He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1832/33, apparently to James Hamilton and Isabella [unknown family name].
[sources:
date: 5 (30 in 1863), 11 (17 in 1850).
place: 5, 11.
parents: 11]
In 1850, he was living in Centre Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
He was living with James and Isabella Hamilton (presumably his parents), and with Margaret, Mary, James, and Isabella (presumably his siblings).
He was not working, and had attended school within the year.
[source: 11]
On 19 February 1856, he married Maria Jane Brown, at Nancy Brown's house, in Clay Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
She was born in December 1838, in Pennsylvania.
They were married by Reverend John Coulter, of the Old School Presbyterian Church.
She was born in 1838/39.
They had three children:
Samuel Hamilton (born 7 Jan 1857, Clay Twp, Butler, PA)
Margaret Malinda [or Melinda] Hamilton (born 25 Jan 1859, Clay Twp, Butler, PA)
Ann Jennetta [or Jeanneta] Hamilton (born 14 Jan 1861, Clay Twp, Butler, PA)
[sources: 10, 14]
When he enlisted, he was a farm[er] (?).
[source: 5]
Description
When he enlisted, he was 6 [?] feet tall, and had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair.
[source: 5 (could be 5 feet)]
During the war
He was drafted.
He enlisted and was mustered into service in the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on 16 July 1863.
He served in company M.
He enlisted for three years.
His service was credited to the 23rd congressional district.
[sources: 1, 5, 7, 9, 10]
He was transferred from company M of the 62nd PA to the 91st PA on 20 July 1864.
On 21 July 1864, he, and the other members of companies L and M, were assigned to company G.
On 22 July 1864, they were transferred to company K, following brigade orders to assign them to the smallest company.
He was then present, as a private, on duty as provost guard at brigade headquarters.
He was a private in company K.
[sources: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 16]
He was killed in action on 28 October 1864 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, by being shot in the head (or left side?).
He was a private, in company K.
He was buried in Petersburg Cemetery, Virginia.
He had last been paid to 31 August 1864.
[sources: 1, 4 (27 Oct 65 [sic]), 6, 9, 10 (some records have 6 Nov 64), 16]
After the war
On 6 February 1865, his widow, Maria J Hamilton, applied successfully for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862.
Her post office address was Boydstown, Butler Conty, Pennsylvania.
[sources: 7, 8, 10]
On 25 October 1866, before her initial pension application was accepted, his widow, Maria J Hamilton, applied for an increase of pension under the Act of 25 July 1866.
She used statements by William Rumbaugh (K) and Samuel Seybert (K) to support her application.
On 27 April 1867, her application was approved.
She initially received $8 per month (retroactive to 6 November 1864), with an additional $2 per month for each child under 16 (retroactive to 25 July 1866).
[source: 10]
In 1870, his widow, Jane Hamilton, was living in Clay Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
She was living with their children Samuel, Margaret, and Ann.
She owned $1,500 in real estate, and $500 in personal property.
[source: 12]
On 18 December 1879, his widow, Maria J Hamilton, married George Brown, at West Sunbury, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
[source: 10]
In 1880, Jane Maria Brown was living with her second husband, George Brown, in Concord, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
[source: 13]
On 3 April 1890, George Brown died at his home in Concord Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
[source: 10]
In 1900, Mariah J Brown was living in Concord Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
She was living with her granddaughter Jeanette Hamilton.
She lived on a farm, which she owned.
[source: 14]
On 26 March 1903, his widow, Maria Jane Brown, applied for her pension to be renewed under the Act of 3 March 1901.
After a special investigator determined she was dependent (since her actual income was less than $250 per year), her application was approved in July 1904, retroactive to 26 March 1903.
She received $12 per month.
[source: 10]
In 1903, his widow, Maria J Brown, had an interest in three pieces of property:
47 acres in Clay Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, inherited from her father, with no buildings and few fences
a one-half interest in 69 acres in Oakland Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania (with her son Samuel owned the other one-half interest)
a life interest in 53 acres in Concord Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, received from her husband George Brown
She also owned one cow, eighteen sheep, about thirty chickens, and old furniture.
[source: 10]
In 1910, Maria J Brown was living on the Greece City to West Sunbury Road, Concord Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
She lived on a general farm, which she owned.
[source: 15]
On 10 July 1914, his widow, Maria J Brown, died.
