Pensions for Salt Lake County, Utah

Percy A. Farrar S. 78. Percy A. Farrar, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was a private in Troop B, Thirteenth United States Cavalry; he was enlisted April 18, 1901, and discharged by expiration of service April 29, 1904. On June 2, 1913, he filed a claim for pension, alleging injuries from horse falling on him at Fort Meade, S. Dak., in August or September, 1902, causing abscesses near rectum and affection of stomach and heart; that he subsequently served in the Philippine Islands and was operated upon in 1905, after discharge, in private hospital at Deadwood, S. Dak. The claim was rejected in October, 1914, on the ground of no record in the War Department of injury near rectum, and no medical or other evidence showing origin in service and existence at discharge, and claimant's evident inability to furnish such evidence or to furnish testimony connecting the abscesses near rectum and disease of stomach and heart, which he states developed after date of discharge, with is military service, either as results of the alleged injury or otherwise. The medical records on file in the War Department show treatment of soldier in service as follows: July 1 to 3, 1901, slight acute muscular rheumatism of back, lumbar region; October 17 to 19, 1901, indigestion, acute; January 7 to 9, 1902, sprain, severe, left thumb, received while on drill by a fall; June 10 to 19, 1901, severe contusion of both knees, left arm and shoulder, thrown from a horse, slight concussion of the brain, concurrent; acute gonorrhea, concurrent; October 14 to 17, 1902, chronic gonorrhea; May 14 to June 8, 1903, gonorrhea, acute; June 8 and 9, 1903, gonorrhea, chronic, venereal contagion; June 9 to July 24, 1903, gonorrhea, chronic, of one year's standing. Filed in the claim is the testimony of Dr. Alfred G. Allen, of Deadwood, S. Dak., who states that he treated soldier from June 13 to July 11, 1905, and operated on him for perineal abscess; that he has no way of accounting for the abscess except the usual infection from the rectum - hemorroids - that he knew nothing of any injury from fall from a horse. Also affidavit of George A. Lorenz, comrade, who states that soldier was badly injured by his horse falling on him at Fort Meade, S. Dak., during the summer of 1902; that soldier often remarked to affiant that his injuries were bothering him; that he met soldier again in 1907, and he told affiant he never got over the horse falling on him and that abscesses often formed near the rectum and caused great pain and had to be operated on; that the abscesses had poisoned his system and caused stomach trouble; that soldier is in very poor health and unable to work to earn his living. Claimant, who is about 35 years of age, has never been examined by a board of Pension Bureau surgeons. Accompanying the bill is medical evidence that soldier has been suffering during the past four years with heart disease and its complications; that he is unfit for work of any kind. Also evidence that he is very poor and without means for his support. This committee report the bill favorably and recommend that he be granted a pension at the rate of $17 per month. Chester J. T. Hope S. 82. Mattie S. M. Hope, of Salt Lake City, Utah, is the widow of Chester J. T. Hope, who served as a private in Battery A. Battalion Utah Volunteer Light Artillery in the war with Spain; he was enlisted May 5, 1898, and discharged August 16, 1899. It also appears that he served in a civilian capacity as Government packer, Quartermaster's Department from October, 1900 to June, 1902, in the Philippine Islands. Soldier never applied for pension during his lifetime. He died of heart disease January 9, 1914. Claimant filed her application for pension July 7, 1914, which application was rejected January 12, 1915, on the ground of no record in the War Department or medical or other evidence of origin in the military service of soldier's fatal disease of heart and claimant's manifest inability to furnish such evidence. The muster rolls of soldier's company report him as sick in quarters from July 14 to 15, 1898, in line of duty; sick in quarters from April 25 to 26, 1899, not in line of duty; sick in hospital Manila, P. I. from January 18 to February 28, 1899, not in line of duty; sick in hospital, Manila, P. I. from ---------15 to 25, 1899, in line of duty. The medical records on file in the War Department show that soldier was treated January 18 to February 14, 1899, for chancroidal adenitis, left; February 28 to March 1, 1899, convalescent from chancroidal bubo, left groin; April 13 to 24, 1899, secondary syphilis; April 25 and 26, 1899, convalescent from secondary syphilis, all the foregoing not inline of duty; also that he was treated as a civilian employee of the Quartermaster's Department from October 30 to November 14, 1901, for cute dysentery. On his examination in August, 1899, preliminary to discharge from the military service, soldier declared to the discharging officers tht he was suffering from no disability or impairment of health, whether incurred in the military service or otherwise. The captain of the battery certified that he knew of no disability from which soldier was then suffering, and the Army surgeon reported that he found none after thorough physical examination. Dr. T. S. Gibson says that he examined soldier May 18, 1912, and found valvular disease of the heart. Dr. A. S. Bower testified that he was called to see soldier January 9, 1914, and found him suffering from edema of the lungs, due