Sebastian Co, AR Civil War Invalid & Widow's Applications *********************************************************** Submitted by: Unknown < > Date: 25 Apr 2006 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Military Service James M. Blythe Southern Division Bureau of Pensions March 25, 1899 No. 876,180 Sir: It is alleged that the above-named man enlisted February 10, 1863, and served in Co. I, 1st Reg't Ark. Cav., and was discharged at Fayetteville, Ark., on Aug. 24, 1865. The War Department will please furnish an official statement in this case, showing date of enrollment and date and mode of termination of service. Very respectfully, Andrew Davidson War Department Record and Pension Division Mar. 26, 1891 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions: The rolls show that James Blythe mentioned in the preceding indorsement, was enrolled Feb. 10, 1863, and MO (mustered out) with Co. Aug. 23, 1865. Name James M. Blythe has not been found on the roll files I 1st Ark. Cav. By authority of the Secretary of War: F.C. Ainsworth Southern Div. Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C. March 29, 1899 Respectfully referred to the Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department, requesting a full military and medical history of the soldier and a (?) enlistment. Record and Pension Office War Department Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions James Blythe, Co. I, 1st Reg't Ark. Cav. Was enrolled Feb. 10, 1863, and M O with Co. Aug. 23, 1865; not found as James M. Blythe; age at enrollment 20 yrs.; From Feb. 10, 1863, to Aug. 23, 1865; he held the rank of private. The medical records show him treated as follows: no record found. By authority of the Secretary of War: F.C. Ainsworth March 30, 1899 Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C. April 1, 1899 Southern Division Cert. # 741,737 James M. Blythe Co. I, 1st Reg't Ark. Cav. Sir: In your above-entitled claim for pension you are reqired to answer the following questions in the blank spaces prepared for that purpose, and return the same to this Bureau at your earliest convenience. James M. Blythe Crescent, Ark. First. What is your actual residence at the present time, and what is the nearest post-office? Answer. 8 miles south of Fort Smith; Post office Crescent, Sebastian Co., Ark. Second. Where did you live from Aug. 23, 1865 until you moved to your present place of residence, and what were the dates of the various changes? If in a city, state name of street and number of house. Answer. I was discharged at Fayetteville, Ark.; lived 2 miles south of Fayetteville 12 years; moved to Van Buren, "Crofford" Co., Ark., 1877; "staid their" 4 years; "Jeny Lind", 8; on "mi" present place 10 years. Third. What post-office was nearest to each of your several places of residence? Answer. Mi 1st post-office Fayetteville, Washington Co., Ark.; 2nd Van Buren, Crofford Co., Ark.; 3rd Jeny Lind, Sebastian Co., Ark. Fourth. What has been your occupation since Aug. 23, 1865? Answer. Farming all the time. Fifth. Have you ever been known by any name other than that given in your application for pension? If so, state it in full. Answer. No other name. Sixth. Were you in the military or naval service under a name different from that by which you are now known? If so, state what it was. Answer. I never served under a name different from that by which I am now known. Date of reply, April 10th, 1899 James M. Blythe General Affidavit State of Arkansas County of Sebastian In the matter of Pension Claim of James M. Blythe, Co. I 1st Ark Cav Vols. increase pension No 741717. On this the 19th day of April, 1899, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths, James M. Blythe, aged 58 years, a resident of Crescent, in the County of Sebastian, and State of Arkansas, whose post office address is Crescent, Ark, who being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid claim, as follows: As claimant in the above mentioned claim for increase I have the following to say as to my past service - I never belonged to any organized Confederate troop during the late rebellion. Joined Federal Army the 10th Jan, 1863 - left Arkansas in 1862 in order to keep out Confederate Army as there was danger of being conscripted in the Confederate Service. and further declares that I am as claimant interest in said case and not concerned in its prosecution. James M. Blythe Act of April 19, 1908 Declaration for Widow's Pension State of Arkansas County of Sebastian On this 9th day of Dec., A.D. one thousand nine hundred and 10 personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, Mrs. Charity Blythe, aged 66 years, a resident of Ft. Smith, R.F.D. # 2, Ark., county of Sebastian, State of Arkansas, who being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain pension under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved April 19, 1908. That she is the widow of James M. Blythe, who was enrolled under the name of James M. Blythe, at Fayetteville, Ark., on the 9th day of Feb., 1863, as a private in Co. I, 1st Ark. Cavl., and honorably discharged 23rd day Aug., 1865, having served ninety days or more during the late civil war. That she was married under the name of Charity Jenkins to said soldier at Springfield, Mo., on the 21st day of May, 1863, by A.J. North; that there was no legal barrier to the marriage; that she had not been previously married; that the soldier had not been previously married, and that neither she nor said soldier married otherwise than stated above. That said soldier died 13th Nov., 1910, at Ft. Smith, Ark, R.F.D. # 2; that she was not divorced from him, and that she has not remarried since his death. That the said soldier left no children; that she had not heretofore applied for pension. That her post-office address is Ft. Smith, R. F. D. # 2, county of Sebastian, State of Ark. Attest: Lemuel Howard Mrs. Charity Blythe A.J. Blythe Her Mark Also personally appeared L.B. Howard, residing in Ft. Smith, R.F.D. #2, Ark., and A.J. Blythe, residing in Ft. Smith, R.F.D. # 2, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say they were present and saw Charity Blythe, the claimant, sign her name (or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and with their acquaintance with her of 47 years and 23 years, respectively, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. L.B. Howard A.J. Blythe Subscribed and sworn before me this 9th day of Dec., 1910; and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. T.A. Massey Notary Public No. 723,157, Original United States of America Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions It is hereby certified that in conformity with the laws of the United States Charity Blythe, widow of James M. Blythe, who was a Private, Co. I, 1st Regt. Arkansas Vol. Cavalry is entitled to a pension at the rate of twelve dollars per month, to commence on the twelfth day of December, 1910, and to continue during her widowhood. Given at the Department of the Interior this nineteenth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-fifth. Walter Fisher Secretary of the Interior Application for Reimbursement State of Arkansas County of Sebastian On this twelfth day of June, A.D. 1917, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Geo. W. Blythe, aged 28 years, a resident of Ft. Smith, Ark., County of Seb., State of Arkansas, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain reimbursement from the accrued pension for the expenses paid (or obligation incurred) in the last sickness and burial of Charity Blythe, who was a pensioner of the United States by certificate No. 723157, on account of the service of James M. Blythe, private in Co. I First Regt. Ark. Vol. Cavalry. That pension was last paid to Charity Blythe, Feby. 4, 1917. George W. Blythe