south paw] and Edkar were catchers; Everett and
Edkar
pitched. Every week-end they played in a field on the farm north of Mt.
Etna on old 9 and 37. Their winter sport played in a social hall located
two blocks east of the intersection of SR 124 and old SR 9 on the northeast
corner.
As in most families, the children marry and go their separate
ways. This is the path of the Hedrick family:
John married on Feb. 12, 1919 to
Ada Mahoney [Nov. 8,
1899-July 22, 1947]. John farmed in Wayne Twp. and his children were
Betty, Donald, and Evelyn.
Edkar married on Aug. 25, 1917 to
Bertha King [Aug. 14,
1899-Nov. 19, 1940]. Edkar and brother Everett had a steam driven
threshing machine, they also were carpenters and sheared sheep. Edkar's
children were: Edna May, Riva, Robert, Jeanne, and
Devon. Two girls
died as infants. Edkar's second marriage was on May 18, 1951 to Mildred Kreig [born Feb. 7, 1902].
Alvan married on Oct. 22, 1918 to
Pauline Stephens [born
April 6, 1901]. Alvan drove huckster wagon for Spaulding Store, sold
gasoline to four area townships for Farm Bureau, was an electrician and pump
repairman for Lehman Electric prior to being a self-employed pump repairman.
Alvan's children were: Elizabeth, Charles [Bud],
Rosmarie, Bonnie, and Jay
Dee.
Lora Nancy Hedrick was born Aug. 27, 1901 and died Aug. 15,
1903.
Everett married on Feb. 1, 1935 to
Hazel Heck [Dec. 24,
1909-April 23, 1993]. Everett and Edkar were working partners as noted above.
Everett's children were William and David.
Albert married Nov. 21, 1925 to
Mary Eviston [Dec. 14,
1906-April 23, 1939]. Albert farmed in Wayne Twp. and his children were
Gladys and Jerry. Albert's second marriage was to Josephine Zook Thorne in
the 1960s.
Edna married on Sept. 8, 1931 to
Leroy Buckholtz [born Sept.
8, 1902]. Leroy was a cheese processor in Wisconsin. Edna's children
were Melvin, Terry, and Hal Lee.
Chester married on Aug. 5, 1939 to
Helen Bowman [born Jan.
28, 1915, died 1990]. Chester was a draftsman for Delta in Logansport.
His child was Janet.
Emma Leona Hedrick was born Sept. 25, 1910 and died Oct. 5,
1911.
Ada married on March 11, 1936 to
Kennieth Richison [born
April 12, 1911]. Kennieth farmed in Wayne Twp. Their children were
Caroline [died March 20, 1988], Dean, and Eldon.
Doris married April 19, 1935 to
Henry [Hank] DeHaven [Nov.
27, 1915-Dec. 5, 1958]. Hank was a salesman for Andaconda in Marion and
later a salesman for Schenkel Dairy. Their children were: Beverly
[died at birth], Lamoine, Wanda, Eugene, Shirley, Gerry, and
Edwin.
Blanche married on Oct. 2, 1935 to
Leland Bonewitz [born Aug.
6, 1915]. Leland worked for Farm Bureau and was a mechanic at Kriegbaum &
Sons. Their children were Jonetta, Denny, Karletta, and
Lynn.
Effie Hedrick was born July 20, 1918 and died June 12, 1929.
Ruby married on April 4, 1945 to
Marion Smith [June 10,
1910-June 29, 1954]. Marion was a carpenter at Caswell-Runyon.
Ruby's second marriage on May 7, 1955 to Paul Aldridge [April 10, 1933-May 5,
1974]. Paul worked at Majestic Company. Their children were
Karen
and Etta.
HEDRICK, Saulus/Solus (1811-1888)
Copied from an old newspaper clipping published 31 December 1918
Solus Hedrick was born in the state of
Pennsylvania, October 15, 1811. He was a son of Jacob Hedrick, who moved
with his family to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, east of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, when the subject of this sketch was a small boy, and raised his
family. But when Solus reached his year of maturity, he immigrated with
his brother, Abraham, to the south part of Wabash County, Indiana, near the
little town of LaFontaine. At that time the country was in it's crude
state. His wealth at the time consisted of a few every day clothes and an
axe.
It was then and there that young Hedrick began his life for
himself as a woodchopper. Soon his name went out as a wood-chopper and
took the contract of clearing the public square of Marion, Grant Co., Indiana,
and converted the timber into cord wood, which was used for burning the brick to
build the first courthouse in Marion. He also carried the brick to build
the first court house, which was built in 1832.
When he had accumulated his first $100, he came to Henry
County, and entered the 80 acres, from the government, just west of the Hedrick
Church and cemetery, which we shall speak of a little later. He then went
back to Virginia, and in the year of 1843, married Dinesha Bennett, who was born
in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Aug. 7, 1819. Where their first children
were born. In the fall of 1849 they moved back to Henry County, Indiana,
and landed here Dec. 5, 1849, where he erected a log cabin and cleared his farm.
Year by year he ditched and cleared and bought land until at the time of his
death, was the owner of 373 acres of the best land on Sugar Creek, all in a
square body, 1 mile and 40 rods east and west and one-half mile north and south.
It was on this great farm, that the great Hedrick Mountain was located.
