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Letter of James Ford, 21 April 1881:Wabash, Ind. April 21st, 1881 This is to cerify that Asa B. McFann came to my office in the year 1867 in Feb. or March, I think, and said, "He had been a soldier in the 23rd Ind. Battery in the war of the Rebellion and had contracted sore eyes" for which he desired me to treat him, which I did for three weeks. He had conjunctivitis with granulated lids; the cornea was inflamed and ulcerated; an exudation, in the substance of the cornea had already taken place; and the left eye was worse than the right. The right ege was fully restored, but the d[?] in the left was not absorbed and this eye is now useless. The above statements are made from memory. I have no interest whatever in this matter. James Ford U.S. Examining Surgeon Affidavit of Michael Cook, 9 June 1881:Additional Evidence Case of Original Invalid Asa B. McFann 23rd Ind Batty Filed by George E. Lemon, attorney Office 615 Fifteenth Street Northwest P.O. Lock Box 325, Washington, DC June 27 1881 GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Indiana County of Wabash, ss: In the matter of Asa B. McFann, Org Inv Pension Claim Late Bugler Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and State, Michael Cook1 44 years old a resident of Liberty Mills Wabash County Indiana, PO Liberty Mills Ind persons of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: that claimants various occupations since he has known has been that of harness maker, teacher of music and R.R. station agent---has been acquainted with him for about 23 yrs and has lived within a few hundred yards of him most of the time. That on his return from the army he was afflicted with sore eyes so he was unable to work for several years. That his disabilities were such that for some time he was unable to see at all and he suffered intense pain. He could do nothing and had to rely upon his neighbors for support of his family to a great extent. That he has lost the sight of his left eye and other so badly afflicted that it is with difficulty that performs any manual labor at all. That he has lost over[?] half of his time while the [?] he has labor at a great disadvantage---taking his case year by year he has lost fully one half of his time and has been unable to perform the manual labor of a sound able bodied man. We worked together on R.R. bridge. The boss put him to [?] because he could not see to do anything else. That he has seen him almost every day since his discharge from the army. That he was treated by Dr Lent, Dr Morrow and Dr Ford. That Dr Lent has since died and Morrow moved to the West. Does not know date of treatment of each. That his knowledge of claimed disability is from seeing day by day with sore eyes---Never heard doctors [?] and opinions. That his opportunities for being acquainted with claimants disabilities was by being a near neighbor and his having visited hin and sat up with him when needing care. That he believes that claimant was of sound bodied health prior to his enlistment...[?] Signature of affiant: [signed:] Michael Cook Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of June, 1881 .... [signed:] Joseph B. Harter Notary Public Affidavit of Claimant, 10 March 1882:Affidavit of Claimant as to Inability to Furnish certain medical testimony State of Indiana County of Wabash In the pension claim of Asa B. McFann Personally appeared before me, a Clerk Wabash Circuit Court in and for aforesaid County and State, Asa B. McFann late Bugler 23 Batty Ind Volunteers, now a resident of No. Manchester, County of Wabash, State of Indiana, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares, in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: That he is unable to comply with the requirements of the Pension Office as to furnishing medical testimony showing condition continuously since discharge, by reason of the death of Dr C. V. N. Lent (who treated him in 1865 and '66 for diseased eyes) and of Dr [?] who treated him in 1864 for do. disease and the removal to parts unknown of Dr Morrow by whom he was treated in 1864 for said disease. He therefore respectfully requests that the testimony of neighbors may be accepted for periods not covered by medical testimony [signed] Asa B. McFann .... Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, 22 March 1882:State of Indiana County of Wabash On this 22 day of Mch, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty2 personally appeared before me Clerk, of the Circuit Court, a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid, Asa B. McFann, aged 54 years, a resident of North Manchester County of Wabash State of Indiana, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Asa B. McFann who entered service under the name of Asa B. McFann on or about the 17th day of October 1862 as Bugler in company [blank] That he was treated That he has never been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above. That since the 9th day of June, A.D. 1865, he has not been employed in the military or naval service of the United States. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the County of Wabash, in the State of Indiana and his occupation has been that of a Saddler. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a saddler. That he is now in part disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States. He hereby appoints with full power of substitution and revocation George E. Lemon of Washington D.C., his true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute his claim. That he has never received nor applied for a pension. That his Post office address is North Manchester county of Wabash, State of Ind [signed:] Asa B. McFann .... Return Letter of the Adjutant General's Office, 11 January 1883:War Department Adjutant General's Office Washington, Jany 11, 1883 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. Asa B. McFann, a Bugler of 23rd Batty Ind Lt Arty. Volunteers, was enrolled on the 17th day of October, 1862, at Indianapolis, for 3 yrs and is reported: on Rolls from enrollment to Dec 31/64, Present; Jan. to Feb. 65, Absent, sick from effect of accidental pistol wounds, Wheeling Va., Jan 29 - 1865, same to Apr 30\65, he was mustered out of service on Ind. M. O. Roll dated June 9 - 1865 at Wheeling W. Va. Batty Returns for Nov. 63 not on file. The name Asa B. McFann is not [?] on the Rolls of said Batty. [In a different handwriting:] The records of this office furnish no evidence of alleged disability. - Circumstances under which received and location of accidental wound not dated. - Medical records of Battery not on file. - .... Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension, 3 July 1890:State of Indiana, County of Wabash, ss: On this 3rd day of July A. D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Asa B. McFann aged sixty four years, a resident of N. Manchester County of Wabash State of Indiana, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is a pensioner of the United States, enrolled at the Indianapolis Pension agency at the rate of $14 dollars per month, Certificate No. 242247; by reason of disability from loss of sight of left eye and resulting impaired vision of right eye incurred in the military service of the United States, while serving as a Bugler 23rd Battery Indiana Light Artillery. That he believes himself to be entitled to an increase of pension on account of increase of disability by reason of said loss of sight of left eye and resulting impaired vision of right eye [---] that the right eye is getting worse so that at times he can scarcely see anything out of it. that he hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Alex Hess of Wabash Ind his true and lawful attorney, to prosecute his claim. His Post Office address is North Manchester, Wabash County, Indiana [signed:] Asa B. McFann [Signature of witnessess:] [signed:] Charles A Sala [signed:] James L. King Also personally appeared Asa B. McFann [should be Charles A. Sala] residing at North Manchester and James L. King residing at North Manchester who being by me duly sworn, say that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. [signed in spaces reserved for witnesses to the signatures of the affiants in case the affiants sign by mark:] [signed:] Charles A Sala [signed:] James L. King [In one of the spaces reserved for the signatures of the affiants:] [signed:] Asa B. McFann Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3 day of July A. D. 1890 .... [signed:] W. H. Ridgley J P I, J. R. Brady Clerk of the County Court in and for the aforesaid County and State, do certify that W. A. Ridgley, Esq., who has signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine. Witness my hand and seal of office, this 3 day of July, 1890 [signed:] J R Brady Clerk of the Wabash C Court 1898 Circular:Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C., January 15, 1898 Certificate No. [unreadable] Name, Asa B. McFann Sir: In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below.... First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name. Answer. yes Martha --- Maiden name Hill Second. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer Aug 27th 1896 in Waynesburg Pa by Rev J. M. Howard Third. What record of marriage exists? Answer In Waynesburg Greene Co Pa Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. Answer Amanda A. Died Nov 26th 1885 Fifth Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. Answer. Frank A. Born Oct 29th 1848 -- Katharine M. Born Apr 30th 1850 -- James P. Born Nov 6th 1851 -- John D. Born Nov 13th 1854 -- Laura J. Born Apr 15th 1856 -- Clara W. Born Mar 21st 1858 -- Sybil C. Born Aug 6 1868 -- Mattie E. Born July 29th 1873 [Signed] Asa B. McFann ... 1907 Declaration for Pension:State of Indiana County of Tippecanoe On this 1 day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and seven, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, Asa B. McFann, who, being duly sworn accordig to law, declares that he is 80 years of age, and a resident of Soldiers' Home county of Tippecanoe, State of Indiana; and that he is the identical person who was Enrolled at Indianapolis, Ind under the name of Asa B. McFann, on the 7 day of October, 1862 as a Bugler, in 23rd Ind Bat... in the service of the United States, in the Civil war, and was Honorably Discharged at Wheeling Va, on the 9 day of June, 1865 That he also served [blank] That he was not employed in the military or naval service of the United States otherwise than as stated above. That his personal description at enlistment was as follows: Height, 5 feet 11 inches; complexion, Fair; color of eyes, Gray; color of hair, Light; that his occupation was Saddler; that he was born July, 2, 1826, at Waynesburg Pa That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Liberty Mills, Ind. for 10 yrs; Manchester Ind about 20 years; Came to Home Sept 7, 1906 That he is [blank] a pensioner. That he has [blank] heretofore applied for pension 242247 That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of February 6, 1907. That his post-office address is Soldiers' Home, county of Tippecanoe, State of Indiana [signed:] Asa B. McFann .... Letter from the Soldiers' Home Post Office, 23 November 1912United States Post Office Soldiers' Home Branch La Fayette, Ind. Nov 23rd 1912 U.S. Pension Agent, Pittsburg Pa. Sir: I find I was mistaken in the date I gave you of the death of Asa B. McFann. He died November 3rd 1912. I gave you on the card the date of his wifes death May 2nd 1912 .... |
Notes and Credits:1. Michael Cook (1837--1913) was the son of Christian Cook and Elizabeth Bowers. He served in the Civil War in Company 47 Indiana Volunteers. He also wrote an affidavit in support of the Civil War pension claim of Asa McFann's eldest son, Alexander F. McFann. And he was the notary public on most of the other affidavits filed in support of A. F. McFann's pension claim. The information on Michael Cook came from his great granddaughter, Sharon Murphy. For more information, write to her at Smurcook@golden.net.
2. Copies of these records were obtained from the National Archives by Garret McFann and Brian McFann.
This page was written by Brian McFann |