Pension Application, Calvin J. & Elizabeth Holley, Logan Co, AR ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Contributed by: Jeanine Bass 7 May 2003 http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Plainview Arkansas May 10, 1916 Commissioner of Pensions Washington D C Dear Sir: One C J Holley is said to have served throughout the "War with Mexico" in the 2nd Regiment of tennessee Volunteers, under Col Haskell and to have afterward received a pension for said service. His heirs have the idea that he was entitled to a land grant for said services. Will you please inform me whether such land grant is due said soldier or his heirs. Yours very truly, (signature Geo E Floyd) (End of first document) To client advising her that her claim was this day admitted to commence December 31, 1887 the date that she was 62 years of age. Also advised that if she will furnish competent testimony showing that she was dependent January 29, 1887 her claim will be allowed to commence on that date. The evidence on file as to dependence not sufficient to warrant the granting of the pension on that ground. Client advised that she need not empoy any attorney. Blank affidavits sent with letter. (End of second document) No. 6294 Mexican War Act of January 29, 1887 Widow Elizabeth Holley, widow of Calvin J Holley Rank: Private Company: E T Ruth's Regiment: 2nd Tennessee Volunteers Rate per month: $8 Commencing: December 31, 1887 Certificate Dated: May 10, 1889 and mailed: May 15, 1889 Payable at: Knoxville Agency (End of fourth document) Paris, Arkansas April 15, 1889 Hon. James Tanner Washington D C Dear Sir - Please find herewith enclosed the application for Pension of Mrs. Elizabeth Holley widow of Calvin J Holley died who was a US soldier in the Mexican War. This is surely a very important case if the department could only know the financial condition of the applicant who is absolutely without support and is a pauper so declared by the courts of our county, copies of which records I could send you if I deemed it necessary. Some points the applicant don't remember about dates, but since the soldier Calvin J Holley obtained ______ War _____I suppose the case will stand prima facia. The community would feel very grateful if the case could be made special and passed on as soon as possible. If anything else is required you will please let us know. Respectfully, J H Wilkins for Mrs. Elizabeth Holley Paris, Logan County, Arkansas (End of fifth document) Mexican War Pensions Act of January 29, 1887 (Widow's Pension) Affidavit of Witness State of Arkansas, County of Logan, ss: Before me, a Justice of Peace in and for the county of Logan, on this 13th day of April, AD 1889, personally appeared Frederick J Moore, who, being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says: I have known Elizabeth Holley for the space of 28 years, and I was requested by said Elizabeth Holley to sign my name as a witness to the declaration for pension under the Act of January 29, 1887, sworn to by her on the 13th day of April, AD 1889; and that at her request I so signed my name as witness; that the said Elizabeth Holley is the identical person who signed the foregoing declaration, and who is therein described as the widow of Calvin J Holley, who enlisted in the Company of Captain Ruth, in the regiment commanded by Col. haskell, in the Mexican War, as in the said declaration set out; that the said Elizabeth Holley was married to the Said Calvin J Holley under the name of Elizabeth Wainscott, by Esquire Walton, on or about the 4th day of April, AD 1859, at Clarksville, in the State of Arkansas, and lived with her said husband from the date of her said marriage until the date of his death, to wit: the 18th Day of May, AD 1881, when the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, died at Ellsworth, in the State of Arkansas, and that there was at no time any legal impediment to the said marriage, and that the said Elizabeth Holley has not since remarried; that the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, claiming as widow; and these facts I swear to from knowledge obtained as follows: an intimate acquaintance with Calvin J Holley and other comrades or some 20 years and hearing them talk about these matters. No. 1: That the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, actually served sixty days with the Army or Navy of the United States in Mexico, or on the coast or frontier, or en route thereto, in the war with that Nation; that I swear to these facts from knowledge obtained as follows: Hearing Calvin J Holley and other comrades talk about these matters many times. No. 2: That the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, was actually engaged in a battle in said war, to wit: in the battle of Veracruz and