Oliver Williams, Company L

This man’s application for benefits as an invalid was successful. His widow — his second wife — was not so fortunate. The couple lived in Ruddell, Hampton County, South Carolina.

Invalid – 1,023,714 / 759,766
Widow – 680,596 / —–, Julia Williams

Claimant’s Affidavit, Oliver Williams, 12 June 1891
49 years old; residence, Rudell, Hampton County, South Carolina; post-office box, Ruddell, South Carolina
“[He enlisted] on the 11th of March 1865 (to serve in one year or during the War, and was in said service until 4th February 1866) … discharge was signed by Gilman Page Jr. acting Captain of said Company”

Sworn Statement, BD Roberts, 4 October 1898
60 years old; post-office address, Ruddell, Hampton County, SC
“the pastor of Saint Matthews Church AME … he knew personally Oliver Williams … died the 27th day 1898 was married to Julia Brown by the deponent BD Roberts on Feby 15th 1894 … Oliver Williams lived a good Christian life … Oliver Williams was previously married to Sarah Porter about fourteen years ago. They were separated by death”

Sworn Statement, Dr. NH Johnston, MD, 4 October 1898
“who resides at Seminole – PO – SC – planter Dr. Medicine says ‘that he knew Oliver Williams … that he lived on my land as a tenant in the year 1884 and in the fall of that year his first wife died Sarah Williams by name.”

Sworn Statement, LS Pender, 2 December 1898
“merchant & farmer – at Riddell, SC … he knew Julia Williams wife of Oliver Williams deceased … Oliver Williams was previously married and that his wife by said previous marriage is dead but does not remember the exact date of of her death”

Sworn Statement, JC Addison, 6 December 1898
“He has known Oliver Williams about twenty-five years and knows that his first wife died during the fall of 1884 and that he has since married Julia Brown, that Oliver Williams died June 27th 1898”

Read Full Post »

Henry Johnson, Company L

The soldier explained that he “followed the sea” before enlisting in New York. At war’s end he settled in Washington, DC. His children’s births were recorded at St. Augustine Church in the District. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Invalid — 537,921 / 440,442
Widow — 598,781 / 404,817, Margaret Johnson

Memo, Freedmen’s Hospital, 1 April 1885
“This is to certify that the records of this hospital show that Henry Johnson was admitted May 26, 1868, suffering from acute rheumatism, and was discharged December 2, 1869.”

General Affidavit, Henry Johnson, 13 March 1886
post-office address, 2437 Columbia Ave, Washington, DC
“That he is unable to furnish any medical evidence as to his condition since discharge for the reason that the two physicians who were the only ones that treated him for rheumatism since discharge (Drs Gray and Tucker) are both dead. He also states that he cannot furnish testimony from any Regimental Doctor as to treatment in the service for the reason that Surgeons Gray and Manley were the only ones who treated him for rheumatism in the service and they are dead.”

General Affidavit, Sidney McFarland, 10 July 1886
residence, 1340 U St, NW Washington, DC
“He has known Henry Johnson for 28 years last past … has seen claimant Johnson frequently sometimes every day … and in a destitute way lost his child and he was called upon to aid him in burying his child”

Deposition, Charles Bennett, 3 December 1888
about 61 years old; occupation, [illegible], about 7th St Market; post-office address, 617 Bates Alley, NW, Washington, DC
“I first made the acquaintance of Henry Johnson the claimant in the hospitl at Santiago, Texas in the fall of 1865 … I was a nurse and Johnson was acting steward over the sick. Johnson was not sick that I know of at that time. The sick soldiers were taken from the Santiago hospital and remained to the New Orleans (La) Hospital. Johnson accompanied the sick in the capacity of steward and I went along as a nurse … We stayed in New Orleans two or three days and then returned to Santiago. We made another trip to New Orleans with sick a few days later …. I was a member of Co A 31st USC Inf. Don’t know what Regiment Johnson belonged to. … I came to Washington DC in 1867 or 1868”