Everybody has heard of Hedrick's Mountain, one of the biggest gravel pits in the
county. As early as 1850 he located the Hedrick grave-yard. This
cemetery is located on another natural hill. For this level country, not a
drop of water was ever found in a grave, and naturally set in blue grass.
It's first grave bears the date of Nov. 3, 1859, John D. Julius.
In the year of 1856-7 the large residence was erected.
Washington Level and John Grey were the carpenters. It was at that time,
one of the finest residence in the township. It is now owned by Mrs. Virela Lowery. But this was not all, in the year 1868, he built one of the
largest and best barns, at that time in the township. The carpenters of
this barn were, Isaac Rens, Marion Lowery, and Abe Shunk. When the farm
was divided, Abram Hedrick bought the barn, and moved it down west to his share
of the farm.
When the subject of this sketch was located in his humble log
cabin, already the need of ambition had been implanted within him, which grew
and flourished until he was first to propose turnpike or any improvement that
could be mentioned. At all house raisings or log rollings, he was there or
sent his representative.
It can be truthfully said, that a better neighbor, or honester man never lived. He believed if he helped the needy, who was
worthy, he would be rewarded, both now and hereafter. They were the
parents of 10 children, 3 died in infancy. Angeline, wife of Charley
Carroll, died Nov. 1, 1863; Daniel died Caldwell, Kansas [July 20, 1902];
James
died in Shirley Feb. 8, 1909; four living, William, one-half mile east;
David
Hedrick, of Laton, California; and Mrs. Alfred Wisehart, north of Shirley; and
Abram, one-half mile west of the old Saulas Hedrick place.
On Aug. 21, 1888, Mr. Hedrick was called away by death, at
the ripe old age of 76 years, 10 months, and 6 days. After his death, the
widow and mother, made her home with her son, William, who was kindly cared for
until her death, which came Aug. 1, 1903, at the age of 83 years, 11 months, and
24 days.
In the dividing of the estate, it was mutually agreed that
they would deed one-half acre to the dead, which included the little family
grave yard. So it rested until 1914, when it was proposed to erect a
building for funerals, at least, as nearly every burial would happen in bad
weather. So William and Abram decided to build a cement building.
William, past 75 years, helped make all the cement blocks and helped haul them
from the Hedrick Mountain. Jacob Hedrick, William's oldest son, did the
carpenter work, and George Craig the mason work. Mrs. Jacob Hedrick
received gifts for furnishing, which are a nice pulpit stand, organ, 6 lamps, 2
nice stoves, carpet, and clock.
HEDRICK, William Oscar (1838-1909)
Compiled by Amy Lyn Hedrick using public records and his Civil War pension
file.
William Oscar Hedrick, Sr. was
born 21 January 1838 in Marion, Grant, Indiana and died 22 December 1909
in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah according to his Civil War pension
file for services to the Union Army in Co. K of the 1st
Indiana Cavalry. Within his pension file was a letter written by him
stating that the only record of his birth was his personal knowledge and
that the one record there was, was destroyed by a cyclone on 17 June
1883 while living in Grinnell, Iowa; that being his own family bible.
He further stated that his father died in 1848 and his mother in 1873.
His parents were Charles Hedrick and Eliza Scott
and he was one of only three children and his grandfather, John
Hedrick was a pioneer to Grant and Huntington Counties, Indiana.
At the age of 24 years he enlisted as a private on 4 June
1862 from Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. On 31 October 1864 it was
requested that he be released from command as 1st Sergeant of
the 1st IN to accept a promotion to 1st Lieutenant
of the same; given by the governor of Indiana. He was mustered in on 2
November 1864 at his new rank within the same regiment and company he
initially enlisted.
On 22 February 1865, by the Wildon[?] Railroad near
Petersburg, Virginia, he was crushed by a horse causing an injury to his
right foot and ankle for which he received a 20 day medical leave of
absence on 14 March 1865 on certificate of disability from the
Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. Over a month later another
request was being filed on 8 April 1865 for ten more days of absence
because he was still deemed unfit for service due to the injury. Eleven
days later he was being examined for a certificate of disability for
those ten days.
William was honorably discharged from duty on 1 June
1865 at Indianapolis and on 21 October 1891, from Boone, Iowa, he filed
his first claim for pension stating he still suffered from the injury to
his right foot along with chronic diarrhea that started in 1862 at Stradsbury[?], Virginia, and that he suffered from rheumatism that
started while stationed near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. He was 5’7 ½”
tall, 140lbs, and 54 years of age.
Census records show the family’s immigration route through
the United States. From 1840 until 1860 they were living in Grant
County, Indiana and by 1870 they had started their journey, first
settling in Hasting, Barry, Michigan. Their next stop was in Grinnell,
Poweshiek, Iowa in 1880 where they lived through a tornado that
destroyed their home and belongings. In 1900 William was living
in a hotel by himself in Des Moines, Boone, Iowa while his wife Anna
was living in Charles City, Floyd, Iowa in her son Frank’s home
along with her other son, William Jr. and his daughter Goldie.
By 1910 Anna removed to Salt Lake City, Utah with
Clyde, a grandson by her son Charles and in 1920 she was
living with her daughter Maude who used the pension money to help
with household expenses as she had not only her invalid mother to care
for but also a “dwarf crippled” nephew that she had to care for as well. I
am unsure who this son was since the 1920 census shows her as being 43
years old without any children and 1930 she did not have any children
either. It’s possible that it was her nephew, Claude Hedrick
that she was caring for as he is always listed with either her or
Anna from 1900 to 1930. However, he is listed as having a job and
in one year he is actually living in his own home, but right next door
to Maude.