was honorably discharged, and these facts I swear to from knowledge obtained as follows: Frequently hearing him and other comrades talk about the matters. No. 4: That the said Elizabeth Holley is dependent in whole or in part for her support, and I swear to the fact of dependence from knowledge obtained from and based upon the following facts: Living as neighbor to and being intimately acquainted with her. No. 5: That the said Elizabeth Holley is sixty-four years of age, having been born on or about the 31 day of December, AD 1825 in the State of Missouri, and that I swear to these facts from knowledge obtained as follows: Being intimately acquainted with her and hearing her say so. That I have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. (signature of F J Moore) Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of April, AD 1889. And I hereby certify that the person who signed and executed the foregoing affidavit to be a credible person, and of good repute for truth and veracity in the community in which he lives, and that the contents of the above were fully made known to him before signing. (signature J W Dorough, JP) (End of sixth document) Mexican War Pensions Act of January 29, 1887 Affidavit of Claimant's Infirmity, Etc. State of Arkansas County of Logan Before me, J W Dorough, a Justice of Peace, an officer duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes under the laws of the State of Arkansas personally appeared Elizabeth Holley, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, on this 13th day of April AD 1889, makes oath as follows: I am an applicant for pension as Widow of Soldier of the Mexican War, under the provisions of the Act of January 29, 1887, and being be reason of the infirmity of age unable to travel, the nearest court of record, or residence of any person having the custody of its seal, being Eight miles from my place of residence, I am unable to travel that distance, and therefore swear to my declaration before J W Dorough, a Justice of Peace, an officer duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes under the laws of the State of Arkansas. (signature Elizabeth Holley) Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 13th day of April, AD 1889. (signature J W Dorough JP) State of Arkansas County of Logan I certify that J W Dorough, before whom the acknowledgment of the foregoing affidavit was taken, is a duly qualified and acting Justice of the Peace, under the laws of the State of Arkansas, in and for the county of Logan, and that I am the officer under the laws of the State of Arkansas authorized to certify to his official character. (signature W R Cherry, Circuit Clerk) (End of seventh document) Mexican War Pension Act of January 29, 1887 Widow's Brief Claimant: Elizabeth Holley Soldier: Calvin J Holley PO: Paris Rank: Private County: Logan Company: E F Ruth's State: Arkansas Regiment: 2nd Tennessee Volunteers IMPORTANT DATES Enlisted: June 4, 1846 Claimant Born: December 31, 1825 Discharged: May 27, 1847 Age: 61 years Length of Service: 11 months, 24 days Date of Marriage to Soldier: April 4, 1859 Date of Soldier's Death: May 18, 1881 Record evidence of service in Bounty Land Claim: Adjutant General's Office confirms service Rate: Eight Dollars per month, commencing December 31, 1887 Submitted for Allowance May 8, 1889 Declaration filed: April 20, 1889 (End of eight document) In the matter of the petition of C J Holley to be declared a pauper. The petition of C J Holley for himself and Elizabeth Holley his wife to be declared paupers was filed and read to the Court. Thomas H Durham moved that the same C J Holley and his wife Elizabeth Holley be declared paupers which said motion was adopted and the same C J Holley and his wife Elizabeth Holley are accordingly declared paupers. O H P Hairston moved that the sum of forty dollars per annum each be allowed to the support of C J Holley and Elizabeth Holley. J F Depriest Esq moved to amend by substituting Fifty for Forty dollars which said amendment was adopted and the said C J Holley and Elizabeth Holley are accordingly be the Court allowed the sum of fifty dollars each per annum for their support. State of Arkansas County of Logan I W R Cherry Clerk of the Circuit Court and Exificio Clerk of the County Court within and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing mistrument of writing is a true and perfect copy of the order of the Logan County Court declaring C J Holley and Elizabeth Holley paupers and a charge upon the county made on the 7th day of October 1879 and appears of Record M Book "C" page 400 of Record of County Court and I further certify that the said Elizabeth Holley is still under the above order a charge upon the county and receives allowances, quarterly from said