Links to other pages: Levi R. McFann's Family Page Chart Site Directory Index of Names


Selected Military Pension Records for
Levi R. McFann


The National Archives informed me that Levi R. McFann's pension file was in the custody of the Office of Veteran's Affairs. I requested a copy of his file from the Office of Veterans Affairs and received about 120 photocopied pages. Included were copies of internal documents, file slips, envelopes, and other items of little genealogical importance. I have listed some of the contents below. A complete inventory will take some time.

Contents (incomplete) of Levi R. McFann's Pension File (Office of Veterans Affairs, XC 948757):
  1. Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension, dated 3 December 1897
  2. Declaration for Invalid Pension under the Act of June 27, 1890, dated 3 Dec 1897.
  3. Articles of Agreement, dated 3 December 1897.
    Abstract: Levi R. McFann agrees to allow his agent, Robt A. Sayers of Waynesburg PA, 25 dollars for services in the furtherance of his pension claim, to be paid only if his claim is granted.
  4. General Affidavit in the matter of the claim for Original Invalid Pension under the Act of June 27, 1890, dated 25 April 1898, Butler Co, PA.
    Abstract: Levi R. McFann says that "in reference to disease of heart and general debility, these came on gradually so that I cannot give the exact date of their incurrence..."
  5. Surgeon's Certificate, 2 March 1898
    Description: Levi McFann was required by the Bureau of Pensions to appear before the Board of Surgeons for a medical examination. This is the report of the doctors who examined him
  6. Bureau of Pensions Questionaire, dated 15 January 1898, reply dated 6 July 1898.
    Description: Almost exactly the same as the following item.
  7. Bureau of Pensions Questionaire, dated 19 April 1898, reply dated 25 April 1898.
  8. Power of Attorney, dated 24 May 1899.
    Abstract:Levi McFann appoints A. L. Moredock of Waynesburg, PA, in place of Robert A. Sayers, to prosecute his pension claim.
  9. General Affidavit of Dr H. S. McClymonds in the matter of L. R. McFanns's application for pension "increase", dated 6 October 1899.
  10. Physician's Affidavit, Dr N. M. N[?], late asst surgeon 87 Reg Pa Vol, dated 26 January 1900.
  11. Affidavit of Dr C. S. Christi, dated 13 April 1900.
  12. General Affidavit of Levi R. McFann, dated 16 May 1900.
  13. Bureau of Pensions request of the War Department for full military and medical history of Levi R. McFann, with the report of the War Department on the reverse, dated 3 Jan 1898.
  14. General Affidavit of James Seals and William H Helphenstine, dated 11 September 1900.
    Abstract: Seals and Helphenstine were members of Co H 123 Reg Pa Infantry. They testify that Levi R. McFann was stricken with chronic diarrhea while the company was at Fallmouth VA; that he was in the Regimental Hospital and afterwards was sent from there to Washington D.C.
  15. Affidavit of B. E. Campbell, dated 17 October 1900.
    Abstract: Campbell testifies that he has known Levi R. McFann since childhood, that he worked with him in Oil City in 1867 and 1868, and knew that he was being treated for chronic diarrhea. Campbell also says that he knew him when he returned from the army and that he was then under the Doctor's care.
  16. Affidavit of William Berryhill, dated 29 October 1900.
    Abstract: Berryhill says that he is personally acquainted with Levi R. McFann and has known him since childhood. He testifies that Levi R. McFann was a "stout and hearty man" before entering the army, but that when he returned he was suffering from chronic diarrhea and was under the doctors care for months after he returned.
  17. Declaration for Pension, under the Act of May 11, 1912, dated 5 July 1912.
  18. Letter from Bureau of the Pensions to Levi R. McFann regarding his claim for pension under the Act of May 11, 1912, dated April 8, 1913.
    Abstract: The Bureau of Pensions advises him that they require the "best obtainable evidence" of the date of his birth. They advise that he should forward to them a verified copy of a public, church, or family record of his birth.
  19. Affidavit of Levi R. McFann, dated 12 April 1913, in response to a request by the Pension Office for a record of his date of birth.
  20. Certified transcription of family Bible records, dated 12 April 1913.
  21. Bureau of Pensions Questionaire, reply dated 10 March 1915.