[source: 10]
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)
10widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate number 93,690
(Maria Jane Brown widow of John Hamilton)
111850 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Centre Township, microfilm series M432, film 760, page 287 recto = 569 handwritten
(John Hamilton)
121870 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Clay Township (post office Coultersville), microfilm series M593, film 1315, page 121 recto = 5 handwritten
(Jane Hamilton)
131880 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Concord, supervisor's district 10, enumeration district 33, microfilm series T9, film 1108, page 110 = 32 D handwritten
(Maria Jane Brown)
141900 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Concord Township, supervisor's district 19, enumeration district 67, microfilm series T623, film 1386, page 272 = 7 A handwritten
(Mariah J Brown)
151910 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Concord Township, supervisor's district 21, enumeration district 82, microfilm series T624, film 1321, page 157 = 13 A handwritten
(Maria J Brown)
16index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(John Hamilton)
Sources checked unsuccessfully
1860 US census
checked FamilySearch, Ancestry, and HeritageQuest indices (accessed 17 June 2012)
his mother, Isabell, and other children (but not John) are in Oakland Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania (microfilm series M653, film 1087, page 690 recto = 12 handwritten)
1890 US census, veterans schedules
Ancestry index (accessed 18 June 2012)
read Concord Township (accessed 1 June 2014)
1920 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 18 June 2012)
1930 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 18 June 2012)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
accessed 17 June 2012
Find a grave
accessed 17 June 2012
records of headstones of deceased Union veterans, 1879-1903
FamilySearch index (accessed 18 June 2012)
applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941
FamilySearch index (accessed 18 June 2012)
Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985
searched 'John Hamilton any event Butler County', on Ancestry, 18 June 2012
Display
John Hamilton in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect
[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Centre Township, microfilm series M432, film 760, page 287 recto = 569 handwritten]
[identification is uncertain, based on his age and place of residence]
[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Clay Township (post office Coultersville), microfilm series M593, film 1315, page 121 recto = 5 handwritten]
[identification is confirmed by references to her children in the widow's pension certificate file transcribed below]
[They are living with Jacob and Margaret Sanderson et al., whom I did not transcribe]
line
27
28
29
30
Dwelling-house number
[33]
Family number
[33]
Name
Hamilton Jane
- Samuel
- Margaret
- Ann
Age
31
12
11
9
Sex
F
M
F
F
Color
W
W
W
W
Occupation
Keeping house
At home
Real estate value
1500 00
Personal estate value
500 00
Birthplace
Pa
Pa
Pa
Pa
Father foreign born
Mother foreign born
Birth month if born within year
Marriage month if married within year
Attended school past year
1
1
1
Can't read
Can't write
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.
Male US citizen at least 21 years old
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...
[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Concord, supervisor's district 10, enumeration district 33, microfilm series T9, film 1108, page 110 = 32 D handwritten]
[identification is confirmed by references to her marriage in the widow's pension certificate file abstracted below]
[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Concord Township, supervisor's district 19, enumeration district 67, microfilm series T623, film 1386, page 272 = 7 A handwritten]
[identification is confirmed by references to her location and remarriage in the widow's pension certificate file transcribed below]
[1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Concord Township, supervisor's district 21, enumeration district 82, microfilm series T624, film 1321, page 157 = 13 A handwritten]
[identification is confirmed by references to her location and remarriage in the widow's pension certificate file transcribed below]
[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 1 Jun 2014, from Fold3]
Hamilton John
Co. K, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
See also 62 Pa. Inf.
[widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate number 93,690, Maria Jane Brown widow of John Hamilton]
[abstracted from 89 pages on Fold3, June 2012]
19 February 1856
John Hamilton married Maria Jane Brown, at the house of Nancy Brown, Clay Twp, Butler Cty, PA (pp.3, 6, 35)
this was the first marriage for both of them (p.35)
married by Rev John Coulter, Old School Presbyterian Church (pp.3, 6)
3 children: Samuel Hamilton (born 7 January 1857, Clay Twp, Butler Cty, PA), Margaret Malinda [or Melinda] Hamilton (born 25 January 1859, Clay Twp, Butler Cty, PA), and Ann Jennetta [or Jeanneta] Hamilton (born 14 January 1861, Clay Twp, Butler Cty, PA) (all born at John Hamilton's home) (pp.3, 7, 12, 19)
16 July 1863
drafted (pp.31, 35, 81)
John Hamilton in company M 62nd PA (pp.3, 81)
8 Aug 1864
transferred to company K 91st PA (pp.3, 81)
31 Aug 1864
last date paid to, at death (p.9)
27 Oct 1864
wounded left side (slight) near South Side Railroad (p.81)
28 Oct 1864
wounded at or near Petersburgh Virginia (pp.3, 9)
gunshot wound left side (p.81)
6 November 1864
died of wounds (adjutant general, p.9, citing the Nov-Dec co. K muster roll)
died 28 October 1864 (pp.3, 33 [1903], 35 [1903], 81 [record and pension office, 1903 ])
6 Feb 1865
Maria Jane Hamilton, 26, resident of Oakland Township, Butler County PA, PO address Boydstown, Butler County, PA, applied for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (application 82,126) (p.3)
witnesses Matthew I Brown and Samuel Gold (p.4)
dated 21 Jan 1865
attorney R M McLure, of Butler PA (p.5)
attorney: Black + Fluger, Butler PA (p.15)
24 Mar 1865
information requested 6 Feb 1865 (p.15)
the Adjutant General's Office replied with the above-summarized information (p.9)
14 July 1865
the Pension Office sent circular 9 (p.16)
11 January 1866
the Pension Office sent circular 9 (p.16)
25 Oct 1866
Maria J Hamilton, 27, resident of Concord Twp, Butler Cty PA, applied for an increase of pension under the act of 25 July 1866 (p.19)
post office Boydstown Butler County PA (p.19)
dated 17 Oct 1866 (p.19)
her original application was still pending (p.19)
attorney Black + Fluger, Butler, PA (revoking any former authority) (p.20)
witnesses Christian Fluger and Manette Conn, residents of Butler Cty (pp.20-21)
her application was approved on 20 April 1867, for an initial rate of $8 per month retroactive to 6 November 1864, and $2 per month for each child under 16 retroactive to 25 July 1866 (pp.2, 17)
the certificate, dated 1 May 1867, was sent to Black + Fluger, Butler, PA (p.17)
20 Oct 1866
Pricilla Conn and Nancy Patterson, residents of Clay Twp Butler County PA, swore that they know Mrs Mariah [sic] J Hamilton of Concord Twp, Butler Cty PA, knew her husband, present at the births of the children (on the dates and places above stated) (pp.12-13)
27 Oct 1866
the Pension Office apparently sent circular 9 again, but a note is added: "O.K. but above" (p.16)
6 December 1866
the Pension Office apparently sent circular 9 again (p.16)
19 Feb 1867
Maria Jane Hamilton swore that she could not supply a commissioned officer's report of her husband's wounds because she had not been able to learn the address of any commissioned officers of her husband's regiment (p.23)
23 Feb 1867
William Rumbaugh (K), resident of Bradys Bend, Armstrong, County, PA, swore that John Hamilton (K) was 'wounded in skirmish in front of Petersburgh [sic] Va on the 28th day of October AD 1864 in left side: that said wound was received in line of duty That he assisted in carrying the said John Hamilton to the rear after he received said wound and that he believes the said wound was mortal, and that the said John Hamilton died from its effects on the 28th day of October AD 1864'; he was next to Hamilton in the skirmish line (p.25)
received by Pension Office 19 April 1867 (p.26)
5 Apr 1867
Samuel Seybert (K), resident of Armstrong County PA, swore that he was well acquainted with John Hamilton (K), who was wounded in the left side in the line of duty on 28 October 1864, and died 28 Oct 1866 [sic]; he was present when Hamilton was wounded (p.27)
received by Pension Office 19 Apr 1867 (p.28)
18 Dec 1879
Maria J Hamilton married George Brown, at West Sunbury, Butler County, PA (pp.10, 33, 35)
this was his first marriage; he had never served in the military (p.35)
3 April 1890
George Brown died at his home in Concord Twp Butler County PA (pp.31, 33, 35)
26 March 1903
Maria Jane Brown (formerly Hamilton), 64 years old, resident of Concord Twp Butler County PA, applied for a renewal of pension under the act of 3 March 1901 (pp.31, 85)
post office: RD 48, West Sunbury, Butler County, PA (p.31)
she had no support except for her daily labor, and her actual net income was less than $250 / yr (p.33)