Maude Wenona (Hedrick) Kemp Arrowsmith filed a claim
against her mother’s widow’s pension to provide for burial expenses
stating her mother died with only $89.25 to her name and that, to her
dismay, only $10 was sent to help defray the costs. She stated that had
she known the pension board was only going to provide this paltry sum,
she would have taken the G.A.R.’s offer to pay for burial expenses, but
she refused under the impression that her mother’s pension would cover
the expenses.
Anna died on 15 July 1924 in San Jose, California and
was survived by five of her six children. During their lifetime
together, William and Anna never divorced, however, they
did separate for a short time around the 1900’s according to a document
submitted by their son George who stated that they had separated
for a short time but never divorced. William was living with his
wife when he died in 1909; he was survived by all six of his children.
RENBARGER, Edward (1816-1889)
Edward Renbarger was born in Hardin Co., Kentucky
on 29 August 1816 to Henry and Elizabeth (Hatfield) Renbarger. When
six months old, his father moved the family to Wayne Co., Indiana,
settling four miles northwest of Richmond, Indiana.
Edward lived with his father and helped with the farm until the age of 22
when he married Mary Prickett on 22 January 1838. Three children
were born to them, James S., George Wilson, and Lucinda.
Mary Prickett Renbarger died on 6 November 1855.
On 14 February 1857
Edward married a second time to Julie Ann
Rennaker. Two children were born to them, William Henry on 7
October 1857, and Clara Ellen on 6 January 1874. Edward was a
very ambitious, hardworking man, and father. Through his hard work and
good management he acquired 400 acres of land, many acres of which had to
be cleared of timber.
On 8 February 1889,
Edward died of pneumonia. His land, which he bought on
17 August 1874 from James and Mahulda Hagee, was divided amongst
his wife Julie, James S., George Wilson, William
Henry, and Clara Ellen.
RENBARGER,
Henry Jr. (1830-1876)
History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan
Henry Renbarger was a native of
Indiana, born Feb. 25, 1830. His boyhood was passed on a farm,
rendering his father such assistance as farmers’ boys in those days
usually were called upon to give. Soon after reaching his majority, and
upon the 7th day of September, 1851, he was united in
marriage with Miss Louisa J., daughter of John and
Martha Martin. The following year he came to Michigan, renting land
until 1855, then located on the farm where the family now reside,
purchasing 160 acres, to which he afterwards added 36 acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Renbarger were the parents of
eight children, viz., Winfield S., born June 18, 1852;; James
A., March 9, 1854; Martha A., Oct. 12, 1856; George W.,
Feb. 4, 1859; Elsie M., Sept. 23, 1861; Nancy E., April
22, 1864, died May 19, 1864; Elmira L., born May 25, 1865; and
John H., born May 28, 1868.
Politically, Mr. Renbarger acted with the Democratic
party. In religion he was what is termed a liberal, never belonging to
any church organization, but left behind him a name honored and
unsullied, respected by all who knew him, and a memory ever green in the
minds of his friends and family. His death occurred upon the 20th
day of September, 1876.
RENBARGER, William Henry (1857-1945)
William Henry Renbarger was born on 7 October 1857
to Edward Renbarger and Julie Ann Rennaker Renbarger. On 5 February 1882, Henry, as he was known, married Lucinda Gilpin. They had one daughter named Grace Ellen.
Lucinda died 5 years after
their marriage when Grace was only four years old.
After Lucinda passed away,
Henry took his little daughter and went back to
his parents' home so they could help take care of her. Henry and
Edward
farmed together as his two half brothers were in their own homes.
Henry became quite interested in a young lady by the name of Ida
Rosetta Bonner who was a hired girl at the Daniel Rennaker
home. Daniel Rennaker was an uncle of Henry's and a brother of
Henry's mother, Julie Ann.
On 29 September 1888, William Henry Renbarger and Ida Rosetta
Bonner were married and went to live in Henry's house and before long,
Grace was back home with her father and new mother. The three of them
lived just across the road from Grace's grandfather Edward,
grandmother Julie Ann, and Aunt Clara. On 7 December 1889,
Otto Henry was born to Henry and Ida. The other children born to
Henry and Ida were Guy R., James William, Clara Gertrude,
and Alva June.
When Edward died he left his land divided between
Henry, his mom, and his
brothers and sister. Henry was given 70 acres then he bought 21 acres on
14 December 1889 for $680 making 91 acres that Henry owned. When they
divided up Edward's land James S., George W., and Clara each had more land
so they had to pay Julie Ann $200 each.
Henry farmed his 91 acres until his health became very bad having hay
fever. So he decided to go with some other men and a land developer to
Canada then into Montana and found that the western air agreed with him
and that he could breath well and liked Montana. He heard of land in
western North Dakota to be homesteaded from the government so when he got
back to Indiana, he and Ida talked it over and decided to sell their
personal property except four horses, a cow, a sow, some chickens, some
farm machinery, and some household things which they loaded into a
railroad car at Sweetser, Indiana. In August of 1907, they arrived in Ray,
North Dakota.