  22. Declaration for Pension, under the Act of May 1, 1920, dated 11 September 1920.
    Description: The Act of May 1, 1920, provides that any person who served ninety days or more in the Army of the United States during the Civil War, and who was honorably discharged, "and who is now, or hereafter may become, by reason of age and physical or mental disabilities, helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to require the personal aid and attendance of another person, shall be entitled to and shall be paid a pension at the rate of $72 per month" [from the back of the Declaration form]. The declaration states that Levi McFann requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another person on account of disabilities which are unreadable (but are probably the same disabilities listed in subsequent documents).
  23. Affidavit of Dr C. S. McClelland, in the matter of the petition of Levi R. McFann for Increase in Pension, dated 11 September 1920.
    Abstract: Dr. McClelland testifies that on 3 September 1920 he visited the home of Levi R. McFann and gave him a thorough examination. He says that he has known Levi McFann for about twenty years, that he has been failing mentally for the past three years, and that at present his memory is completely lost. He did not recognize the Doctor and did not know his own daughter when she visited him recently. He is as helpless as child, cannot dress himself, must be watched constantly otherwise he will wander off. The Doctor's opinion is that he suffers from senility due to old age and is a helpless and incurable invalid.
  24. Affidavit of Mary McFann, in the matter of the claim of Levi R. McFann for increase of pension under the Act of May 1st, 1920, dated 9 October 1920.
    Abstract: She makes this affidavit in response to a request from the Commissioner of Pension for the reason that Levi R. McFann is unable to leave his home and appear before a Notary. She also testifies that they had a son, L. Ralph McFann, who saw active duty in France during World War I; and that to the best of her knowledge L. Ralph McFann never applied for compensation from the War Risk Insurance Bureau, and that she and her husband never applied for compensation on account of the death in or since the service of such member of his family.
  25. Surgeon's Certificate, 10 November 1920.
  26. Certified copy of Levi R. McFann's Certificate of Death, dated 26 May 1922 (date of death is 29 November 1921)
  27. Affidavit of R. W. Blymiller, in the matter of Levi R. McFann, dated 14 December 1921.
    Abstract: Blymiller testifies that he was personally acquainted with Levi R. McFann and Miss Mary Morris before the date of their marriage; that they were married on the 15th day of February 1870; and though he was not present at the wedding he was present at the reception held in honor of their marriage on the evening of February 16th. He further testifies that since the date of their marriage they have continuously lived together as man and wife up until the death of Levi R. McFann on 29 November 1921.
  28. Affidavit of T. P. Mifflin, in the matter of Levi R. McFann, dated 21 January, 1922.
    Abstract: Mifflin testifies that he has known Levi R. Mcfann and his wife Mary Morris McFann for more than fifty years prior to the death of Levi R. McFann, and testifies that they lived together as man and wife and were known as such by all their neighbors and friends.
  29. Declaration for Widow's Pension, under the Act of May 1, 1920
    Description: Under the Act of May 1, 1920, the widow of any person who served in the Army during the Civil War for ninety days or more, and was honorably discharged, may be entitled to pension, without regard to her financial condition, provided she was married to him prior to June 27, 1905 [from the back of the Declaration form].
    Genealogical content: Says that she was born December 27th 1851 at Bradys-Bend, Armstrong County, PA
  30. Letter of John H. Wilson, Attorney, dated May 27th, 1922.
    Text: "Enclosed herewith find cerificate of the death of Levi R. McFann duly certified. Also certificate of the marriage of Levi R. McFann and Mary McFann. Please return the certificate, as Mrs McFann prises it very highly."
  31. Copy of the Marriage Certificate. It is unreabable.
  32. Copy of Mary McFann's Certificate of Death.
    Genealogical content: Date of birth: 27 December 1851. Date of death: 23 October 1940. father's name: George Morris. Mother's maiden name: Margaret Smith. Informant: Mrs Beryl Kiser.



Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension:


State of Penna, County of Greene, ss:
ON THIS 3rd day of Dec, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety- seven 1897 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid, Levi R. McFann aged 58 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Levi R. McFann who was ENROLLED as a 2nd Lieut on the      day of August, 1862, in Company H of the 123 Regiment of Vol. Infty commanded by Col Clark and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Harrisburg Pa., on the [?] day of May, 1863. That his personal description is as follows: Age      years; height      feet      inches; complexion      hair     ; eyes     . That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of duty at near Alexandria Va in the state of Virginia on or about the      day of fall and winter of 1862/3 1863, he contracted chronic diarrhoea from the effects of which at times he suffered from severe constipation also, and is generally broken down and unable to perform manual labor for a living on account of [?]. That he was treated in hospitals as follows: near Falmouth Va in Regimental Hospital and sent from there spring of 1863 Stanton Hospital Washington D.C. That he and not been employed in the military or naval service of the United States since the      day of May 1863. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the Butler Co and Venango Co in the State of Pa, and that his occupation has been that of a Merchant and oil [?]. That prior to his entry into the service above-named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a [?]. That he is now totally and wholly 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, Robt A Sayers of Waynesburg Pa (Greene Co.) his true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim. ...


Declaration for Invalid Pension, Act of June 27, 1890:


State of Penna, County of Greene, ss:
On this 3rd day of Dec, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety- seven 1897 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid, Levi R. McFann aged 58 years, a resident of the P.O. of McFann County of Butler, State of Pa, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Levi R. McFann who was ENROLLED on the      day of Aug, 1862, in Co. H 123rd Reg. Pa. Vol Infty as a 2nd Lieutenant - lost discharge papers long since in the service of the United States in the war of the Rebellion, and served at least ninety days, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Harrisburg Pa., on the      day of May, 1863. That he is totally and wholly unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of chronic diarrhea and results; being extremely constipated at times  incurred while in the army   extremely weak eyes, to such an extent that he cannot read any more with spectacles which he could a little over a year ago  also hard of hearing in both ears[?]. That said disabilities are not due to vicious habits, and are, to the best of his knowledge and belief, of a permanent character.
...
He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Robt A. Sayers of Waynesburg Greene Co. Pa his true and lawfull Attorney, to prosecute his claim, and he directs that the sum of Ten Dollars be paid to said Attorney.
...


1898 Questionaire:

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions


Washington, D.C., April 19, 1898

...

Sir:
  Will you kindly answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below? The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your family. …


No. 1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer: Yes   Mrs Mary McFann, Miss Mary Morris.
No. 2. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer: Feb. 15, 1870 Wash twp. Butler Co. Pa.   Rev W. A. Black
No. 3. What record of marriage exists?
Answer: Certificate of Minister
No. 4. 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: No sir.
No. 5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer: Yes sir.   Maggie M McFann Born Nov 14/70 now Mrs Wm Armour. George W. McFann Born July 13/72. Ida A. McFann Born July 11/74. Harry H. McFann Born Dec 6/76. Carrie V. McFann Born Feb 14/84. Stella M. McFann Born Feb 20/87. Levi R. McFann Born May 25/90. Helen B. McFann Born Mar 30/93
[Some of these dates were taken from the January 15th version of this questionaire because they were unreadable on this version]
Date of reply, April 25, 1898

(Signature) Levi R. McFann


Affidavit of Levi R. McFann, 16 May 1900:


General Affidavit.
State of Penna County of [blank or obliterated] }ss

In the matter of the claim for additional pension of Levi R. McFann, 2nd Lieut. of Co. H 123 Regt. Pa Infty. cft No 963213

On this 16 day of May 1900 personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid county duly authorized to administer oaths, Levi R. McFann aged 60 years, a resident of McFann, Butler Co. Pa. whose Post-office address is McFann Butler Co, Pa, who being sworn in relation to the aforesaid case declares in relation to the above as follows:

That sometime in the spring of 1863 while in the service as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. H. 123 Reg Pa Infantry Vol. near Falmouth Virginia he was stricken with chronic diarrhoea and was sent to the Regimental Hospital, and from there the Regimental Hospital he was sent to Stanton Hospital Washington D.C. in the 11th ward, and from Stanton Hospital he was sent to Harrisburg Pa and discharged by reason of expiration of time of service. That since that time he has suffered from the affects of said disease; that up until 1865 or 1866 he was treated for said disease by Dr Milton Blackley of Waynesburg Pa, who is now dead, that from 1866 to 1872 he was treated by Dr Arthur of Oil City Pa, who is also dead, that from 1879 to about 1885 he was treated by Dr Burchard of Baldwin, Butler Co, Pa, who is also dead, that Dr Christie of Petersville Butler Co. Pa, and Dr McClymonds of Wilkinsburg Pa, have since treated him and are both living, and affidavits of said last two physicians are hereto attached, and affidavit of Dr N. W. [?] is also hereto attached.