Logan County for her maintenanc and support. Witness my hand and official seal at office in Paris, Arkansas this June 14, 1889. (signature W R Cherry, Clerk) (End of ninth document) State of Arkansas County of Logan J H Wilkins being duly sworn according to law says I am 34 years of age. My name is John H Wilkins and my Post Office address is Paris, Logan County, ARkansas. I have known Mrs. Elizabeth Holley about 15 years. I also knew Calvin J Holley husband of Elizabeth Holley during his life time. I was Deputy County Clerk in December 1887 of this county. Mrs. Elizabeth Holley at that time was a pauper and a charge upon the county receiving from the county regular quarterly allowances for her support and maintenance. Mrs. Elizabeth Holley is still a pauper and a charge upon this county. (signature J H Wilkins) Subscribed and sworn to before me this June 14, 1889. (signature W R Cherry, Clerk) (End of tenth document) May 31, 1916 Mr. George E Floyd Plainview, Arkansas Sir: In response to your inquiry of the 10th instant, as to whether the heirs of Calvin J Holley, who, you state, served in the 2d Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers during the War with Mexico, are entitled to a military bounty-land warrant, youa re advised that in the absence of a formal application for bounty land based upon the said soldier's service the bureau can furnish no information regarding the matter. Very respectfully, (signature G M Saltzgaber, Commisioner) (End of eleventh document) January 8, 1917 Hon. H M Jacoway House of Representatives My dear Mr. Jacoway: Your letter of the 20th ultime, addressed to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, this city, was received in this bureau on the 30th ultime by reference, as it relates to the possible title to bounty land warrant of the heirs of Calvin J Holley, who served in Captain E T Ruth's Co., 2nd Tenn. Vols, during the Mexican War, and whose widow, Elizabeth Holley, was pensioned under the act of January 29, 1887, by certificate number 6294. In reply to your inquiry I have the honor to inform you that the heirs of Mr. Holley would have no title to bounty land warrant unelss they were under the age of twenty-one years on March 3, 1855, and as the widow was married to the soldier on April 4, 1859, it is obvious that they have no title to receive a bounty land warrant on account of the soldier's service. The correspondence which you transmitted is returned herewith. Very truly yours, G M Saltzgaber, Commissioner (End of twelfth document) U S Pension Agency Knoxville, Tennessee June 9, 1996 Hon D I Murphy Commissioner of Pensions Sir: I hereby report that the name of Elizabeth Holley, widow Calvin J private E F Ruth's Co 2 Tenn Vols, who was a pensioner on the rolls of this Agency, under Certificate No. 6294, and who was last paid at $8, to February 4, 1895, has been dropped because of death. Very respectfully, (signature D A Carpenter, Pension Agent) (End of thirteenth document) Mexican War Pensions Act of January 29, 1887 (Widow's Pension) Affidavit of Witness State of Arkansas County of Logan Before me, a Justice of Peace in and for the county of Logan, on this 13th day of April, AD 1889, personally appeared N M Harvard, who, being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says: I have known Elizabeth Holley for the space of 29 years, and I was requested by said Elizabeth Holley to sign my name as a witness to the declaration for pension under the Act of January 29, 1887, sworn to by her on the 13th day of April, AD 1889; and that at her request I so signed my name as witness; that the said Elizabeth Holley is the identical person who signed the foregoing declaration, and who is therein described as the widow of Calvin J Holley, who enclisted in the Company of Captain Ruth, in the regiment commanded by Col. Haskell, in the Mexican war, as in the said declaration set out; that the said Elizabeth Holley was married to the said Calvin J Holley under the name of Elizabeth Wainscott, by Esquire Walton, on or about the 4th day of April, AD 1859, at Clarksville, in the State of Arkansas, and lived with her said husband from the date of her said marriage until the date of his death, to wit: the 18th day of May, AD 1881, when the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, died at Ellsworth, in the State of Arkansas, and that there was at no time any legal impediment to the said marriage, and that the said Elizabeth Holley has not since remarried; and these facts I swear to from knowledge obtained as follows: from an intimate acquaintance with the parties and comrades and hearing them talk about these matters. No. 1: That the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, actually served sixty days with the Army or Navy of the United