Charles and Gertrude Wright, a sister and brother-in-law of
Ida's, rented the farm in Indiana. It was decided and agreed to by the
station agent at Sweetser, that Otto and Guy were to ride free on the
train box car to take care of the livestock, as they had to be unloaded,
fed and watered at least once on the long trip. After everything was
loaded in the railroad car, the baggage agent at Sweetser, knowing the way
of boys and the family, made a place at the end of the car while helping
load baggage where young Jim could crawl into, among the boxes of bedding
and household furnishings and be quite comfortable and not be seen by the
trainmen as he road along. Jim had wanted to be with his older brothers,
his father had given him money to pay his way but Jim chose to ride in the
freight car.
All went well until the livestock had to be unloaded at Prairie Du Chien,
Wisconsin, to be exercised, fed and watered, then to be reloaded into the
car and the water barrel filled. Then Otto and Guy decided to replenish
the food box their mother and sister Clara had so carefully packed for
them with all kinds of goodies from home. They went to a little store near
the depot and in the meantime the train got ready to pull out minus the
two Renbarger boys. Jim had to make an appearance to hold the train for
his two brothers and from there to Ray, North Dakota, Jim had to have a
train ticket, paid for by the money his father had given him. Henry,
Ida, Clara, and Alva were in a passenger car on the same train.
In another incident on their first train trip,
Jim was leaning over a
water barrel, cup in hand to get himself a drink, being a little short it
was hard for Jim to reach the water and at that time the train gave a big
lurch and Jim ended up in the barrel and might have drowned if Otto had
not been near to pull him out. Then to make things a little more
interesting, their sow decided it was time for her piglets to be born. So
Otto had to sit up all night to see that all went well with the litter and
saved all of them but one, who got frisky and got out of the pen. The cow,
Old Pet by name, stepped on it.
Arrangements had been made for the family to come to Otto Shafer's
after arriving in Ray. Otto and Grace had lived in North Dakota for a year
or two by then.
After about 2 years of living in Williams County, the
Renbargers moved
across the Big Missouri to McKenzie County where they bought a
relinquishment claim, or homestead, from a young man by the name of
John Silver. The land was put into Ida's name. There was a small log
house on the land with a sod roof which proved to be warm in the winter
and cool in the summer. There was also a bunk house where tools and
equipment were kept. The older boys and Mr. Silver spent most of the first
winter in it so a heating stove was put in. Mr. Silver stayed with the
Renbargers that first winter and left in spring to look for work. He was
very good with horses and was believed to have gone to Montana to get work
on a ranch. The Renbargers soon built a four room frame house with a small
lean-to kitchen, two bedrooms upstairs, and later built a larger sitting
room.
Henry filed on a homestead farther south in quite rough country where he
could have cattle pasture and also cut prairie hay for feed. He had to
build a small frame house on the claim, where he and Ida spent nights from
early spring until fall, driving about five miles every evening with their
one horse and buggy or a team and farm wagon. When they got to their
little house, Henry would round up the milk cows and Ida would put the
cream separator together and do whatever housework there was to do, then
the milking and separating had to be done.
They had about 20 acres plowed, which was required by law before a claim
could be proven and be their own. In the morning, cows had to be milked
and milk separated, then the milk and cream were put into cans with tight
lids and were taken back down to the farm for use by the family, and the
cream churned into butter, as butter and eggs bought the groceries and
clothes. The milk that was not used by the family was fed to the calves
and pigs. The homestead was fenced with barbwire for pasture and Henry
also rented the Bagaason homestead for more pasture. Their youngest
daughter, Ethel Merle, was born on 28 November 1920 on this land.
Henry rented his farm in Indiana to his son
Otto, then to his
brother-in-law George Bonner and family, who lived there for a few
years, then he rented it to his daughter Grace Ellen and her
husband Otto Shafer.
The Renbargers lived on their farm along the Missouri River until October
1943 when Henry, Ida, and their youngest daughter moved to the daughter's
home in Watford City where they spent the winters then would move back to
the farm each spring. The first spring after Henry's death,
Ida and Ethel
move back to the farm, but that fall, when they moved back to Watford
City, Ida said, "I think this will be our last move, as it is too hard for
the people who are so good to help us." Jim, Jennie, and their family were
always ready to help them move and would take care of the milk cows and
Ethel's saddle horse, Rodney, during the winter. Then John Steelman
helped with his truck and was so good to help unload the household goods. So there was no moving back and forth after the fall of 1946. Two years
later on May 11th, Ida passed away and was laid to rest beside Henry and
not far from their son Alva in the Shafer Cemetery.
After Henry's death in 1945, his land was sold to his grandson Ira
Shafer.
RENBERGER, George (1828-1899)
History of Cass County, Indiana; From the Earliest Time to the Present;
pgs. 847-848
GEORGE RENBERGER is a native of
Randolph County, Ind., born December 28, 1828, of German parentage. His
paternal grandfather, Geo. Renberger, and his maternal
grandfather, Christopher Miller, were natives of Pennsylvania.