Deposition, Sidney McFarland, 4 December 1888
54 years old; occupation, guard of the jail; post-office address, 1340 V St, NW, Washinton, DC
“I first knew Henry Johnson the claimant in the early part of 1861 in Washington, DC. I think Johnson was cooking in a restaurant at that time … I saw him about a month after he returned from the army …. I saw him frequently from that time on until he went to work for me taking care of a horse about 1866. I took him because he seemed to be destitute and not able to do much. I thought my work was light and that he could do that but his condition grew so much worse that he could not even do that”

Deposition, Henry Johnson, 3 June 1889
about 56 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 2522 Columbia Ave, Washington, DC
“At the time I enlisted New York was my home. I was following the sea and had just returned”

General Affidavit, Gilman Page, Jr, 8 June 1889
47 years old; occupation, painter; post-office address, Malden, Massachusetts
“I served as 1st Lieut of Co L 1st US Col Cav from summer till fall of 1865.”
[The officer gave considerable detail of his recall of Johnson’s medical condition at Brazos and City Point — Leslie]

Death Certificate, Henry Johnson, 12 July 1894
Henry Johnson died June 9, 1894 … 46 years old … colored, male, married, grocer … born New York … DC residence for 28 years … cerebral hemorrhage, coma … 2522-15th Street, NW, Washington, DC … buried at Arlington Cemetery … Thomas Miller, MD (attending) … Geo. W. Wise (undertaker)

General Affidavit, Margaret Johnson, 28 August 1894
Residence 2522-15th St NW Washington, DC
“That in giving the ages of her children, Henry Edward and James Johnson, she gave them from memory having no record at home showing the dates of their birth, she now says their names and ages of record in St. Augustine Church of Washington are as follows: Henry Edward Johnson born Apr 22, 1878; James Johnson born May 16, 1881″

General Affidavit, Tillie Johnson, 28 August 1894
28 years old; residence, 2422-15th St NW, Washington, DC
“The children of Margaret Johnson are minors: Henry Edward Johnson, aged 16 years, James Johnson aged 13 years. She further stated that both are living at 2522-15th St NW with their mother.”

Birth Record, Unnamed Infant, 5, September 1894 [official transcript]
April 22, 1878 … male … white … 14th St and Boundary St … Maggie Johnson / Maggie Boland, born Washington, DC … Henry Johnson, laborer, born New York …. Sarah Jackson, midwife … recorded May 2, 1878

Birth Record, Unnamed Infant, 5 September 1894 [official transcript]
May 16, 1881 … male … white … Pa Ave bet 14th & 15th Sts NW … Margaret Johnson / Margaret Boland, born Maryland … Henry Johnson, laborer, born Virginia … Sarah Jackson, midwife … recorded May 31, 1881″

General Affidavit, Thomas Miller, MD and Tillie Johnson, 14 September 1894
[Miller] 38 years old; residence, 1616 T St, Washington, DC
[Johnson] 30 years old; residence, 2522-15th St., Washington, DC
“They are acquainted with Mrs. Margaret Johnson for past several years. The first being the family physician of said Margaret Johnson”

General Affidavit, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Newton, 24 September 1894
40 years old; residence, 2540 -15th St, NW Washington, DC
“I am acquainted with Mrs. Margaret Johnson for the past twenty-four years”

General Affidavit, George H. Boston, 11 October 1894
56 years old; residence, Washington, DC; post-office address, 220 B Street, NW, Washington, DC
“Well acquainted with the abovenamed soldier Henry Johnson since 1856 to the date of his death”

General Affidavit, Ellen Chany, 29 October 1894
45 years old; residence, 2522-15th St., NW, Washington, DC
“well acquainted with the late Henry Johnson and had known him nearly three years before his marriage to Mrs. Margaret Johnson”

General Affidavit, Edward Morris, 3 November 1894
45 years old; residence, 2536 R St, NW, Washington, DC;
“I have known Margaret Johnson whose maden [sic] name was Boland since she was a child living with her mother on 4 1/2 St near Pa Ave. I lived at the time across the street from her mother’s house … I have lived in the neighborhood with her for the last 14 years”

Read Full Post »

Loyal Friman alias William Shean, Company L

The couple married in Springfield, Massachusetts where the former soldier worked as a barber. The veteran was born in Oswego, New York and was previously married. His second wife was born in Richmond, Virginia and she lived until 1936.

