JOHN T. THOMPSON

DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENISON

Donated by Frank Beasley

JOHN T. THOMPSON, THE SOLDIER   State of ILLINOIS County of ALEXANDER        DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENISON      On the date hereinafter mentioned, personally appeared before me CLERK of aforesaid, JOHN THOMPSON, resident of ELCO, county of ALEXANDER, state of ILL, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical JOHN THOMPSON who was enrolled on the 10th day of AUG, 1861, and served in Co. A of the 15th REGIMENT of ILL. CAVL. VOLS. and was discharged at SPRINGFIELD, ILL. on the 27th day of AUG, 1864; that his personal description is as follows: Age 47 years, Height 5 feet 7 1/2 inches, Complexion dark, Hair dark, Eyes dark.    That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at the BATTLE OF SHILOH in the State of TENN, in the month  of APL 1862, he INCURRED DEAFNESS CAUSED BY ARTILLERY FIRING DURING THE BATTLE in the MONTH OF AUG WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY DURING A GRAND REVIEW AT JACKSON, TENN, HIS HORSE STUMBLED AND FELL ON APPLICANT FRACTURING HIS RIBS AND COLLAR-BONE CAUSING PERMANENT DISABILITY. That he was treated in hospitals as follows: HE WAS NOT TREATED IN ANY POST OR GEN HOSPITAL. That he has NEVER been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above EXCEPT FROM APL 5, 1865 IN CO E, 60th ILL. INF. VOLS until about AUG 1, 1865. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound physical health, being enrolled as a FARMER. That he is now GREATLY disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States. He therefore makes this application 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, MILO B. STEVENS & CO., of CHICAGO, ILL his true and lawful attorneys to prosecute his claim. That he has NEVER received BUT HAS applied for a pension. That his Post Office address is ELCO, County of ALEXANDER, State of ILL.                              
Claimant's Signature: John Thompson      Attest: JNO A. REEVE
(Researcher's Note: Undated as no copy of the front side of the above document was made by the National Archives-but probably sometime after April 1885--since JOHN THOMPSON was born on 4/8/1838 and was 47 years of age when this document was executed.)  

5/27/1885, GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of ILLINOIS County of ALEXANDER    In the matter of the claim for 368296 in the case of JOHN THOMPSON late PRIVATE of CO. A, 15th REGT. ILL CAV VOLS.    Personally came before me, a NOTARY PUBLIC in and for the state aforesaid, A.P.GREER whose post office address is ELCO county of ALEXANDER and state of ILLINOIS. A person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows:    I A.P.GREER A PRACTICING PHYSICAN OF 15 YEARS AND A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, KY WILL STATE THAT I HAVE KNOWN THE APPLICANT FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. I WILL STATE THAT DURING THE TIME OF MY ACQUAINANCE WITH THE APPLICANT THAT HIS HEALTH HAS BEEN BAD. I WILL STATE THAT I THIS DAY 27th MAY 1885 MADE AN EXAMINATION OF  THE APPLICANT AND FIND THAT HE HAS SUSTAINED A FRACTURE OF THE CLAVICLE NEAR THE SCOPULA AND THAT 3 OF THE FIRST RIBS HAVE ALSO BEEN FRACTURED ALL ON THE LEFT-SIDE. I FIND ALSO BY AUSENULATION OVER THE REGION OF THE FRACTURES THAT THE RESPIRATION IS ABNORMAL AND DEFICIENT AND I WILL STATE THAT THE APPLICANT COMPAINES OF DIFFICULT-BREATHING OR AS HE DESCRIBES IT-SHORTNESS OF BREATH. I WILL STATE THAT FROM MY OPPORTUNITY OF OBSERVING THE CLAIMANT FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS THAT HIS DISABILITY IS INCREASING AND THAT COMPARED WITH A HEALTHY MAN HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN ONE THIRD THE LABOR OF AN ABLE BODIED PERSON.   I further declare that I HAVE no interest in said claim, and AM NOT concerned in its prosecution.          Signature of Affiant    A.P. GREER, M D

