CIVIL WAR WIDOW'S PENSION APP. - SARAH ELIZABETH (LOWE) BAKER, WIDOW OF CASPER HOWELL BAKER,
Alachua Co., FL

File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Janet Steadham, 
(steaddanjan@earthlink.net)

*******************************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for 
profit or publication 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.

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

*******************************************************************************************

CONTRIBUTOR'S NOTE:
I have no relationship to anyone mentioned in the below file.
*******************************************************************************************

Application No. A00531

Widow's Pension 
(FORM A)
Application To Be Signed By Widow

I, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Baker, do hereby make application to the State Board of Pensions for
an annuity upon the following grounds:

I am the widow of Casper Howell Baker, deceased, who departed this life on the second day of
May A. D. 1900 in the county of Alachua in the State of Florida.  I was married to him on the
seventh day of January A. D., 1874 in the county of Tallapoosa in the State of Alabama.  I 
have not remarried since the death of my said husband Casper Howell Baker.

My husband, the said Casper Howell Baker enlisted and served in the Capt. Kendrick's Company
"E" service of the Finnigan's Brigade Florida Volunteers during the war between the States of
the United States, and he did not desert the Confederate or State service.

I was a resident of the State of Florida on January 1st, 1890 and have since continuously 
resided in this State, that I do not own property, real or personal to the value of eight 
hundred dollars.

Her X mark:  Sarah Elizabeth Baker
Gainesville, Fla. Post Office

State of Florida,}
County of Alachua}

Before me Samuel H. Wienges Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State, 
personally came Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Baker who being be me duly sworn deposes and says, that
she is the applicant named in the foregoing petition and that the statements therein made are
true.

Her X mark:  Sarah Elizabeth Baker

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st day of January A. D. 1906.

S. H. Wienges
Clerk Circuit Court

Questions To Be Answered By Applicant

(FORM B)

State of Florida,}
Alachua County}

On this 31st day of January A. D., 1906 before me Samuel H. Wienges, Clerk of the Circuit 
Court in and for said County and State, personally came Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Baker, who being
by me first duly sworn deposes and says, that the answers written herein to the following 
questions, numbered from 1 to 21, inclusive, are true:

 1.  What is your name, and where and when were you born?  Sarah Elizabeth Baker, Troup 
     County Georgia, January 10th 1843
 2.  Are you the widow of?  Yes am the widow of Casper Howell Baker
 3.  When and where you married?  was married to him on the seventh day of January 1874 in 
     Tallapoosa Co. Ala
 4.  When and where did he die?  He died in Alachua County Fla. on the second day of May 
     A. D. 1900
 5.  Have you remarried since the death of your husband?  No
 6.  When and in what company or organization did your husband enlist during the war between 
     the States?  in Capt. Kendricks' Company "E" Florida Volunteers Finnigans Brigade
 7.  Did he desert that service?  not that I know of
 8.  Of what State and county are you a resident?  Alachua County Florida
 9.  How long have you resided in this State?  fourteen (14) years
10.  From what date have you continuously resided in this State?  about Dec. 1892
11.  Have you lived in any other State than Florida?  I have continuously lived in Fla. since
     1892
12.  If you answer yes, give name of the State or States and when you resided there?  No
13.  Do you own any real or personal property?  None
14.  What is the total value of your real and personal property?  None
15.  Of what does your real and personal property consist?  Do not own any
16.  Have you any income from any source and how much yearly?  None
17.  Of whom is your family composed, state names and ages?  Only myself
18.  What is their earning capacity?  None
19.  Are they able to provide for your support? 
20.  Have you conveyed or disposed of any property, in any manner within the last two years?
     Did not have any to dispose.
21.  If so state its value and to whom conveyed?

Her X mark:  Sarah Elizabeth Baker

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 31st day of January A. D., 1906.

S. H. Wienges
Clerk of the Court

Questions For Witnesses

(FORM C)

State of Florida,}
County of Alachua}

Before me Samuel H. Wienges Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said county and State, 
personally came A. McDavid and Daniel Chesser who appeared as witnesses in support of the 
application of Mrs. Sarah E. Baker for an annuity under the laws of the State of Florida, 
providing for annuities for widows of deceased Confederate Soldiers and Sailors of the State
of Florida, and said witnesses after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following 
questions, each for himself deposes and says:

