91st PA: James Lyon Aarons

James Lyon Aarons

Before the war

He was born on 26 March 1841, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 15; 4 (23 in 1864), 7 (19 in 1860), 8 (30 in 1870), 9 (39 in 1880), 12 (40 in 1850), 13 (69 in 1910), 14 (59 in 1900)] place: 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14.

In 1850, he was living in West Providence Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was living with Peter and Christina Aaron (presumably his parents), and with David, Mary, Rebecca, and Amanda (presumably siblings). He had attended school within the year. [source: 12]

In 1860, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was a farm laborer. [source: 7]

In 1860/61, he married Jane [unknown family name]. She was born in January 1846, in Pennsylvania. They seem to have had six children, including:

[sources: 8, 9, 14 (6 children, 2 alive in 1900), 15]

He was a farmer when he enlisted. [source: 4]

Description

When he enlisted, he had a fair complexion, gray eyes, and light hair. [source: 4]

During the war

He was drafted from the sixteenth congressional district. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 21 September 1864. He enlisted for one year, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was a private in company F. [sources: 1, 4, 11, 16, 17]

He was transferred to the Veterans' reserve corps, 42nd company, 2nd Battalion, as a private. When he was transferred, he was a private, in company F. [sources: 1, 2, 11, 16, 17, 19]

He was discharged by special order on 1 May 1865 or by general order on 29 June 1865. He was a private, in the 42nd company, 2nd battalion, Veterans' reserve corps. [sources: 1 (29 Jun, general order), 3 (1 May, special order), 11 (29 June), 19]

After the war

In 1870, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer, and owned $500 in personal property. He was living with his wife Jane and children Mary Francis and John A. [source: 8]

He successfully applied for a pension on 18 October 1871. He claimed a pension because he had been disabled by "lung fever and varicose ulcerations of the right leg". The pension office rejected that application on 17 February 1879 because he had varicose veins before he enlisted. He appealed this rejection to the US Congress. The House initially recommended approving a pension. However, in April 1880, the Senate Committee on Pensions recommended that the HR 2041, granting him a pension, be postponed, because his leg was diseased before he joined, he was in hospital within two months of joining, and spent most of his year in service in hospital. [sources: 2, 5, 6, 11]

In 1880, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer. He was living with his wife L Jane, and children Mary F, John, and David H. [source: 9]

In 1890, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. [source: 10]

In 1900, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Jane and son David. He was a farmer, and had been out of work 4 months in the previous year. [source: 14]

Effective 7 November 1906, he received a pension of $30 per month. (This may have been from a special act.) [source: 18]

In 1910, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his son David, and a servant. He was not working. [source: 13]

He died on 29 November 1916, at Flintstone, Maryland. He was buried in the Chaneysville Methodist Cemetery, Chaneysville, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 11, 15, 18]

Sources

1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)

2 Veterans' administration. Pension index, by name (James Aarons)

3 company F, register of men discharged (James Arons)

4 company F, second descriptive roll, #35 (James Aarons)

5 Serial Set number 1896, session volume 5, 46th congression, 2nd session, Senate Report 490 (ordered printed 16 April 1880) (James Aaron)

6 Serial Set number 1934, session volume 1, 46th Congress, 2nd session, House of Representatives, Report No. 67 (ordered printed 9 January 1880) (James Aarons)

7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (post office Elbinsville), microfilm series M653, film 1072, page 573 (James Aarons)

8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (Chaneysville Pa), microfilm series M593, film 1304, page 618 = 1 handwritten (James Aarons)

9 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 8,enumeration district 236, microfilm series T9, film 1098, page 327 = 7 C handwritten (James Aarons)

10 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 89, page 1 (James Aaron)

11 pension index, by regiment (James Aarons)

12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, West Providence Township, microfilm series M432, film 751, page 109 = 218 handwritten (James Aarons)

13 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 28, microfilm series T624, film 1312, page 6 = 6 B handwritten (James L Aaron)

14 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 31, microfilm series T623, film 1376, page 152 = 1 A handwritten (James L Aaron)

15 Find a grave, 114243631, created by Bronwyn, added 23 July 2013, accessed 19 September 2013 (James Lyon Aaron)

16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Aarons)