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of ILLINOIS County of ALEXANDER    In the matter of INVALID PENSION CLAIM NO. 368296 of JOHN THOMPSON A. 15 ILLS. CAV.    Personally came in before me in aforesaid county and state DR RENFRO a person of lawful age and well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case, as follows:    I HAVE PRACTICED MEDICINE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE ABOVE NAMED SOLIDER JOHN THOMPSON IN 1875. HAVE TREATED HIM FOR SEVERAL ATTACKS OF MALARIA FEVER. HE HAS BEEN DEAF EVER SINCE I FIRST BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH HIM. I FURTHER STATE THAT HE HAS A FRACTURE OF THE ACROMIAL END OF THE CLAVICLE WHICH RESULTED IN DEFORMITY OF CLACICLE. HE ALSO HAS STERNUM RESULTING IN DEFORMITY. I AM A GRADUATE OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.    I further declare that I HAVE no interest in case, and I AM not concerned in its prosecution. Signature                                  Signature of Witness: W.F.PRETNEUM  of Affiant: J.W. RENFRO,                                                                    M D  

2/22/1886, GENERAL AFFIDAVIT, STATE of INDIANA      COUNTY of JEFFERSON     In the matter of the PENSION CLAIM OF JOHN THOMPSON LATE OF CO A 15th ILLINOIS CAVARLY REGT on this 22nd day of FEBRUARY A.D. 1886, personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid county, duly authorized to administer  oaths ISSAC CAMPBELL aged 47 years, a resident of MADISON in the county of JEFFERSON  and state of INDIANA whose post office address is MADISON INDIANA well know to me to be respectable and entitled to credit and who being duly sworn declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows:    THAT HE BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE ABOVE SOLIDER SOON AFTER HE ENLISTED IN THE ABOVE REGT HAVING NEVER KNOWN APPLICANT PRIOR TO ENLISTMENT HAVING BOTH OF US ENLISTED IN ABOVE COMPANY AND REGT AT THE SAME TIME AND PLACE AND KNEW HIM PERSONALLY AND INTIMATELY UNTIL WE WERE BOTH DISCHARGED AND WAS WITH HIM AT JACKSON TENN SOME TIME IN MAY OR JUNE 1862 APPLICANT GOT BADLY HURT AS FOLLOWS, THE BATTALION WAS ON REVIEW HIS HORSE GOT SCARED AND FELL IN DITCH, HE APPEARED TO BE BADLY HURT BY THE HORSE FALLING ON HIM, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO WALK BACK TO CAMP AND RODE HIS HORSE AND ONE SOLIDER ON EACH SIDE OF HIM TO HOLD HIM AND ONE MAN TO LEAD HIS HORSE. WHEN HE GOT TO CAMP HE WAS TREATED THEN BY SOME SURGEON WHO I DO NOT NOW REMEMBER. HE COMPLAINED OF HIS COLLAR-BONE AND INJURY TO BOTH SIDES AND WHEN HE WAS LEFT THERE HE WENT TO HOSPITAL AT CORNITH, MISSISSIPPI.   SIGNATURE of AFFIANT  ISSAC H.CAMPBELL   