Invalid — 806,624 / 806,999
Widow — 1,179,395 / 916,047

RESUME @152417

Marriage License, Loyal F. Friman and Fanny Smith, 13 October 1879
The couple was married in Springfield, Massachusetts on 13 October 1879. The groom was a 32 years old and mulatto born to David and Mary Friman in Oswego, New York. The bride was 26 years old and mulatto born to Walter and Lucy Smith in Richmond, Virginia. The couple resided in Springfield where he worked as a barber. It was his second marriage; it was her first. The officiant was John H. Docker of Springfield.
[Note: This information was taken from a transcript from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, date stamped by Pension Bureau, 30 December 1921 — Leslie]

Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Fannie Friman, 18 March 1915
[place and date of birth] Jan 13, 1845, Oswego, NY
[post-office at enlistment] Oswego, NY
[wife’s full name] Fannie Friman, Fannie Smith
[where, when, by whom] Springfield, Mass by Rev. Docker, October 13, 1879
[official or church record] city clerk’s office, Springfield, Massachusetts
[previously married] “My first wife name Alice Wright died in Springfield, Mass 1877. Cannot give you date of burial”
[present wife previously married] “She was not married”
[living wife] “I am now living with my wife … no separation”
[names and birthdates of children] Lillian Friman born May 9, 1880; Estella Friman born July 16, 1884; Ada Friman born Dec 1, 1890; Loyal Friman, Jr born Feb 1, 1882 died Sep 7, 1882

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Fannie Friman, 24 September 1921
64 years old; residence, 34 Central St, Springfield, Mass
“born October 15, 1857 at Richmond, Virginia … widow of Loyal Friman alias William Shean who enlisted March 8, 1865 at Oswego, State of New York, under the name of William Shean, as a Private … honorably discharged February 4, 1866 … that he served Sargent … That she was married to said soldier … October 13, 1879 under the name of Fannie Smith at Springfield, Mass. by Rev. John H. Docker; tht she had not been previously married; that she had been previously married to Alice Wright, deceased — said Alice Wright, died in Springfield, September 1878 … That said soldier … died August 24, 1921, at Springfield, Mass, that she was not divorced from him and has not remarried since his death … All surviving children are above 16 years of age”

Notarized Statement of Ernest S. Bisbee, MD, Boston, Massachusetts, 24 December 1921
“This is to certify that Loyal Friman was attended by me at 32 Batavia St., Boston, Mass., on August 24, 1921, and that he died on that date of Cerebral Hemorrhage.”
[Note: This statement was written on Bisbee’s letterhead — Leslie]

Death Certificate, Fannie Friman, 23 January 1936
[Place of death] Springfield, Hamden Co., Massachusetts
[Name, residence, length of residence] Fannie Friman; 34 Central Street, Ward 3; 50 years
[sex / race / status] female / black / widowed
[spouse] Loyal Friman
[age] 80 years, 3 months, 2 days
[profession, industry, date last worked, time in this occupation] caterer, own self, October 1935, 30 years
[birthplace] Richmond, Va
[father’s name / birthplace] “cannot be learned” / “cannot be learned”
[mother’s maiden name / birthplace] “cannot be learned Smith” / “cannot be learned”
[Informant] Mrs. Stella Franklin (daughter), 34 Central St., Springfield, Mass
[Date of death] January 23, 1936
[physician] Laurence D. Chapin, MD, 20 Maple, Springfield, Mass
[place and date of burial] Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Mass, January 26, 1936
[undertaker] Ernest A. Byron, 684 State St., Springfield, Mass

Read Full Post »

Charles Ouvert, Company L***

This application is straightforward enough until the officer’s widow reveals family secrets and unconventional living arrangements. Events described in this lengthy pension file include residences in Florida, New Jersey, and New York; the Spanish-American War and World War I; and foreign nationals.

Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1927. Earlier posts included research notes from documents dated June 1892-April 1924 and research notes from documents dated 1925-1926.

Invalid — 465,488 / 834,526
Widow — 1,231,070 / —–, Caledonia Ouvert

Deposition, Caledonia Overt, 4 January 1927
“Q. Why are you known in New York as Caledonia Wheaton, and in Asbury Park as Caledonia Overt?
A. It became necessary for me to go to work while living in Asbury Park with the soldier and I started out as a dressmaker. I was recognized by the people who employed me as a white woman. One day at my place of employment someone asked me my name. I said Overt. Then that person said ‘Overt. I know some colored people here by that name. So to avoid all embarrassment after that I went by the name of Wheaton and then I came here to New York City to earn a living. I did not want it known that I was colored for I was afraid that it would make it more difficult for me to get the kind of work I could do and wanted to do.”

“I live alone … I teach piano playing and also rent one of my rooms. When I first came to New York I did dressmaking. Then I did draping and I have done all sorts of work. One time I was in an umbrella repair place and during the World War I was a ticket chopper [?] in the employ of the Interborough. I was first at the station at 155th Street and then at different stations along the line.
“John Mansfield [is my roomer] but he is in Brooklyn. He is a very young man … been here for the past 3 months. Before Mr. Mansfield came an Italian had the room. His name was Belsoni. I do not know what his first name is, and before Belsoni was here I had a young German whose name I do not remember. He was only here for 5 or 6 weeks. Before that I did not have anyone. …. Louis Dietz was a white man … [he was here for] something around eight years from January of last year … He is dead. He died here, right in this room, in January 1926. While Louis Dietz was here he was known as Louis Wheaton, He had a wife living but he did not live with here and to avoid all trouble when he came here he took the name of Wheaton … He died under that name and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Brooklyn under that name …. I lived with him as his wife for about six years …. The soldier, did not, of course, know that Dietz and I were living together. I would go down to Asbury Park at different times during the year to see the soldier and my mother would stay a few days at a time. … I just had to make a living. [The soldier] was old and could not work and I had to do something so I came to New York where my chances were better. The soldier died in February 1925. At the time of his death I was living here with Dietz and was known as his wife but not as Mrs. Dietz. We were known as Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton. … I lived with Dietz as his wife until he died. … Dietz and I did not get married. How could we get married? He had a wife living and I had a husband living.”
“When I met Dietz he and his wife were living together in Asbury Park and they were neighbors of mine. …. I would not want it known any where that I lived with Dietz as his wife for it became known to Dietz’s son-in-law it would mean disgrace and perhaps considerable trouble for me. Dietz’s son-in-law and daughter live in Asbury Park and I do not want to have to tell you their names.”

Deposition, Caledonia Overt, 6 January 1927
“I told you my father was Frank Crawford. My father was a white man and his name was Francis Wheaton. He was a Justice of the Supreme Court of the state of Florida. I was born out of wedlock. Judge Wheaton was a Massachusetts man and he later moved to Florida and then he brought my mother and me down there. All this was when I was a little child. My mother and Judge Wheaton lived together in Jacksonville, Fla. and all told [sic], 5 children were born to my mother by Judge Wheaton. All are dead but me and my brother John and I have heard he is dead. The last I heard of him he lived in Peoria, Ills. My mother was married to a man named Hill before she met Judge Wheaton and Hill deserted my mother and she then went to live with Judge Wheaton. My mother for some reason carried the name of Walker and died under that name.”