State in Mexico, or on the coast or frontier, or en route thereto, in the war with that Nation; that I swear to these facts from knowledge obtained as follows: An intimated acquaintance with him and other comrades and hearing him frequently talk about these matters. No. 2: That the said Calvin J Holley, husband of said Elizabeth Holley, was actually engaged in a battle in said war, to wit: in the battle of Veracruz, and these facts I swear to from knowledge obtained as follows: Hearing himself and comrades frequently talk about these matter. No. 4: That the said Elizabeth Holley is dependent in whole or in part for her support, and I swear to the fact of dependence from knowledge obtained from and based upon the following facts: Living neighbor to and being intimately acquainted with her. No. 5: That the said Elizabeth Holley is sixty-four years of age, having been born on or about the 31 day of December, AD 1825, in the State of Missouri, and that I swear to these facts from knowledge obtained as follows: Being intimately acquainted with her and hearing her say so. That I have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. (signature N M Howard) Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of April, AD 1889. And I hereby certify that the person who signed and executed the foregoing affidavit to be a credible person, and of good repute for truth and veracity in the community in which he lives, and that the contents of the above were fully made known to him before signing. (signature J W Dorough JP) (End of fourteenth document) Mexican War Pensions Act of January 29, 1887 Declaration of Widow for Pension State of Arkansas County of Logan On this 13th day of April, AD 1889, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in the State of Arkansas, a resident of Paris in the county of Logan, in the State of Arkansas who being by me first duly sworn according to law, deposes and says: I am the widow of Calvin J Holley, who served under the name of Calvin J Holley, as a private in the company commanded by Captain Ruth, in the Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. Haskell in the war with Mexico; that my said husband enlisted as Memphis, Tennessee on or about June, AD 1846, for the term of one year; that I was married under my name of Elizabeth Wainscot to my said husband, by Esquire Walton on or about the 4th day of April, AD 1859 at Clarksville, in the State of Arkansas, and lived with my said husband from the date of my said marriage until the day of his death, to wit: the 18th day of May, AD 1881, when my said husband died at Ellsworth in the State of Arkansas, and that I have not since remarried; that there was never any legal impediment to said marriage. No. 1: That my said husband, being duly enlisted as aforesaid, actually served sixty days with the Army and Navy of the United States in Mexico, or on the coast or frontier thereof, or en route thereto, in the war with that Nation, which service was as follows: Enlisted at Memphis, went from there to Matamoras, along the Rio Grande, thence to Veracruz, then across the Gulf to New Orleans, LA and was honorably discharged at New Orleans, LA in AD 1847. No. 2: That my said husband was actually engaged in a battle in said war, to wit: in the battle Veracruz, Monterey, and others and was honorably discharged at New Orleans, AD 1847. No. 4: That I am 64 years of age, adn that I was born on or about the 31st day of December, AD 1825 in the State of Missouri. No. 6: That I claim pension by reason of the fact that I am dependent in whole or in part for my support upon Charity of the Public, not legally bound for my support, and that such dependence as alleged consists in this, to wit: Have no means of support. That I have never heretofore made application for pension or bounty-land. That since the death of my said husband I have resided at the following places, to wit: Logan County near Ellsworth, Arkansas. That I am not laboring under any political disabilities imposed by the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (signature Elizabeth Holley) Witnesses: F J Moore, N M Howard State of Arkansas County of Logan Before me J W Dorough, a Justice of the Peace, on this 13th day of April, AD 1889, personally appeared Elizabeth Holley known to me as the person described in, and who executed and signed the foregoing declaration for pension as widow of Calvin J Holley, and whom I certify to be a credible person and of good report for truth and veracity in the community in which she lives, who being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says that she has read the foregoing declaration and knows the contents thereof, and that all of the facts therein stated are true. (signature J W Dorough, JP) (End of fifteenth document)