His father, Aaron Renberger, was a native of Licking County, Ky.,
born in 1801. He moved to Randolph County in 1817, where, in 1825, he
married Eliza J. Miller, a native of Ohio, born in 1807. The
result of this marriage was a family of ten children, of whom George,
our subject, is the third. His father died in 1879, his mother is still
living. The subject of this sketch lived with his father on the farm
until he was nineteen years old, when he went into the tannery business
in Rochester, Fulton County, which he followed eighteen years. His
chances for education were very limited, there being but two schools in
the township at that time. Upon disposing of the tannery, in 1864, he
moved to the farm where he now lives. He was married to Susan A.
Gray, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1857. She died in March, 1863,
leaving him with two children: Mary E. born in 1861, and Ida
Adilia, born in 1863. In 1865 he married his second wife, Naomi
J. Price, a native of Indiana. She died in 1881, leaving six
children: Gertrude, George, Cyrus, May,
Guy and Myrtle, three of whom are dead. He was elected
township trustee in 1867 and held the office six years. He was elected
county commissioner in 1877 and held that office six years. He is a
Democrat in politics. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a
man who is respected by all of his neighbors, and is a successful
farmer, owning a farm of 280 acres, which is well stocked.
WEBB, Andrew Jackson
(1847-1919)
Compiled by Amy Lyn Hedrick using public records and his Civil War
pension file.
According to
his Civil War pension application, Andrew Jackson Webb was born
19 February 1844 in Marion, Grant, Indiana where he lived until 1878.
He was 5’5 ½” tall (only on one instance did he state he was 5’7” tall
and once as 5’4”), 150 lbs, fair complexion, gray hair (once he listed
dark hair), a farmer by occupation, and illiterate; he signed every
document with an X. On 2 February 1920 he was dropped from the pension
rolls due to his death on 5 November 1919; he was receiving $40 a month
by that time.
Two different accounts were given on his migration pattern
after he left Indiana. On a document dated 31 May 1912 he states that
he left Marion and went to Quincy, Illinois until 1880 when he removed
to Hannibal, Missouri until 1889. Next he went to Kansas City, Missouri
and left in 1891 to settle in the Black Hills of South Dakota where he
remained until his death. Another account dated 20 September 1901 says
he left Marion and went straight to Hannibal in 1878, then to
Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1886 he went to Kansas City and by 1888 he had
removed to Lead, Lawrence, South Dakota.
As part of the application process, it is required of the
applicant to furnish proof of age and service, and to also list family
members who were dependant upon his support and other members who could
attest to his claims. Unfortunately for Andrew, he did not have
any family members to be interviewed and according to him his birth was
not recorded in any public record or church record and if it was
recorded in a bible he would not know because his family was split and
scattered due to his parents dying when he was very young.
Andrew had no way of knowing that in later years he
would be found in a lie concerning his age, however, this little fib
really would have had no affect on his military pension. He stated to
the government that he was born in 1844 but in every census year from
1850 to 1880 his birth year was approximately 1847 or 1848, but in 1900
he started claiming 1844 as his birth year. When war was declared in
1861, Andrew was only 14 or 15 years old and you had to be 18 to
enlist. Seeing as how he didn’t have any family and all of his brothers
were enlisting, Andrew told the recruiters he was 18 years old
when he enlisted on 30 May 1862 in the 89th IN Infantry
Company A.
It is unknown to me why he claimed his real age during
census years after claiming his age as 18 in 1862; most men who fudged
on their age in order to enlist continued to claim the erroneous age
throughout their lifetime.
While trying to find proof of his age, Andrew told
the review board that his parents died when he was young and the family
scattered so he had no contact with anyone to attest to his age. He
stated that his mother died when he was 4 years old and that his father
died two years after that. This statement also proves that he lied
about his age in 1862 because, had he really been born in 1844 his
mother would have died around 1848 and would not have appeared in the
1850 census, but she does. Now, if Andrew was born in 1847 or
1848, then his mother would have died in 1851 or 1852 which makes sense
because she was listed in the 1850 census but not in the 1860.
Therefore, Andrew was consciously telling a lie about his age not
realizing he was proving the lie by giving the correct information about
other happenings in his life like listing his correct age on census
records and his correct age when his parents died.
But, luckily for Andrew, these census records were
not available to the review board, and even so, his correct age would
not be an issue; 18 years old or not, Andrew served in the
military during the Civil War.
Finding public records for Andrew and his family has
been hard so his pension application is a valuable source of
genealogical information because it not only tells us about his two
wives and children, but it has given us an approximate date of death for
his parents which has baffled researchers (at least online researchers)
for years.
Since he claimed to be 4 years old when his mother died and
6 years old when is father died, one could assume that George Webb
died around 1853 and Nancy (Rock) Webb died about 1851 in Marion,
Grant, Indiana. This document, unfortunately, does not list his parents
by name so we can only assume that they were George and Nancy
because of the circumstances listed in Andrew’s pension file.
Namely that he was born in Marion and lived there until 1878 and that
his parents died when he was very young and the rest of the family
scattered. This information matches what is known about the George
Webb family from the 1850 Grant County census.
On two separate occasions he listed his family information.
On his first application on 7 May 1898 his current wife was Capitolia
Rogers whom he married on 24 July 1884 in Hannibal, Marion,
Missouri. His previous wife was Melissa Lines [sic] who died 28
March 1883 at Hannibal. On his second application he listed his
marriage date to Capitolia as 25 July 1884 and that he married
Melissa Lyons on 14 October 1867 and that she died 25 March 1881 in
Hannibal. I have yet to confirm the correct date of death; nor have I
confirmed the marriage date to Capitolia.