dated 23 Mar 1903 (p.33)
witnesses: Richard Campbell, Sarah E Campbell, residents of Concord Twp (pp.33-34)
approved, at a rate of $12 per month, retroactive to 26 March 1903 (p.31)
no attorney (p.31)
submitted for approval 29 Sep 1903; resubmitted 21 June 1904; approved 5 and 20 July 1904 (p.31)
24 June 1903
Interior Department Auditor reported that Maria J Hamilton, Pittsburg [sic] Agency, was last paid at $8 per month to 4 December 1879 (p.30)
17 July 1903
Maria J Brown, resident of Concord Twp, PO address RD 48 West Sunbury Butler Cty PA, swore to various facts relating to her application for renewal of pension (summarized above) (pp.35-36)
she had an interest in the following property (and had not disposed of any since 26 March 1903) (pp.36-37)
-- 47 acres in Clay Twp Butler County PA, inherited from her father, with no buildings and few fences, worth about $940--received $20 last year from it, from which she paid taxes (pp.36-37)
-- 1/2 interest in 69 acres in Oakland Twp Butler County PA (with her son Samuel owning the other 1/2 interest), which would probably rent for about $50 per year (for the entire property), but from which she receives no income, with Samuel keeping it in repair (p.37)
-- a life interest in 53 acres in Concord Twp Butler County PA, which was her husband George Brown's property, with an assessed value of $1054.00, which would rent for about $50 per year, with about $25 taxes per year (p.37)
she also owned the following personal property: one cow (worth about $30), 18 sheep (worth about $36), about 30 chickens (worth about $8), and old household and kitchen furniture (worth probably less than $100) (p.38)
about $1415.00 in bank certificates of deposit, with 3% interest per year (about $42.45 per year) (p.38)
$850 in notes (3% interest per year, about $25.50 per year) (p.38)
the total income per year, then, is about $171.95--$64 from real estate, $42.45 from COD, $25.50 from notes, and $40 income from the cow, sheep, and chickens (p.38)
17 July 1903
her property was assessed at: 50 acres worth $1024.00 and 47 acres worth $893.00, money at interest $1500.00, and personal property $45 (p.47)
18 July 1903
William H Campbell and Richard Campbell, both of Concord Twp Butler County PA (PO RD 48 West Sunbury Butler County PA) swore to various claims summarized above (pp.39-42)
they added that her half interest in the 69 acres in Oakland Twp was 'the interest of her daughter Mrs Margaret M Green (formerly Hamilton) purchased by said Mrs Maria J Brown' (p.40)
they listed the property in Concord Twp as 50 acres and note that she lives there now (p.41)
they valued the property as follows: the 47 acres in Clay Twp, in bad repair, with generally poor land, was worth about $800 (and probably wouldn't be sold for that much), renting for no more than $25 per year; the half-interest in 69 acres in Oakland Twp worth about $400 because of location and poor condition, and would not rent for more than taxes and repairs; the 53 [sic] acres in Concord Twp worth about $1500, renting for about $50 per year, with about $25 per year in taxes (pp.41-42)
they estimated her total income from real estate less taxes at about $45.00 (p.42)
her personal property was a cow (ca $25), 18 sheep (ca $40), ca 30 chickens (ca $8), with an annual income about $50 per year (p.42)
her household and kitchen furniture and goods, used for a long time, worth no more than $90 (p.42)
c.o.d. $1415 (3% interest = $42.45 per yr), notes $850 (3% interest = $25.50 per yr) (p.42)
total income: $45 from real estate, $50 from animals, $42.45 from C.O.D., $25.50 from notes, for a total of $162.95 (p.42)
29 August 1903
Rev Charles L Streamer (209 E Laurel St, Philipsburg PA, resident of Centre County) swore that on 18 December 1879, in West Sunbury, Butler County, PA, he married George Brown of Concord Township Butler County PA and Mrs Maria J Hamilton of Clay Township Butler County PA (p.10)
Pension Office received 12 September 1903 (p.10)
29 August 1903
Sylvanus Aggas Esq, resident of Concord Twp Butler Cty PA (PO RD 48 West Sunbury Butler Cty PA), 67 years old, swore to various facts summarized above (with slightly different valuations on the land) (pp.43-46)
1903
the pension office recorded the following values (p.84)
lambs sold 42.00 + 28.00
$70.00
Int on investments
65.19
Return from hay
32
167.19
Possible to procure rent
50.00
217.19
Less taxes
16 61
$200.58
15 June 1904
Maria J Brown was notified that a special examiner, Theo Tallmadge, was near Greece City, Butler County, PA, examining her pension claim (p.52)
15 June 1904
Maria J Hamilton now Brown testified to the special examiner that she was 65, P.O. address RD 48, West Sunbury Butler Cty PA, living on a farm. Besides information summarized above: (p.56)