17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Arons)

18 Veterans administration pension payment cards, 1907-1933 (James Aarons)

19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers, Veteran Reserve Corps (James Aarons)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

RootsWeb WorldConnect
accessed October 2006
Find a grave
accessed 7 Dec 2010
1920 US census
HeritageQuest's index (accessed 7 December 2010)
FamilySearch's index (accessed 23 March 2011)
1930 US census
Footnote's index (accessed 23 March 2011)
1940 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 3 May 15)
Pennsylvania veterans burial cards
Ancestry index (accessed 19 September 2013)
headstone applications for US military veterans, 1925-1949
FamilySearch index (accessed 19 September 2013)
death notice
searched Newspapers.com, LOC Chronicling America, and GenealogyBank for James Aarons, 1916, in Maryland newspapers (accessed 28 Apr 15)

Display


James Lyon Aarons in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect

James Lyon Aarons in the 91st PA database

Congressional reports about his pension application

Serial Set number 1934, session volume 1, 46th Congress, 2nd session, House of Representatives, Report No. 67 (ordered printed 9 January 1880)
46th CONGRESS, 2d Session. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPORT No. 67.
JAMES AARONS.
JANUARY 9, 1880.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed.
Mr. COFFROTH, from the Committeee on Invalid Pensions, submitted the following
REPORT:
[To accompany bill H. R. 2041.]

The Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2041) granting a pension to James Aarons, late private in Company F, Ninety-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to submit the following report:

James Aarons, the claimant, enlisted on the 21st day of September, 1864, in Company F, Ninety-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged on the 29th of June, 1865. He filed an application for pension, alleging that whilst in the Army of the United States he was disabled in consequence of severe exposure and hardship of the service, by contracting lung fever and varicose ulcerations of the right leg. His claim was rejected on the 17th of February, 1879, on the supposition that the varicose veins existed prior to enlistment.

The committee have carefully reviewed all the sworn testimony filed in support of this claim, and they are of the opinion that the rejection is erroneous; that there is not a syllable of evidence to show that the claimant suffered from varicose ulceration of the right leg before he enlisted in the Army.

John G. Leasure and Joseph Bennett, members of Company F, Ninety-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and comrades of the claimant, swear "that at the time of his enlistment they were well acquainted with him, and that he was an able-bodied man, and was examined by a physician appointed for that purpose. That on or about the 26th of November, 1864, at or near Hatcher's Run, Virginia, said James Aarons was disabled in the line of his duty, by reason of an aggravated disease (by camp life) of the right leg, as reported by the hospital steward of that place, and was sent away from the regiment unfit for duty, and never returned, he being unfit for excessive fatigue or duty."

Zachariah Shaffer, a private in the same company, swears that the claimant "was an able-bodied man at the time of his enlistment, and that at or near Petersburg he was attacked by some slow fever, which appeared to create a severe sore or running ulcer on his right leg, and still (August 8, 1878) remains a running ulcer." This witness also says he was "acquainted with the claimant, James Aarons, at the time of his enlistment, whilst in the Army, and, since his return, to the present." Other witnesses sustain this testimony.

On the 11th of September, 1871, Dr. D. Helm Hite swears "that I [page 2] have examined James Aarons, formerly of Company F, Ninety-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and find his affliction to be a chronic ulcer of the right leg, extending almost from the knee to the ankle joint, on the inner and anterior aspects of the limb."

On the 22d day of February, 1877, Dr. John G. Hughes swears that he graduated at Jefferson Medical College, in March, 1853, and that he has been well acquainted with James Aarons for eighteen years, and had been his family physician prior to his enlistment, and says: "I never knew him (prior to his enlistment) to suffer from any pulmonary disease, or give any evidence or indication of pulmonary weakness. I saw him at his home soon after his return from the service. I was called upon to visit him professionally and give him treatment. I found him at that time very much debilitated and broken down in general health, but suffering particularly from diseased lungs." He further swears that he was then the "unfortunate bearer of varicose ulcers of the lower limb, from which he suffers greatly much of the time. Indeed, they never heal up entirely, but are open and discharging, more or less, all the time. As they seem to be the result of the enlarged and varicose condition of the veins of the legs, they render walking about often almost an impossibility. In closing my statement of this case, I would add that I do consider the applicant, James Aarons, a most worthy claimant; that he is a confirmed sufferer from ailment contracted in the service."