 1.  What is your name and where do you reside?  A. McDavid, near LaCrosse Alachua County 
     Florida.  Daniel Chesser near LaCrosse Alachua Co. Florida
 2.  How long have you known the applicant?  about six years, don't know her
 3.  Where does she reside and how long has she been a resident of this State?  She lives in
     Gainesville and has resided in the state about eight years. answer of McDavid and Chesser
     respectively
 4.  Were you acquainted with her husband?  Yes (answered by both)
 5.  Where and to whom was he married?  I do not know (answered by both)
 6.  Is he dead, if so, when and where did he die?  Yes died in north Gainesville, Fla. 6  
     years ago (answered same by both)
 7.  Was he a Soldier or Sailor in the State or Confederate service during the war between 
     the States?  soldier (same answered by both)
 8.  When did he enlist and in what organization?  sometime in year 1861, Kendricks Co. "E" 
     Florida Volunteers, Finnigans Brigade (same answered by both)
 9.  When was he discharged and for what cause?  discharged at close of war, (same answer by
     both)
10.  Where and in what campaigns did he perform regular military duty?  In Finnigans Brigd. 
     in Florida, Georgia and Virginia (same answer by both)
11.  Were either or both of you members of the same Company or Regiment with him?  I was a 
     member same company.  I was member same command.
12.  Did he desert the Confederate or State service?  No (same answer by both)
13.  Were either of you with the command when it surrendered?  I was, (both answer same)
14.  Was Casper Howell Baker, the husband of the applicant present when the command surrendered? 
     No (same answer by both)
15.  If not where was he?  don't know
16.  When did he leave his command?  In Virginia
17.  Have you any personal or financial interest in the granting of this annuity to the 
     applicant?  none whatever same answer by both

A. McDavid
Daniel Chesser

Sworn to and subscribed before me this thirtieth day of January A. D., 1906.

S. H. Wienges
Clerk Circuit Court

(FORM D)

State of Florida,}
Alachua County}

I, Samuel H. Wienges Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State do hereby 
certify that the witnesses named in the foregoing affidavit are reliable and trustworthy 
persons and their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Circuit Court this 31st 
day of January A. D., 1906.

S. H. Wienges
Clerk Circuit Court

(FORM E)

We, the undersigned members of the Board of County Commissioners in and for Alachua County, 
Florida, do hereby certify that at a meeting of the said Board County Commissioners held on 
the sixth day of February A. D., 1906, foregoing application for an annuity in behalf of Mrs.
Sarah Elizabeth Baker was presented to the said Board and the same was thereupon duly 
investigated.

We do further certify that in our opinion the said application is just, and should be granted.

J. G. Dampier, Chairman
J. G. Osteen
F. F. Paulling
J. F. Townsend
C. C. Pedrick
County Commissioners

By the County Commissioners, Attest:

S. H. Wienges
Clerk Circuit Court

*******************************************************************************************

3755
Claim for Pension
By
Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Baker
Of Gainesville Florida
Widow Of
Casper Howell Baker
Of
Capt. Kendricks Company
"E" Finnigans Brigade
Filed In Executive Department
Feby. 17 1906
Approved
Apr 12 1906
C. H. Dickinson
Secretary of Board
Pay from Apr 12 1906 $96.00 per annum

*******************************************************************************************

Widow's Pension Claim
Under The Act Of 1909

State of Florida,}
County of Alachua}

On this twenty first day of July A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and nine personally appeared 
before me, a notary public in and for the County and State aforesaid Mrs. Sarah E. Baker a 
resident of Gainesville County of Alachua State of Florida, who being duly sworn according 
to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain a pension under the provisions of
Chapter 5885, Laws of Florida, approved June 7, 1909.

That she is the widow of Casper H. Baker who was enlisted under the name of Casper H. Baker,
on the ____ day of ____, 1864, in Company "E" 10th Florida Volunteers Regiment of the State 
of Florida and who was honorably discharged at ____, 186_, on account of close of war.

That she was lawfully married to the said Casper H. Baker under the name of Sarah E. Lowe in
the County of Tallapoosa, State of Alabama on the ____ day of January, 1853, and that she 
was not divorced from him and that she has not remarried since his death, which occurred on 
the 2nd day of May, 1900, in the County of Alachua State of Florida.

That she is a resident of Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, and has continuously resided
in the State of Florida seventeen (17) years.

That she does not own property, including real estate, personal property, mortgages or other
collateral securities, stocks or bonds in this or any other State to exceed in value the sum
of Five Thousand Dollars.

That the following is a true and correct statement of all property owned by me in this or any 
other State:

Does not own any real or personal property

That she has heretofore been granted a pension from the State of Florida under Certificate 
No. 3755.  That she is not a pensioner of any other State.