[signed] Levi R. McFann

Signed and subscribed before me this 16th day of May 1900
[signed] Albert L B[?]
Notary Public


Affidavit of Levi R. McFann, 12 April 1913:


IN RE: APPLICATION OF LEVI R. McFANN, COMPANY "H", 123D REGT., PENN'A., VOL., INFT.
Certificate No. 1963213.

BUTLER COUNTY S. S.

Levi R. McFann, the above applicant, personlly appearing before me, after being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say in answer to the call for evidence hereto attached as follows: That it is impossible for him to procure a public or church record of the date of his birth as none such are in existence or available, but that he does submit herewith a certification of the same in the Family Bible, which he also hereto attaches; that the said Family Bible containing said record was hereby submitted to Wm. G. Wilson, a Notary Public of Butler, Penn'a., and is the same which belonged to the deponents's maternal grandfather, Asa McClelland, Esq., who lived at the time of his death in Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, and at his death the custody of said Family Bible was entrusted to deponent's mother, Nancy McClelland, a daughter of said Asa McClelland, who afterwards married deponent's father and at the death of the deponent's mother, who died in Butler County, Pennsylvania some years ago, the same came into the custody of your deponent. All of which is true to the best of his information, knowledge and belief.

[signed] Levi R. McFann

Sworn and subscribed before me this 12th day of April, 1913.
[signed]William G. Wilson
Notary Public
My commission expires Feb 2nd 1915


Transcription of Family Records from Asa McClelland's Bible:


FAMILY RECORD.

BIRTHS.

Arthur Inghram Porter was born June 26th, 1844.
Catharine McClelland Porter was born July the 31, 1850.
Asa B. McFann was born July 2th, 1826.
William D. McFann was born October 20th, 1831.
Jonathan A. McFann was born September 23th, 1836.
Levi R. McFann was born July 3th, 1839.

DEATHS.

John McClelland departed this life April 6th, 1807.
John B. McClelland departed this life 28 June, 1811.
Dorsey McClelland departed this life the 25 November, 1852.
Maria Rinehart died August 24th, 1866.
Levi Rinehart died Nov. 8th, 1858.


BUTLER COUNTY, S.S.

I, Wm.G. WILSON, a Notary Public in and for said County and State do hereby fully certify that the above copy was taken from the family Bible of Asa McClelland who was the maternal grandfather of Levi R. McFann, Company "H" 123d Regiment Pennsylvania Vol. Inft. and has been compared by me and which I certify to be a correct copy and I further certify that the title page thereof shows the said Bible was printed and published in Philadelphia by McCarey & Son No. 126 Chestnut Street in 1817; that the same bears no mark of erasure or alteration and from the appearance of the writing, I believe the entries to have been made about the date given.

WITNESS, my hand and notarial seal, this the 12th day of April, 1913.
William G. Wilson
Notary Public
My Com. expr. Feb 21st 1915



1915 Questionaire:


No. 1. Date and place of birth? Answer. July 3, 1839 Waynesburg, Greene County, Pa. The name of organizations in which you served? Answer. Second Lieutenant Co H 123 Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry
No. 2. What was your post office at enlistment? Answer. Waynesburg, Greene County Pa.
No. 3. State your wife's full name and her maiden name. Answer. Mary McFann, Mary Morris
No. 4. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer. February 15, 1870, North Hope, Butler County Pa  Rev W. A. Black.
No. 5. Is there any official or church record of your marriage? No If so, where? Answer.     
No. 6. Were you previously married? If so.... Answer. No
No. 7. If your present wife was married before her marriage to you.... Answer No former marriage
No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation? Answer I am living with my wife  there has been no separation.
No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead. Answer.
Mrs Maggie M. Armour  November 14, 1870    (Dead)
George W. McFann  July 13, 1872.
Mrs Ida A Williams  July 11, 1874
Harry H. McFann  December 6, 1876
Charles McFann  March 16, 1879    (Dead)
Mrs Carrie V. Milliron  February 14, 1884
Mrs Stella M. Lytle  February 20, 1887
L. Ralph McFann  May 25, 1890
H. Beryl McFann  March 30, 1893

Date March 10, 1915

(signature) Levi R. McFann



Brian McFann
e-mail: mcfann@u.washington.edu
Revised: 16 November 1999