On the 16th of August, 1878, O. P. G. Clark, Acting Commissioner of Pensions, addressed a letter to Philip Knee, a resident of Chaneysville, Pa., where the claimant resides, asking him, "Will you please inform this office of any knowledge you may have, either personal or from information, relative to this man's (James Aarons) physical condition before enlistment in 1864 and since his final discharge in 1865?"

Mr. Knee answered as follows:


CHANEYSVILLE, BEDFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
August 28, 1878.

SIR: I have known James Aarons for twelve years, and have seen him more or less every day during this time. He has had a bad leg ever since he has been discharged out of the Army; know that his physical condition was good before he went in the Army, and that he ought to be entitled to pension above others that are getting pensions.


Respectfully,
PHILIP KNEE
Hon. COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

The examining surgeon, Jacob A. Baird, in 1878, fixes the disability at one-half loss of foot, or $9 per month, and says: "Judging from his (the applicant's) present condition, and from the evidence before him, that the said disability did originate in the service in the line of duty."

In the opinion of the committee, this is a meritorious claim, and report the bill back to the House and recommend its passage.



Serial Set number 1896, session volume 5, 46th congression, 2nd session, Senate Report 490 (ordered printed 16 April 1880)
46TH CONGRESS, 2d Session. SENATE. REPORT No. 490.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
APRIL 16, 1880.--Ordered to be printed.
Mr. CALL, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted the following
REPORT:
[To accompany bill H.R. 2041.]

The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2041) granting a pension to James Aaron, private company F, Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, have carefully examined the same, and report:

That the record of the applicant shows that he entered hospital within two months after he was drafted into the military service; that he continued in hospital almost the whole time until his discharge in June, 1865, less than a year after he entered the service.

That he admitted to the examining surgeon that his leg was diseased before he entered the service.

Your committee have not found in the evidence submitted satisfactory proof that the applicant's disease was contracted in the service and in the line of duty, and therefore recommend that the bill be indefinitely postponed.

Veterans administration pension payment card

[Veterans administration pension payment cards, 1907-1933, James Aarons]
[transcribed 28 April 2015, from FamilySearch]


NAME: Aarons James
Certificate No. 277966
ARMY INVALID.
Law: GENERAL LAW. SPECIAL ACT.
Service: Pvt. F 91 Pa. Inf.
Disability: Dis. lungs and varicose ulcers rt. leg
ISSUES:
CLASS.RATE.DATE OF COMMENCEMENT.DATE OF CERTIFICATE.
 307 Nov 190612 Dec 1906

Fees: [blank]
Transferred from: PITTSBURGH
Transferred to: [blank]
Died: Nov 29, 1916
Bureau notified: JAN 17 1917
Remarks: Check No. 3236124 Dated JAN 4 1917 Canceled

Former Roll No. 116 GR.
Home: [blank]

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, West Providence Township, microfilm series M432, film 751, page 109 = 218 handwritten]
[identification is likely given the 1870 census (name, age, location)]
line28293031323334
Dwellings visited167      
Families visited173      
NamePeter AaronChristina "David "Mary E "James "Rebecca "Amanda "
Age403914121089/12
Sexmfmfmff
Color       
Occupation of males over 15 yearsLaborer      
Real estate owned       
Birthplace" [sc. Pa]""""""
Married within year       
Attended school within year  111  
Over 20 & can't read/write       
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.       

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (post office Elbinsville), microfilm series M653, film 1072, page 573]
[identification is likely given the 1870 census (name, age, location)]
line1234
Dwelling number717   
Family number684   
NameMatilda GrooveElizabeth "James AaronsLovina J Gordon
Age43601916
Sexffmf
Color    
Occupation  Farm laborerServing
Value of real estate owned$2000   
Value of personal estate$500   
Place of birthPennsylvania"""
Married within year    
Attended school within year    
Cannot read & write11  
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.    