With his first wife he had two children: George
Washington Webb born 19 August 1868 and Anna Katherine Webb
born 10 July 1872. On one application he only listed the kids by first
name and initial, Anna was listed with “C” as her middle initial
but on the second listing her name was spelled out with a “K”.
Eight children were born to his second wife: Albert
Leroy born 7 May 1885 and who was deceased by the second application
dated 19 March 1915 application; Charles Rowdie born 7 May 1887,
deceased by 1915; Carl Erby born 15 February 1890; Gipsie
Eulala born 5 March 1893; Andrew Jackson born 6 October 1894;
and Delphia Orlena Webb born 11 March 1896.
Taking into consideration the years provided during
Andrew’s migration we can assume that the first two children born to
him were born in Marion, Grant, Indiana. Then Albert was born in
Missouri and census records say that Charles Rowdie was born in
Kansas. The statement that Andrew settled in South Dakota by
1891 seems to be incorrect considering Carl was born in 1890 in
Kansas and Gypsie was born in 1893 in South Dakota; one could
assume the 1891 migration to South Dakota is the correct date and not
the 1888 migration.
Some conflict arose during the application process when
Andrew decided to list both regiments that he had enlisted in within
months of each other. On his first few applications he only stated that
he served once in one regiment, enlisting on 20 August 1862 at
Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky in the 11th KY Cavalry
Company H in which he served until honorably discharge on 17 July 1865
and on his first several applications this is what he listed.
In actuality his first enlistment was into the 89th
Indiana in May of the same year and when questioned about how he could
be in two different regiments in two different states Andrew said
that shortly before his second enlistment the 89th IN was
captured and imprisoned by the Confederates and that he made his escape
shortly thereafter. The first regiment he found was the 11th
KY and he explained to the Colonel what had happened to him and that he
considered himself free to enlist again because to him the regiment was
disbanded due to imprisonment; the Colonel decided to accept his story
and mustered him into his regiment.
Andrew first filed for his pension on 7 May 1898
listing his wives, children, his own birth date and place, and the
illnesses that he suffered from that made him unable to perform manual
labor. On each successive application he listed the same ailments and
on each the doctors did not find any indication that he suffered from
the claimed stomach, bowel, and heart disease and the effects of scurvy.
Only one application, dated 2 October 1901, was it listed
that he may have suffered from scurvy because he had brown mottled skin
from his shoulder, across his chest, and down his arms whereas the rest
of his skin had a yellow tint. This application also stated that he had
lost 8 teeth that had fallen out on their own and that while he did not
have any of the organ diseases claimed, he was entitled to a rate of $6
per month. The last statement on this application is hard to decipher,
it reads thusly: “…his inability to work is not due to any vicious
habits “or” the effects of scurvy…” It’s possible that the “or” could
be “is” and that scurvy and the loss of his teeth caused him to be
unable to perform manual labor.
In a letter dated 15 October 1901 the review board informed
Andrew that his mark had to be witnessed since he could not sign
his name and it was asked of the doctors how losing teeth could render
him an invalid. The doctor’s answer on the 23rd stated the
obvious but didn’t really answer the question: “…(can not) perform
continuous manual labor without proper mastication of food…” How does
this keep one from working?
His medical examination on 4 March 1905 was performed by
Dr. John W. Freeman, age 51 of Lead, who had been Andrew’s
doctor for the past 25 years, for which was also the length of time he
had been a physician. The doctor stated that Andrew had
pneumonia for three months in 1895 and then in 1897 he had dysentery to
the point of passing blood for two weeks and that he was unable to work
half of the time. The surgeon’s certificated previous to the medical
examination said that Andrew was completely healthy and his
infirmity was due to old age and nothing more and that this warranted a
rate of $6 per month. His claims were that he contracted stomach and
bowel disease in 1863, heart disease in 1864, and scurvy in 1865 while a
prisoner in Milledgeville, Baldwin, Georgia. This is the one and only
time that imprisonment was mentioned on any document in the pension
file.
On the application for 1 May 1907 a new disease was added
which remained through the rest of the pension period and that was
rheumatism. His doctor at this time was Dr Vernard R. Hodges of
Terry, Lawrence, South Dakota who had been Andrew’s doctor for 3
years and who was only 25 years old. On his report dated 19 August 1907
he stated that Andrew had chronic rheumatism, myocarditis, signs
of scurvy, and that he had received a crushing injury to his pelvis one
year prior. This application was witnessed by two men who had known
Andrew for nine and ten years, Henry E. Wilson and William
Martin, respectively, both of Lead, Lawrence, South Dakota.
In the spring of 1913 Andrew started claming both
regiments and a big investigation ensued thereafter. It was stated that
the 89th IN was never captured and that Andrew was
official listed as M.I.A. on 18 September 1862, nearly one whole month
after he enlisted in another regiment. To the board, this suggested
that Andrew deserted and most likely was not the same man who
served in the Kentucky regiment.
But, to file for a pension, one had to have his discharge
papers, and clearly Andrew had his from the Kentucky regiment
dated 17 July 1865 under General Orders #83 from the War Department
A.G.O. 1865; he did not have them from the Indiana regiment and in his
explanation was that he could not get discharge papers because everyone
was in prison and there was no one to discharge him. One member of the
review board didn’t see that it mattered if Andrew served in both
or not, he considered the issue immaterial because no matter what it
would not affect his pension rate.
