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.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 