State of ILLINOIS, GENERAL AFFIDAVIT County of ALEXANDER    In the matter of the claim for INVALID PENSION OF JOHN THOMPSON, P A 15 ILL CAV.    Personally came before me, a NOTARY PUBLIC in and for the county and state, aforesaid, BENJAMIN HUNSTON P O ADRESS of ELCO ALEXANDER ILLINOIS, a person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows:    I MET JOHN THOMPSON AT ULLIN ILLS WHERE HE CAME ON THE  R R TRAIN AND BROUGHT HIM HERE TO HIS HOUSE AT THE TIME HE CAME HOME FROM THE ARMY. HE COMPLAINED HIS SHOULDERS BREAST & SIDES HURTING HIM & SAID HE HAD BEEN THROWN FROM A HORSE AND HURT. HE APPEARED TO BE SUFFERING A GREAT DEAL FROM PAIN. HE WAS NOT ABLE AT THAT TIME TO PERFORM ANY LABOR AT ALL. THIS WAS THE SAME DAY HE RETURNED HOME, AND I KNOW HE WAS UNABLE FOR A YEAR OR MORE TO PERFORM ANY LABOR AT ALL. I WAS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE CLAIMANT BEFORE HE ENTERED THE ARMY AND HIS HEARING WAS GOOD, AND WHEN HE RETURNED HOME FROM THE ARMY HE WAS VERY DEAF AND HAS REMAINED SO EVER SINCE THOUGH HIS DEAFNESS  IS NOT SO BAD NOW AS WHEN HE RETURNED HOME.    I further declare that I HAVE no interest in said claim, and AM not concerned in its prosecution.    Signature of Affiant.  BENJAMIN HUNSTON
(Researcher's note: the above document is undated as no copy of the front side of this document was made by the National Archives-but probably some time in early 1886)  

State of IIIINOIS, GENERAL AFFIDAVIT County of ALEXANDER    In the matter of the claim for INVALID PENSION 368296 in the case of JOHN THOMPSON late PRIVATE of Co. A, 15th REGT. ILL. CAV. VOLS.    Personally came before me, a NOTARY PUBLIC, in and for the county and state aforesaid, M.AUGUSTINE and MILES CAUBLE whose post office address is ELCO county of ALEXANDER and state of ILLINOIS persons of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows:    HAVE KNOWN APPLICANT FOR THE PAST THIRTY YEARS. DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAVE SEEN HIM EVERY FEW DAYS, PROBABLY EVERY WEEK, BEING NEIGHBORS AND INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED; DISABILITY IS DEAFNESS AND TROUBLE OF BREAST SAID TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY  AN INJURY RECEIVED WHILE IN THE ARMY. OCCUPATION FOR PAST SIX MONTHS OR MORE HAS BEEN THAT OF A COMMON LABORER. THE CLAIMANT IS AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PERFORM MORE THAN ONE FOURTH OF AN ABLEBODIED MANS LABOR AND NO HEAVY LABOR. WE ARE SATISFIED HE COULD NOT EARN HIS BOARD TO HIRE OUT AND HAVE KNOWN MEMBERS OF THE I.O.O.F LODGE AT THIS PLACE, AND OTHER PEOPLE TO GIVE HIM MONEY AND OTHER THINGS TO KEEP HIM FROM ACTUALLY SUFFERING. WE ARE SATISFIED HIS INABILITY AS ABOVE STATED IS ON ACCOUNTOF THE INJURY OR INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE ARMY.    THEY further declare that THEY HAVE no interest in said claim, and ARE not concerned in its prosecution. Signature of Affiant,             M. AUGUSTINE or of each Affiant,                 MILES CAUBLE  

12/22/1896 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, CERTIFICATE NO. 353688
Sir;    It is alleged that JOHN THOMPSON enlisted AUG. 10, 1864 and served as a PRIVATE in CO. A, 15 REG'T. ILL. CAV. also in CO. E, 60 ILL INF. and was discharged at SPRINGFIELD, ILL. AUG. 1. 1865.    It is also alleged that while on duty at SHILOH, TENN. on or about 1862 he was disabled by DEAFNESS AND AT HELENA, ARK. DEC/1863 HE CONTRACTED BRONCHITIS.     And was treated in hospitals of which names, locations, and dates of treatment was as follows: GEN. HOSPITAL AT HELENA, ARK. THE ORIGINAL REPORT HAS BEEN LOST OR MISLAID.     In case of the above-named solider the War Department is requested to furnish an official statement showing his full military and medical history. Please give the rank he held at the time he is claimed to have incurred the disability alleged, and if the records show that he was not in the line of duty during that period, let the fact be stated.    
Very respectfully,  Commissioner The Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department  