The board wanted to know Andrew’s whereabouts from 8
August 1862 to 20 August 1862 prior to reenlisting in a new regiment.
It was not mentioned why this was needed especially since the board’s
only record of Andrew leaving the 89th IN was his
listing as M.I.A. in September of the same year. What was significant
about the 8th of August? Did the board finally find record
of the 89th IN’s imprisonment by the Confederates? If so,
one would think that Andrew spent those 12 days seeking Federal
troops after he made his escape.
Andrew’s pension was at risk of being denied. His
first claim of double service was made on 16 February 1907 when he was
at a rate of $12/m. He subsequently listed this double service on
applications dated 11 May 1912 and 3 June 1912. By 19 May 1913, Adj.
Gen. George Andrews was wondering just why this prior
service record was being mentioned and if it was due to a fraud being
committed by Andrew. After all, if Andrew had the proper
discharge papers from the 11th KY Cavalry, why would he need
to mention the 89th IN at all? Was it because he was
claiming the identity of another man because he deserted for the
remainder of the war in 1862? Thus, by claiming the man’s identity who
enlisted in the 11th KY, Andrew could claim a pension
whereas if he had deserted and never reenlisted, he was not eligible for
assistance.
At the time that this was happening, the board of review did
not have the kind of access to records that we have today. All records
that can be found on a person, especially military personnel, are now
located within one or two offices and can be viewed in total. We know
today that there was no other Andrew J. Webb serving that fit his
circumstances. The other men of his name either died while in service
or their records are complete with one regiment from the beginning to
the end of the war.
The actual muster roll cards state that Andrew Webb
enrolled for service on 8 August 1862 in Grant County, Indiana in the 89th
IN Co. C as a private and was mustered into service on 30 August 1862 in
Indianapolis. On his pension file he states that he enlisted in the 11th
KY Co. H on 20 August 1862 and that he was previously mustered into the
89th IN on 30 May 1862.
His muster records further state that he was listed as
absent on the 30 August to 31 October 1862 muster roll and that he has
been missing since the Battle of Munfordville, Kentucky on 18 September
1862. His pension file states he was officially listed as missing in
action on 17 September 1862.
The 89th IN mustered out on 17 July 1865 in
Mobile, Alabama and Andrew’s card lists him as M.I.A. since the
Munfordville battle. The 89th IN continued on fighting in
the war after being paroled as they show up in Tennessee later that year
in December. To the naked eye it would appear that Andrew
deserted the 89th and assumed the identity of another man who
enlisted in Kentucky and he either served under this man’s identity, or
he is assuming this identity just to receive a pension.
The 11th KY Cavalry was organized in the summer
of 1862 and Company H was recruited while the regiment was encamped at
the fair grounds in Louisville, Kentucky and officially mustered in
around the 20th of September 1862. Now, if Andrew’s
story is true that he escaped prison and then reenlisted then his M.I.A.
date and the muster date of the 11th KY Co. H coincides
perfectly. There were four men named Andrew Webb living in
Kentucky during the 1860 census that were all old enough to have served,
did Andrew from Indiana assume the identity of an Andrew Webb
from Kentucky? Andrew appears to have applied his Indiana
service record with that of the Kentucky record; he states that he
enlisted in the 11th KY in August 1862 and was mustered out
17 July 1865 when in fact this was his record from the 89th
Indiana.
But why give erroneous muster dates? It is clear that
Andrew applied his record from the 89th to his presumed
record with the 11th KY Cavalry. Why did he do this if he
really did serve in both? He would have still received a pension if he
said he enlisted in Kentucky in September 1862.
Military records for Andrew Webb who enlisted in the
11th KY state he enlisted on 20 August 1862, if that is so,
then how did Andrew J. Webb from Indiana muster into two separate
regiments at the same time? Was this just the date of his initial
enlistment into the military? Because this same record says he enlisted
in the 11th on 22 September 1862 which would fit Andrew’s
story and the fact that he was listed M.I.A. in September. The review
board’s question about where he was from 8 August to 20 August 1862 is
really a non-issue. He was probably waiting around in a camp waiting to
be enrolled into the next available regiment. No matter what he was
doing during this time, the fact remains, he was mustered into service.
The real question is where did this May 1862 enlistment date
come from and where was he from 17-22 September 1862?
I am currently awaiting
Andrew’s compiled military records for the 11th
Kentucky (28 June 2011) to follow up on this intriguing story
WEBB, Henly Wesley (1837-1907)
Compiled by Amy Lyn Hedrick using public records and his Civil War
pension file.
According to
his tombstone, census, and pension file, Henly Wesley Webb was
born 18 May 1837 in Craig County, Virginia, died 26 February 1907 in
Severance, Doniphan, Kansas and was interred in a family plot at Oak
Hill Cemetery in Severance. He married Susannah Van Horn 24
October 1858 in Green, Grant, Indiana; she was the daughter of Jacob
Van Horn and Kathrine Battie, and was born 26 May 1837 in
Carlton County, Ohio, died 7 March 1910 in St. Joseph, Buchanan,
Missouri at her daughter Edna Genette (Webb) Showers’ home. On a
document dated 1 February 1907, Susannah states Henly died
26 February 1907 and that she was married to him in Marion (which is
Grant County), her maiden name was Vanhorn, and she was never
married before or since. Sol Weil attested to her statement and
was also a pallbearer at Henly’s funeral.