to valvular disease of heart; that he learned from history that soldier had been suffering from the heart disease since 1898, following an attack of rheumatism; that soldier died same day of disease of heart. Certified abstract from health records of Salt Lake City show that soldier died January 9, 1914, of valvular disease of heart. Claimant was married to the soldier June 22, 1904, and is 36 years of age and is left with the care and support of five minor children under the age of 16 years. Evidence filed with the bill shows that she has no property except the small home in which she lives, not worth to exceed $300, and that she has no source of income whatever. The evidence further shows that she is in poor health and unable to earn a living for herself and children, and has been compelled to accept charitable aid from friends and neighbors, and this committee report the bill favorably and recommend that she be granted a pension of $12 per month, and $2 additional per month for each of the minor children of said Chester J. T. Hope until they reach the age of 16 years. John A. West S. 7440. John A. West, of Salt Lake City, Utah, served from July 28, 1853, to September 3, 1853, as a private in Capt. C. Hancock's Company of Cavalry, Nauvoo Legion Utah Volunteers, and while so serving took part in the Utah Indian War. He is at present in receipt of the pension of $20 per month provided for the veterans of the early Indian wars by the act of February 19, 1013. He was originally pensioned under the Indian war service act of July 27, 1892, and June 27, 1902, at the rate of $8 per month. (Certificate No. 6406.) Soldier is 86 years of age and, as the evidence shows, practically helpless and in very poor circumstances. Accompanying the bill is affidavit of Dr. William Anderson, dated December 11, 1916, who says as follows: In October of this year I was called to attend upon and examine Mr. John A. West. I found him suffering from an obstruction of the bowels and also from a double rupture or hernia, which he still has, both of which, together with his advanced age of 86 years, rendered him then and still render him totally unfit for manual labor. In addition he has a weak heart with arteriosclerosis. His condition is such as to demand and require constant care and attention from one or more attendants, night and day. Evidence of neighbors shows that soldier is in very feeble health and most of the time confined to his bed; also that he is very poor and with no other support than the pension he is now receiving, namely, $20 per month. This committee report the bill favorably and recommend an increase of pension to $30 per month. Joseph J. Meyers S. 7517. Joseph J. Meyers, of Salt Lake City, Utah, served as a private in Battery A, Battalion Utah Volunteer Light artillery, War with Spain. The official records show that he enlisted June 20, 1898, and was honorably discharged August 16, 1899; also that he was treated July 13 and 14, 1898, for diarrhea; September 1 to 3, 1898, for malarial fever; June 15, 1899, for chronic otitis media right ear; June 15 to 19, 1899, for chronic suppurative otitis media, double: and June 28 and 29 and July 1 to 7, 1899, for chronic otitis media, right ear. On his examination preliminary to discharge soldier declared that he was suffering deafness incurred at Manila, P. I., in October, 1898; his captain certified to the same effect and the Army surgeon reported that after physical examination he found soldier suffering from otitis media, both ears, incurred in line of duty Soldier made claim for pension December 2, 1903, alleging in his declaration that at Manila and other battles he contracted total deafness of right ear from concussion. The claim was admitted and he was pensioned by certificate No. 1099875 for disease of right ear at $6 per month. He made claim for increase December 19, 1907, alleging "increased disabilities also by reason of left ear being affected which makes it almost impossible for me to hear or understand what is said to me at short distance." The Claim for increase was rejected April 1, 1908, on the ground of no increase in pensioned disability to warrant a higher rate, alleging affection of left ear not claimed as a result, nor of service origin. Soldier, now 55 years of age, was last officially examined February 6, 1908, by an expert aurist who reported him as having severe deafness of right ear, being able to hear loud conversation at 1 foot but not at 3 feet; that with left ear he could hear ordinary conversation at 15 feet, but not at 20 feet. Accompanying the bill is affidavit of Dr. M. R. Strong, dated December 15, 1916, who says that after physical examination he finds hearing in soldier's right ear entirely destroyed; that a chronic enteritis prevails in the bowels, which is periodically aggravated by colds and irritating foods which render him physically unable to look after his business for some time, when gradually he will get out and be around as usual until another attack brings up the old dysentery. Also evidence to the effect that soldier is a man of sobriety, industry, and good repute, is married, and has no property. This committee report the bill favorably and recommend that be granted an increase of $20 per month. [Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc. February 22, 1917. Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session Vol. No. B, 64th Congress, 2nd Session H. Rpt. 1532 Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Terry Wages]

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