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (Chaneysville Pa), microfilm series M593, film 1304, page 618 = 1 handwritten]
[identity is confirmed by the 1880 census and family names]
line20212223
Dwelling-house number5   
Family number5   
NameAarons James" Jane" Mary Francis" John A
Age302182
SexMFFM
ColorWWWW
OccupationFarmerWifeAt HomeAt Home
Real estate value    
Personal estate value500   
BirthplacePaPaPaPa
Father foreign born    
Mother foreign born    
Birth month if born within year    
Marriage month if married within year    
Attended school past year 1 [sic]1 
Can't read    
Can't write1   
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.    
Male US citizen at least 21 years old1   
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...    

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 8,enumeration district 236, microfilm series T9, film 1098, page 327 = 7 C handwritten]
[identity is confirmed by house report 67, 9 January 1880 (which refers to his living in Chaneysville, which is in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania]
line2526272829
street name     
house number     
dwelling visit #     
family visit #59    
nameAarons James- L. JaneMary F. JohnDavid H.
colorWWWWW
sexMFFMM
age393618123
month born if born in year     
relationship WifeDaughterSonSon
single   11
married111 [sic]  
widowed/divorced     
married during year     
occupationFarmingKeeping houseAt homeWork on farm 
months unemployed     
currently ill?     
blind     
deaf/dumb     
idiotic     
insane     
disabled     
school this year   1 
can't read     
can't write     
birthplacePaPaPaPaPa
father's birthplacePaPaPaPaPa
mother's birthplacePaPaPaPaPa

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 89, page 1]
[identity is probable given the 1880 census (name, location, service)]

[line] 9
[house] 89
[family] 94
[name] Aaron, James
[rank] [blank]
[company] [blank]
[unit] [blank]
[enlistment date] [blank]
[discharge date] [blank]
[length of service] [blank]
[post office address] Chaneysville Pa
[disability incurred] Wounded in leg
[remarks] Pensioner

1900 census

[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 31, microfilm series T623, film 1376, page 152 = 1 A handwritten]
[identity is confirmed given the 1880 census (name, age, location, family names)]
line171819
street 
house number   
dwelling number7  
family number7  
nameAaron, James L- Jane- David H
relationshipHeadWifeSon
colorWWW
sexMFM
birth dateMar 1841Jan 1846Mar 1877
age595423
married?MMS
# years married3939 
mother of how many children? 6 
# of children living 2 
birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigration year   
# years in USA   
naturalized citizen?   
occupationFarmer Day Laborer
# months not employed4 5
# months in school   
can readyesyesyes
can writeyesyesyes
speaks Englishyesyesyes
owned/rentedO  
free or mortgagedF  
farm/houseF  
# of farm schedule6  

1910 census

[1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 28, microfilm series T624, film 1312, page 6 = 6 B handwritten]
[identity is confirmed given the 1900 census (name, age, location, child's name)]
line606162
street   
house nr   
dwelling nr109  
family nr109  
nameAaron, James L.-, David H.Hollow [?], Carrie [?]
relationshipHeadSonServant
sexMMF
colorWWW
age693330
marital statusWdSM1
#years present marriage  6
mother of # children  3
mother of # living children  1
birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigrated   
naturalized/alien   
speaks EnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish
occupationNoneSaleswomanCook
nature of industry etc. General storePrivate family
employer etc. WW
out of work 15 Apr 1910? NoNo
# weeks out of work 1909 00
can readYesYesYes
can writeYesYesYes
school since 1 Sep 09   
owned/rentedO  
owned free or mortagagedF  
farm/houseH  
nr on farm schedule   
civil war vet   
blind   
deaf & dumb   

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 6 Mar 2014, from Fold3]


Aarons, James.
Co. F, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
See also 42 Co. 2nd Battn. V.R.C.


[card 2, transcribed 7 March 2014]

Arons, James.
Co. F, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Aarons, James.

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers]
[transcribed 28 Apr 2015, from Fold3]


Aarons, James.
42 Co., 2 Batt'n Veteran Res. Corps.
Priv | Pvt
See also 91 Pa. Inf.

GENERAL INDEX CARD

top of document | home
revised 3 May 15
contact Harry Ide at [email protected] with comments or questions