Henly’s Civil War pension file, unfortunately, did
not contain a single form that included his birth information, nor who
his parents were, nor where he lived throughout his lifetime. The file
mainly consisted of his health records and requests and appeals for
pension increase after it had been decreased. Using the dates on these
records we can surmise when he removed from Indiana to Kansas because
some were filed while he lived in Jonesboro, Grant, Indiana and the
remainder in Severance. The latest document filed in Indiana was dated
24 December 1891 and the earliest in Kansas was 20 March 1895; there is
a four year gap in the records, suggesting he was on the move and maybe
couldn’t file any papers at that time.
There were many people who submitted statements concerning
their knowledge of Henly and Susannah and their life
together, some people even knew them prior to their move in Kansas,
suggesting they may have migrated together or near about the same time
period. The majority of these statements were filed in 1907 shortly
after Henly’s death.
Two documents were filed listing the children born to this
union and their birth dates; a document dated 4 May 1898 only gave names
and birth years, but a document filed the next year on 27 February 1899
listed full birth dates. According to the pension, Henly and
Susannah’s children were: Addie M. born 2 April 1860;
Edna G. born 28 May 1862; Harlen W. born 28 January 1866;
Edith M. born 12 April 1868; and Broze A. born 23 August
1876.
Census records, however, confuse the issue of exactly how
many children there were and what their names were as well. In 1860
there was only one child born to them in May 1860 named Nancy J. Webb.
By 1870 there were four children: Adda/Addie, Edna,
Harlen, and Edith; no child named Nancy which would
leave one to assume that she had died young, but, Adda’s birth
date was nearly the same as Nancy’s and we know they weren’t
twins because they would have been listed together in the 1860 census.
During the 1880 census there were five children, the last listed as
Rose A., a daughter, age 3 years old.
Come 1900 the daughter Rose can no longer be found,
but the list of children in the pension file tells us that a son named
Alva from census records is the same age as Rose from
1880. How a child’s name and gender could be confused so radically can
only be explained by a neighbor having given the census information or
the enumerator incorrectly listing Broze Alva as Rose A.
and assuming he was a daughter.
Henly enlisted on 23 April 1861 from Grant County,
Indiana in the 8th IN Company K and was discharged on 6
August 1861 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. Nowhere in his pension
was anything said about his short service in the military.
He first filed for a pension and was granted $10 a month on
14 September 1890 and increased to $12/m by 21 January 1892. His
pension was then reduced to $8 on 4 May 1895 and he filed for an
increase on 8 May 1897. Because he filed for an increase and not a
restoration, his appeal was rejected and he spent a lot of time trying
to clear this “mistake” with the pension board. On 5 January 1898 he
was examined for his increase (his exam clearly showed he was infirm)
but was refused.
His appeal was rejected again on 3 January 1901 and the very
next month, on the 13th of February, his lawyer filed another
appeal stating that rejecting the pension on the basis of Henly
requesting an increase instead of a restoration was unwarranted and that
the diseases Henly had would not cause a young man to be infirm
but Henly was 64 years old and therefore entitled to a full
pension. The original reason for the decrease was due to the pension
board deeming him fit to work and only entitled to partial disability.
On a document dated 12 April 1895 William V. Hall of Doniphan
County attests to knowing him and stated Henly was a blacksmith
but recently unable to work due to rheumatism and disease of the eyes.
The work of a blacksmith is very arduous work that someone of Henly’s
age, with rheumatism and poor eyesight, could obviously no longer
perform.
There were many documents filed concerning Henly’s
medical history, the majority dealt with him claiming throat & lung
trouble, piles, rheumatism of back, hemorrhoids, chronic diarrhea, and
eye disease or impaired vision. Most of the exams found no evidence of
diarrhea or piles, but they confirmed his arthritis, eye disease, and
that he may have asthma. At a later time (2 April 1900) Henly
wanted deafness added to his case, hoping that would help with granting
the increase; his hearing impairment was also confirmed for partial
deafness in his right ear and slightly less than perfect hearing in his
left.
The first document filed concerning his health was dated 24
December 1891 from Jonesboro, Grant, Indiana. The doctor concluded that
all of his problems were in evidence since 1861 except for his failing
eyesight which had progressively gotten worse over the past 14 years.
At the time of this exam, Henly was 5’5 ½” tall, 135 lbs. and 53
years old.
When Susannah died, her daughter Edna Genetta
Showers, filed for reimbursement for the care of Susannah.
She was living in St. Joseph, Missouri and stated her mother died 7
March 1910 and last received her pension 4 February 1910 of $12.
Edna claimed a $32 doctor bill, $70 for the undertaker, $7 for
livery, a $2 cemetery charge, $1 for muslin for grave, $1 worth of
lumber for grave, and $104.60 for monument; making a total of $217.60
and the charges were approved. But, a statement marked on one document
said “Necessarily disallowed $204.00 approved for $13.60”. Does this
mean they had to approve the overage of $13.60 or that she only got
$13.60 reimbursement out of the $217.60?
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