Deposition, John A. Nelson, 6 January 1927
52 years old; post-office address, 325 West 15th Street, New York City
“I am a foreman in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. I have known [the claimant] for about the past 6 years and I knew her husband the late Louis Wheaton …. I took my meals with Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton … since Mr. Wheaton died I have continued to take my meals here with the claimant”

Sworn Statement, Louis Schmerler, 27 April 1927
residence, Asbury Place, NJ
“has known Mrs. Caldeonia Overt … for sixteen years
[Note: The statement above is handwritten but the statement below is typed on the same paper — Leslie]
“O.R. Holters, MD, of full age … resides in the city of Asbury Park, NJ, and has known Mrs. Caldedonia Overt … for several years.”

Read Full Post »

Charles Ouvert, Company L**

This application is straightforward enough until the officer’s widow reveals family secrets and unconventional living arrangements. Events described in this lengthy pension file include residences in Florida, New Jersey, and New York; the Spanish-American War and World War I; and foreign nationals.

Last week’s post included research notes from documents dated June 1892-April 1924. Today’s post includes research notes from documents dated 1925-1926. The final post includes research notes from documents dated 1927.

Invalid — 465,488 / 834,526
Widow — 1,231,070 / —–, Caledonia Ouvert

Death Certificate, Charles Overt, 26 February 1925
[place of death] 1218 Washington St., Asbury Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey
[name] Charles Overt
[residence] 1218 Washington St., Asbury Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey; 25-year resident in the city
[sex / color / status] male / white / married
[wife’s name] Calectonia Walker
[age] about 76
[occupation] retired
[birthplace] Cairo, NY
[parents’ names and birthplaces] unknown
[informant] Calectonia Overt, 1249 Washington St.
[death date] February 26, 1925
[attended deceased] Feb 1, 1925- Feb 26, 1925
[cause of death / contributory] ruptured aneurysm – abdominal / hemorrhage
[physician] O.R. Holters, MD, Asbury Park, NJ
[burial] Mt. Prospect Cemetery
[burial date] March 1, 1925
[undertaker] David B. Reidy, Asbury Park, NJ

Sworn Statement (Form 3-289a), Celedonia Overt, 5 October 1926
53 years old
“I have no middle name … 52 Eighth Avenue, New York City, is my temporary address. My permanent address is 1218 Washington Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey. My occupation is teaching music and doing dressmaking. I teach the piano. In New York City I lived with a Mrs. Clara Wheaton. I live there off and on during the year….. I did not serve in the World War in any capacity. My husband did not serve in the World War in any capacity and I did not have any relative serve in the World War in any capacity. My parents are dead. My father was Frank Crawford. My mother was Harriet Walker. I was born in Worcester, Mass., January 14, 1873. I have no brothers and I have no sisters. I had two brothers who died in Florida many years ago. My brothers are not survived by any widows or children. I may have some distant relatives somewhere in Florida but what their names are and where they live I do not know and I have never known. I was born in Worcester, Mass., and my parents moved to Jacksonville, Fla., and we lived there until I was about ten or twelve years of age and then we moved to Paltka, Florida, and left there when I was about sixteen years old and went back to Jacksonville. When I was about 19 years old the family moved to Pablo Beach, Florida, and we were living there when I married the soldier. At Pablo Beach there were no churches or justices of the peace so we were married in Jacksonville which is very near to Pablo Beach. The soldier’s parents must be dead. I never knew them and I have no knowledge whatever concerning them. I do not know the names of his parents. The soldier has no living relatives. He had brothers and sisters but they are all dead. I was present at the burial of two of his sisters who were the last of his family. They were both single when they died. The soldier had no cousins, nephews or nieces living. I do not know of a relative in the world he has living. The soldier was born in Cairo, New York, on February 13, 1845. So far as I know … he lived all of his young life at Cairo, NY, and in that vicinity. I met him at Pablo Beach, Fla., and I think he had been there for 5 or 6 years before I met him. The only persons I have ever heard of who knew my husband before I did is a man named Gibbs and a woman named Miss or Mrs. McBeam. They both lived in Asbury Park, NJ, but I cannot find Mr. Gibbs. … I do not know his first name. He was a very old man the last time that I saw him and that has been two years ago. I do not know where he lived there… He used to come to our house. Mrs. Grace Holliman of 1219 Washington Avenue, Asbury Park, knew him and perhaps she might know more about him than I know whether Mr. Gibbs is living or deas … Miss McBeam also lives on Washington Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey.”