she lived on the farm in Clay Township inherited from her father when she married George Brown and that no one has lived there since except for one summer about two years after George Brown's death when her son 'cropped the place'. SHe had it 'cowed down' [?] about 2 years prior, Irvin Brown cropped about 20 acres of it, and has been cutting the hay since; her interest in the hay crop brought $32.00 last year. the rest is mostly timber, not of good quality (which she had never sold). she had 91 or 92 bushels of oats as her share of the crop (one-third) the last time it was sowed. she had never rented it for cash, because 'farms are not rented that way here'. she thinks it's worth about $20 per acre. the main graded road runs through it; it is about 2-1/2 miles from West Sunbury (on the way to Butler). no coal or oil is known to be under it. she could have leased it for oil about three years prior but 'there was to be no payment', and others who did lease their land didn't receive anything and regained their land when the lease expired (pp.56-57)
at this time she has
(1) $350.00 in certificates of deposits with John Berg + Co at 3% interest (12 Nov 1902);
(2) $385 c.o.d. with the Farmers National Bank Butler PA (3% interest) (22 Jan 1903);
(3) $100 c.o.d. with Farmers National Bank Butler PA (3% interest) (27 June 1903);
(4) $300.00 c.o.d. with John Berg + Co Butler PA at 3% interest (27 June 1903);
(5) $200.00 c.o.d. with Butler Co. National Bank, Butler PA at 3% interest (25 Mar 1904);
(6) judgment note of Saml M Conn for $150.00 with 3% interest (1 April 1897);
(7) judgment note of Josiah J Brown for $400.00 with 3% interest (23 Apr 1903);
(8) judgment note of AS + Richard Campbell for $216.00 with 4% interest (28 Dec 1903); she had more previously but 'some was paid in + I used [?] it' (pp.58-59)
purchased on 1 May 1899 1/2 interest of 69 acres in Oakland + Concord, butler, for $696.87, purchased from her daughter. less than half is cleared, it is partly on a hill and partly in a valley, with some timber, but no gas, oil, or coal. Samuel (her son) 'has operated what he calls his part of the land but has never made any return to me'. she purchased it to let her son get from what he calls his half to the road, since her daughter was selling and might have sold to a stranger. she purchased it at $20 per acre, what she thought the land was worth. Samuel pays the taxes; she gets nothing out of the land. (p.60)
re the 53 acres on which she lived: it has a frame house with three rooms, and a barn and outbuilding, all in very poor repair. all except 2 or 3 acres is cleared for cultivation. she has lived there since marrying George Brown. she let a neighbor, Mr Curry, have 3 acres for corn, and will get 1/3 of that. she never has fruit to sell, but does sell some eggs (enough to buy groceries in the summer). she received $1 per sheep for wool this year (and the same last year). she sold her lambs for $42 total last year (and $28 for another lot). she uses the hay for her cow. (pp.61-62)
15 June 1904
Wm H Campbell testified that he lived less than one-half mile from Maria J Brown, and had lived there since 1871. her soil is poor, having been worked out. the buildings are all old and in poor condition, with the house there since he was a boy. the barn was built after that, but is only a stable. the oil business makes it hard to find someone to crop the place. Adam Curry is cropped 2-1/2 to 3 acres this year (with the owner taking a third as is usual), last year no one cropped any of it. farming here doesn't net the owner more than 3%. last year the property in Clay Twp yielded about 8 tons of hay, with 1/2 to the owner, at $8 per ton (so $32 to her). farms here rent for about $1 per acre with improvements, less if none. that farm wouldn't be worh more than $40 peryear. The land in Oakland Twp is not valuable agriculturally; Richard Campbell can tell you more. I get about a barrel of oil a day, and enough gas for the house; two dry holes were recently drilled nearby. (pp.64-66)
16 June 1904
Sylvania Aggar swore that his address was RD 48 W Sunsbury, PA, and he was a farmer, living about a mile from Mary J Brown's residence and 2 miles from the property she inherited from her father (p.67)
the land inherited from her father is worth (ca $30 per acre) more than the land owned with her son, because it has been farmed and is in better condition, and the land on which she lives is worth almost as much as the other two combined (pp.67-68)
the ca 60 acres in Oakland and Concord Townships is very run down, probably worth no more than $20 per acre, and has no rental value; it would take several years to improve it enough to farm it (p.68)
she has only a life interest in the farm where she lives, no known gas or oil but all this land is supposed to have a deep coal pocket (p.68)