12/24/1896, WAR DEPARTMENT, RECORD AND PENSION DIVISION, Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.                                         

JOHN THOMPSON Co. A, 15 REGT, CAPT. STEWART'S ILL. CAV. was enrolled AUG 10, 1861 and M. OUT AUG 25, 1864 WITH CAV.  JOHN THOMPSON was ENSL  April 4/1865 AND M. OUT WITH CO JULY 31/1865 from ENSL to M. Out he held the rank of PVT & CORP in 1st SERVICEND PVT IN 2nd SERVICE and during that period the rolls show him present M. OUT R ONLY ROLL OF CO ON FILE FOR 60 ILL ON WHICH NAME APPEARS.   Co A 15 ILL CAV WAS ALSO KNOWN AS CAPT STEWART'S 1st CAC. CO, CAPT STEWART'S CAV CO A ILL VOLS, CAPT STEWART'S CAV, CO A McCLERAND'S BRIGADE, CO A STEWART'S BATTN ILL CAV. & CAPT KINGS CO STEWART'S BATTN ILL CAV.   The medical records show him treated as follows: AS JOHN THOMPSON, CPL. CO A 15 ILLS. CAC.DEC. 20, 63 To FEB. 16, 64. ACUTE BRONCHITIS, FURLOUGHED FEB. 16, 64    FOR 30 DAYS. REPORTED ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE MAR. 22, 64;    JULY 31 to AUG. 6, 64 FEBR REMITT, CACHESIA    DYSENTERY-GENERALIS; RETURNED TO DUTY. NOTHING additional found. BY authority of the Secetary of War: J.E. FREIMOUTH, COLONEL, U.S.ARMY   1/15/1898

Commissioner of Pensions, Bureau of Pensions, circular sent to:    JOHN THOMPSON ELCO ILLS ALEXANDER CO. for forwarding to the Pension Agent (J. Merriam, U.S. Pension Agent, Chicago,ILL., Department of the Interior).   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.        Signed     H. CLAY EVANS                         Commissioner of Pensions
First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name. Answer. NANCY J. SHARP NEE THOMPSON
Second. When, Where, and by whom were you married. Answer. Alexander County. APR.20th1883 BY J.R.Black
Third. What record of marriage exists? Answer. RECORD OF COUNTY CLERK
Fourth. Where you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce? Answer. MARRIAH HECK DIED IN 1856 ALEXANDER County
Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. Answer. NANCY ELIZABETH THOMPSON, BORN JUNE 22nd 1883, WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, BORN JUNE 12th 1887.
(Researcher's note: John and Nancy Thompson had four children. It is believed that the other two children-John and Dora-were not included in this document simply because this document only had space provided to list only two children)  

5/17/1904, 3-1081, Pensioner Dropped, NO OTHER CLAIM, United States Pension Agency, CHICAGO, ILL        
May 17, 1904 Certificate No. 353688 Class GENERAL LAW INVALID Pensioner JOHN THOMPSON Soldier Service A. 15th ILL. CAV.    The Commissioner of Pensions.        Sir: I have the honor to report that the above-named pensioner who was last paid at $16, to 4 APRIL, 1904 has been dropped because of DEATH ON MAY 9, 1904.               
Very respectfully, J. MERRIAM, United States Pension Agent                                                                                                               

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NANCY J. THOMPSON

DECLARATION OF WIDOW'S PENSION

Donated by Frank Beasley

On May 23, 1904 NANCY J. THOMPSON appointed A. COMINGS, of CAIRO, ILLINOIS as her attorney for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890. She declared: "She is the widow of JOHN THOMPSON, who enlisted under the name John Thompson on the 10th day of August, 1861 in CO. A 15TH ILL. CAV. and served at least ninety days in the late War of the Rebellion, who was Honorably Discharged Aug. 25, 1864, and died May 9, 1904. That she was married under the name of NANCY J. BRIMM, to said John Thompson, on the 20th day of April 1884 by J.R. BLACK at near Elco, Ill there being no legal barrier to said marriage. Both had been married, and both consorts had died. That she was not remarried since the death of said John Thompson. That she is without other means of support than her daily labor."