That her Postoffice address is Gainesville County of Alachua, State of Florida.

Her X mark:  Sarah E. Baker

Attest:

(1) Ferdinand Bayer
(2) Nelle C. DaCosta


Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st day of July A. D. 1909; and I hereby certify that 
the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant before 
swearing; and that I have no interest direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

Ferdinand Bayer
Notary Public
State of Florida at Large

(FORM B)

State of Florida,}
County of Alachua}

We, the undersigned citizens of Gainesville Alachua County, State of Florida, do hereby 
certify that we personally know Mrs. Sarah E. Baker, who is an applicant for a pension under
the Laws of Florida, and that from our own personal knowledge, and from the best information
available, we believe that the applicant does not own property to exceed in value the sum 
of $5,000, and that the statements made by her relative to the value of her property are 
true and correct.

O. B. Bailey
H. B. Saunders

Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st day of July 1909.

Ferdinand Bayer
Notary Public
State of Florida at Large

*******************************************************************************

Report of County Commissioners

We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of Alachua, Florida, do hereby
report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the foregoing 
application of Sarah E. Baker for a pension under the Laws of Florida, was investigated by 
us; that we are satisfied that the applicant does not own property to exceed the value of 
$5,000, and that the representations made in the petition and affidavits are true and that a
pension should be granted to the applicant.

Witness our hands this 4 day of Aug., A. D. 1909.

(1) J. G. Dampier, Chairman
(2) C. J. Summers
(3) J. F. Townsend
(4) J. W. May
(5) O. Mannon
County Commissioners

By the County Commissioners.  Attest:

S. H. Wienges
Clerk Circuit Court

*******************************************************************************************

Former Claim, No. 3755
Application No. 15565
Pensioner No. 4067

Claim For Pension
By
Mrs. Sarah E. Baker
Of Gainesville Postoffice
Alachua County
Widow Of
Casper H. Baker
Filed In Pension Department
Aug 11 1909
Approved
Sep 9 1909
With pay from Jul 1 1909
At the rate of $120 per annum
Secretary of Board
This pension was increased to $150 per year on July 1st 1913 a/c husband enlisted in Florida.

*******************************************************************************************

Gainesville, Fla.
Jan 8 1910

Hon. Jefferson Bell
Secretary Board Pensions
Tallahassee, Fla.

Sir

I want to know why I don't recieve [sic] my pension it has been this makes 2 payments I have
not recieved [sic] my no. of pension is 15565 please look after this for me as I am a poor 
old lady with nothing to live on but my pension.  Many thanks to you I enclose a stamp for 
answer do let me hear at once.  I have no one to care for me.  I  do need the pension so very 
bad.  Many thanks to you.

Very respectfully

Mrs. Sarah E. Baker
Gainesville, Fla.

*******************************************************************************

Pension file-B
Claim 15565

February 11, 1910

Mrs. Sarah E. Baker,
Gainesville, Florida

Dear Madam:

Replying to your recent letter relative to your pension claim:  Owing to the fact that one 
man who certified to your husband's service is under a charge of desertion, the Board of 
Pensions will not accept his affidavit in a pension claim.  The Comptroller tried to get a 
record from the War Department to cover this objection but the request was returned with the 
statement that no record could be found, but I find that there was an error in the statement
of the company and regiment and another request for the record has been made.  As soon as we
hear from it I hope to be able to give you more definite information in this matter.

Yours very truly,

Secretary

*******************************************************************************

State Board of Pensions:                                  No. 15565
Governor
Comptroller
Treasurer

Department Of Pensions,
State of Florida
Tallahassee

February 11, 1910

Hon. F. C. Ainsworth
The Adjutant General
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

Caspar [sic] H. Baker, who is an applicant for a pension under the laws of Florida claims to
have been a member of Company E, 10th Florida Infantry, Regiment, Confederate States Army.

Please furnish me with the record of this soldier.

Yours very truly,

A. C. Croom
Comptroller

*******************************************************************************

War Department
The Adjutant General's Office
Washington

February 16, 1910

Respectfully returned to the
Comptroller,
State of Florida,
Tallahassee

The records show that one C. H. Baker (name also borne as Chas. H. Baker, but not found as 
Caspar H. Baker), a private, Company E, 10th Florida Infantry, Confederate States Army, 
enlisted September 14th (or 28th), 1861.  On the roll of the company for September and October, 
1864, (the last on which borne), he is shown to have been discharged October 30, 1864, by 
reason of being over age and having served out his time.  No later record of him has been 
found.

F. C. Ainsworth
The Adjutant General