if she left the farm her interest would bring her $60 - $65 per year (p.69)
16 June 1904
Richard Campbell testified about the value of Maria Brown's property and other assets, basically consistent with the rest of the evidence (pp.70-72)
16 June 1904
Samuel Hamilton, 47 years old, John and Maria Hamilton's son, testified about the value of Maria Brown's property, consistent with the other evidence; the land they both owned was being improved by him (having planted grass seed), and he paid taxes on it, so she neither gained nor lost any money on the land (pp.73-74)
16 June 1904
David Pressley Barclay, 45 years old, testified about Maria Brown's land, consistent with other testimony (pp.75-76)
16 June 1904
William Robinson Campall [??] 56 years old testified about Maria Brown's land, consistent with other testimony (pp.77-78)
17 June 1904
the special examiner reported on his examination of her dependence (pp.53-55)
he regards Maria Brown and all the witnesses as 'credible and without undue bias except Richard Campbell and he places a very low estimate on evrything [sic] in this case' (p.53)
George Brown's will left a life interest in his homestead and personal property to Maria, with a bequest to nieces and nephews totalling $900. he had a note of Mathew J Brown, and 'the legatees bought in Mathew J. Brown's property at foreclosure sale'. the note = $1,150.00, and the inventory and appraisement in the estate totalled $3,492.16, leaving the widow $2,342.16 (p.53)
the widow now has $2,101.00 in personal property, and has purchased a half interest in property for $696.87, which means she has accumulated about $700, because she is industrious and economical. (p.53)
'She has certainly been a very good manager though it would seem from the large amount of money she has at interest at 3% she has not taken the usual advantage of a person having money to loan' (p.53)
the witnesses did not undervalue any of the real estate (pp.53-54)
the 47 acres in Clay Twp is on a through road, is high, without improvements, appears to have very poor soil, mostly seeded in grass, with only hay for a crop, not mined (though it may have 'some of the upper vein of coal under it'). assessed at $800.00 for 1904. county tax for 1904 is $3.64, poor tax $1.56, township millage for 1903 13 & 1/2 (1904 not available) (p.54)
the 68 acres owned with her son Samuel is assessed for 1904 at $1,156, on a side road, no improvements of value, very little real value. She paid $696.87 for her half interest in 1899 to help her children, since her daughter ('who lives away') wanted the money. it nets nothing, but if improved 'may in time raise a decent crop'. county tax for 1904 $5.45, poor tax $2.33, total millage 11 & 1/2 mills (1904 not available) (p.54)
the 50 acres in Concord Twp, where she lives, is best, but she has only a life interest, the buildings on it are old and very dilapidated, is not on a road, the nearest town is Butler (about 10 miles away), only 2 or 3 acres is farmed, with the rest in grass. her crop is a one-third interest in the few acres of corn, and hay. she lives alone. She keeps a cow for her own use, some chickens, has a pig this year, and has had sheep for several years. This year the sheep had 23 lambs; last year she earned $80.00 from the sheep. she could rent thisfor about $50.00 net. county tax for 1904 $4.00, poor tax $1.72, millage for township tax for 1903 12 & 1/2 mills (1904 not available) (p.54)
she paid state tax of $8.00 on $2,000.00 at interest this year (p.54)
the low value of the property might seem surprising. but in this area, farms can hardly be sold since there is no demand. assessments are unreasonably high 'based on what should be a proper return for the amount invested' (p.54)
she should get 4% interest but would rather leave the money with well-known banks at 3% ('like many country folk') (pp.54-55)
'It might be fair to people living in a City or near thereto or accessible by railroad to hold them responsible for the "proper management" of their finances but in case of a woman living so far away from a City and trying to do business herself, alone, it is a question whether the rule should be so strictly replied' (p.55)
her husband left no life insurance. she is the only one with knowledge of her personal property (p.55)
recommend for consideration of the Chief, Board of Review (p.55)
18 June 1904
her case was referred to the Board of Review for consideration (p.49)
1 Aug 1904
a pension certificate was [apparently] issued (p.89)
she received $12 per month retroactive to 26 March [the year is very hard to read--perhaps it's '4'] (p.89)
29 Oct 1914
Maria J Brown dropped from pension rolls because she died on 10 July 1914 (pp.14, 86, 89)