In a July 9, 1904, "WIDOW'S APPLICATION FOR ACCURED PENSION," she, by marking her mark, stated: "That she hereby makes application for the pension which has accured on aforesaid certificate to the date of death. That she hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, A. COMINGS of Cairo her true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim, the fee to be TWO 50/100 dollars, as prescribed by law,

Also, on July 9, 1904 a friend, ADDLINE HELIPLE, aged 48 years, County of ALEXANDER and State of ILLINOIS, appeared before a Notary Public and stated as follows: "That THOMAS BRIMM, first or former husband of NANCY J. THOMPSON, widow of JOHN THOMPSON, the soldier in the above case, died about the year 1876. My means of knowing the above fact is that I was with him when he died."

On July 14, 1904, another friend, MELVANIA J. HUNSTON, aged 53 years, resident of ELCO, County of ALEXANDER, State of ILLINOIS appeared before the Notary Public, M. F. GOODMAN and stated as follows: "That THOMAS BRIMM, former husband of NANCY J. THOMPSON died about the year 1876. My means of knowing the above fact is that he lived about one fourth of a mile from my home at that time and when he died the funeral party passed in front of my home to the cemetery."

In a GENERAL AFFIDAVIT on October 11, 1904, her friend, SOPHIA HARTLINE, aged 71 years; and a G. W. THOMPSON, aged 58 years, residents of ELCO, County of ALEXANDER, State of ILLINOIS, appeared before a Notary Public, M. F. GOODMAN, and stated: "That JOHN THOMPSON, the soldier never contracted but one marriage prior to his marriage to NANCY J. THOMPSON, his widow the claimant. That was to MARRIAH HECK, who died about the year 1856. Our means of knowing is that we were acquainted with him from his boyhood."

In a GENERAL AFFIDAVIT, dated July 7, 1904, SALMON HAZLEWOOD, before M. F. GOODMAN, a Notary Public, stated: "That the first or former wife of JOHN THOMPSON, the soldier in the above entitled case, died about the year 1856. My means of knowing the above fact is that she is buried on my premises and being personally acquainted with the soldier living in the same neighborhood."

Also, on July 9, 1904 a friend, SOPHIA HARTLINE, aged 71 years; County of ALEXANDER, and State of ILLINOIS before the Notary Public, M. F. GOODMAN, and stated as follows: "That the first or former wife of JOHN THOMPSON, the soldier in the above case died about 1856. My means of knowing the above is that I waited on her and dressed her for burial when she was a corpse."

On May 9, 1934 in a "DROP REPORT-PENSIONER" on NANCY J. THOMPSON, Gen. Del., Elco, IL-#587544, the Veterans Administration, remarked: "The name of the above-described pensioner who was last paid at the rate of $36 per month to April 30, 1934 has this day been dropped from the roll because of DEATH 5-1-34."

(Additional notes: MARRIAH HECK THOMPSON is buried next to her husband, JOHN T. THOMPSON, the Civil War Veteran, in an unmarked grave in Hazlewood Cemetery. NANCY JANE SHARP BRIMM THOMPSON is buried next to her husband, JOHN T. THOMPSON, the Civil War Veteran in an unmarked grave in Hazelwood Cemetery. Nancy was born May 10, 1846 in Jonesboro, Union County, Illinois. Prior to her marriage to John T. Thompson, she was first married to THOMAS BRIMM. Children resulted from his union are unknown. THOMAS BRIMM died in 1876 in Alexander County, IL. Nancy married John T. Thompson on April 20, 1884 in Alexander County, Illinois by J. R. Black. Five children resulted from this union: Dora Jane, b. Jan. 3, 1879; John H., b. Aug. 5, 1881; Nancy Elizabeth, b. June 22, 1883; William Logan, b. June 12, 1887 and Martha, b. Nov. 14, 1889. Their first three children were born prior to the actual marriage date of Nancy and John.)

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