“The soldier and I were married at Jacksonville, Florida, on October 19, 1893. We were married by the Rev. Jos. A. Brown, Rector of St. Philip’s Church, at a friend’s residence … I have never given birth to a child or children …. The soldier died at Asbury Park, NJ, on February 26, 1925…. Since the soldier has been dead I have divided my time between Asbury Park and New York City. I have lived only at Mrs. Wheaton’s where I am now in New York City, and in Asbury Park, I take a room at Grace Holliman’s at 1218 Washington Avenue, and then I also stop at Mrs. Schmerler, at 110 Euclid Avenue. Lock Harbor, New Jersey … I knew the soldier’s sisters.”

“At the close of the Spanish American War the soldier and I moved from Jacksonville, Florida, to Asbury Park, NJ, and we made Asbury Park our home until he died.”

Deposition, Richard Gibbs, 8 November 1926
about 71 years old; residence, 121 West 134th St., New York City
“I formerly lived at Asbury Park, New Jersey. My occupation has always been a hotel waiter. I have known this claimant … for about the past 30 years. When I first met the claimant she was in Asbury Park living with Charles Overt as his wife. …. I knew Overt since 1882. I then met him on Staten Island but lived in New York City. He was from Poughkeepsie, NY. He had two sisters there and they died there. He has no sisters living now and he has no relative living that I know of. … About five years after I met Overt he went down to Florida. He went down there with a hotel man named Dick and he was down there for some years and then he came up from Florida and settled in Asbury Park, and lived there until his death… The only wife he ever had was the woman whom he married in Florida. Her name was Walker before he married her. When the claimant came here to New York to live Overt lived with her mother, a Mrs. Walker until she died. Mrs. Walker died about 2 years before Overt died and after Mrs. Walker died then Overt got some man to come there and live with him and to look out for him. … I know his name but I can’t think of it now. …. I last saw the claimant at the funeral of Mr. Overt and have not seen her since.”

Deposition, Grace E. Holimon, 4 December 1926
43 years old; residence, 1218 Washington Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
“I am the wife of Isaac T. Holiman, a painter. I have known this claimant … for more than the past 24 years and I knew her husband the same length of time. When I met [them] they were living together here in Asbury Park … They lived in the same house with me for a while and then we bought the place and they moved just a few doors down the street. … She was employed in some chocolate factory in Philadelphia and she would come down here at different seasons, most at holidays.”

Deposition, Mary F. McBean, 4 December 1926
64 years old; residence, 1261 Washington Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
“I am the widow of Florence L. McBean. I first met Mr. Charles Overt … about 1884. He was then delivering coal in New York City in the neighborhood where I lived and he was known as the old bach….He was well along in years at that time. … I came here in 1888 and Overt was there when I left. I did not see him again until about 1894 or 1895, when he came in my restaurant at Asbury Park, New Jersey. ,,, Shortly after that he brought Mrs. Walker to my restaurant and he introduced her as his mother-in-law and in all that time I never saw his wife. I understood that his wife lived in New York City.”

Deposition, C. Virginia Baker, 4 December 1926
40 years old; residence 1233 Washington Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
“I am the wife of Charles Henry Baker, a hodcarrier. I have known [this claimant] for the past seven years, but I knew her husband … longer than I knew the claimant. …. Mr. Overt was like a saint and he never said one word against the claimant.”

Read Full Post »