CIVIL WAR PENSION APP. - AARON J. HIGGINBOTHAM, LEVY CO., FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jane Gibbs, (MGibbs1032@aol.com) ******************************************************************************* 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 ******************************************************************************* Application No. 02000 State of Florida,} Levy County,} We, the Board of County Commissioners of said County, Certify that Aaron Higginbotham (from the evidence presented before us) was a regularly enlisted member of Captain John C. Chambers Company A, of the 3rd Regiment of Florida Volunteers, and served as such during the late war; that he is unable to labor and support himself by reason of wounds received in the line of duty while so serving; that he is now a citizen of this County and State; that he is not receiving a pension from any other State or from the United States, and that the pension by the Act approved February 16th, 1885, "To Provide an Annuity for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors of the State of Florida," is necessary for his maintenance and support. Done at Bronson the County Site, this 6th day of July 1885. Wm. Batty, Chairman O. H. Highsmith D. P. Newsom W. R. Medlin Isham Stiffes(?) County Commissioners J. M. Barco Clerk ****************************************************************************** Certificate of County Commissioners, In The Case Of: Aaron Higginbotham Applicant For Pension. Filed, Adjutant-General's Office, July 9th, 1885 Levy Co. Approved by the Board, July 22nd, 1885. D. Lang, Adjutant General Secretary of Board ******************************************************************************* Application No. 02000 SOLDIER'S APPLICATION FOR PENSION State of Florida,} Levy County.} On this 13th day of Sept 1____, personally appeared before me, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said county and State, Aaron J. Higginbotham who being by me duly sworn, declares he is the identical person who enlisted on or about the Sept____, 1863, in Captain John Chamber's Company, county of Hernando, Bayport, in the State of Florida, and that while in actual service in said company, 9th Fla., Regiment, of the State of Florida, and in line of duty as such soldier, at Bay Port, State of Florida, on or about the April day of ____, 1864, "I was wounded by the bursting of a cannon in the right arm so that it had to be amputated between the elbow and shoulder; my eye sight was likewise impaired at the same time to the extent that I've been able to see but little since then, and at the same time I was shot in my arm. I was also shot through the leg". and that as the direct result of said injuries, thus received in line of duty during the war, I am now unable to gain a livelihood by manual labor; that I have continuously since January 1st, 1880, been a citizen of Florida; that neither I, nor my wife, nor both combined, own real and personal property to the value of $600 in this state or any other State, and have not purposely disposed of our property for the purpose of availing ourselves of the provisions of the pension laws of Florida; that I am not otherwise enabled, or in a position to earn, and have no income from any source sufficient for, a livelihood, and that I have no children or other relation able so to do, and whose legal duty it is to support me, and that I never deserted the Confederate service, and that I received a pension from no other source. Aaron J. Higginbotham P.O. Address Chiefland Sworn and subscribed before me this 13th day of September, 1899 Perry M. Colson Clerk Circuit Court, Levy County ******************************************************************************* We do solemnly swear that we personally knew Aaron J. Higginbotham the above applicant for pension during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865, that we served with him in Capt. John C. Chamber's Company, 9th Florida Regiment, and know of our own knowledge that he did receive the injuries set forth in the above application at the time and place claimed, and that the disability therefore claimed to exist does exist. M. A. Beck, Late of A Company, 9th Florida Reg. James Collier (To be subscribed by two persons.) Sworn and subscribed by me this 21st day of September, 1899. J. W. Rogers Notary Public, State Florida at Large We do solemnly swear that we are familiar with the value of all property owned by Aaron J. Higginbotham and his wife, directly or indirectly, in this or any other State, and that the actual combined value thereof does not exceed $600; that they have not disposed of any property for the purpose of availing themselves of the provisions of the pension laws of Florida, and that he is not physically or otherwise able, or in a position to earn a livelihood, and has no income from any source sufficient for a livelihood, and no children or other relation able so to do, whose legal duty it is to support him. J. S. Hardee P.O. Address Chiefland D.H. Arline P.O. Address Chiefland, Fla. Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st day of September, 1899. J. W. Rogers, Notary Public State of Florida at Large We, the undersigned physicians, residents of the State and county aforesaid, do solemnly swear that we have carefully examined Mr. Aaron J. Higginbotham, who is personally known to us to be the person above applying for a pension under the laws of Florida, and find "he has lost near the whole of his right arm up near the shoulder. It has also impaired his eyesight that he cannot tell any one five feet away and has to keep some one with him to guide him all the time and care for him. He also has wound of right leg where a piece of shell passed through and has disabled him from walking, walk with a hop to it on account of contraction of the muscles. Jas M. Jackson, M. D. Residence Bronson, Fla. Wm. D. Hieus(?), M. D. Residence Bronson, Levy County, Fla. Sworn and subscribed before me this 13th day of September, 1899. Perry M. Colson, Clerk By O. M. Jacobie(?), D.C. I certify that the above affidavits are genuine; that all the affiants are persons of respectability and good reputation, and that their statements are worthy of belief; that the attesting officers are duly authorized to attest said affidavits, and that their signatures thereto are genuine. Perry M. Colson, Clerk of Circuit Court We, the undersigned County Commissioners of Levy County, Florida, do hereby certify that we have carefully investigated the above application for pension made by Aaron J. Higginbotham and are satisfied that the conditions and alleged facts therein stated are true and correct, and that he is legally and lastly entitled to the pension provided by the act, approved June 2, 1899. This Oct. 2nd 1899. E. C. Price, Chairman E. Walker W. D. Finlayson J. M. Stephens C. W. McDorcy(?) County Commissioners By the County Commissioners, Attest: Perry M. Colson, Clerk Circuit Court ****************************************************************************************** Claim for Pension By Aaron J. Higginbotham of Levy County Late of Capt. Chamber's Company, 9th Fla. Regiment Approved: by the Board Nov. 9/99 for pay from Sept. 30/99 at the rate of $80.00 per year D. Lang, Secretary ******************************************************************************** SOLDIER'S APPLICATION FOR PENSION 1st page blank I do solemnly swear that I was born on the 27 day of September, A. D. 1832 in Alachua County, State of Florida and that I am now past the age of sixty-five (65) years; that I was bona-fide citizen of this State on January, A.D. 1885, and have continuously resided in this State since that date; that I do not own property, real or person, or real and personal, to the value of eight hundred dollars ($800), and that I am by reason of age incapable of providing a living by manual labor for myself. Aaron J. Higginbotham P.O. Box Chiefland, Fla. Sworn and subscribed before me this 27th day of January, 1902. A. P. Hardee, Clerk Circuit Court Levy County Page 3 blank Claim for Pension Pension #72 Approved for increase at the rate of $96.00 per annum Approved: March 22, 1902 C. H. Dickinson, Sec of Bd ****************************************************************************************** APPLICATION FOR PENSION Under Laws of Florida (Form A) For Use Of Applicant For Pension I, A. J. Higginbotham, do hereby make application to the State Board of Pensions, for a pension to be granted to me under the act of 1907, Chapter 5600 of the Laws of the State of Florida, upon the following grounds: I enlisted and served in the military service of Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States and that I did not desert the Confederate or State service; that I was a bona-fide citizen of this State for ten years prior to the date of this application and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Florida, and that I (Here state fully the disability under which the applicant claims a pension, whether he lost in service a limb or limbs, eye or eyes, or whether he is permanently disabled by reason of wounds received in service, or disease, to gain a livelihood by manual labor, or whether he is over 60 year of age and is by reason of age incapable of providing a living for himself.) "I am 80 years old the 7th of next September. I was wounded in 3 battles and my thigh was badly broken up and my skull fractured and my arm was broken. I was discharged and soon as I got able to I enlisted again and I remained in the war until the end now I am not able to do manuel labor." I further represent to the State Board of Pensions, that I am not receiving a pension from any other State. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ____ day of ____ A. D., 19___. His X mark: A. J. Higginbotham Witness: John W. Hogan G. G. Dabner(?) (Form B) State of Florida,} Levy County} On this 12 day of August A.D., 1907 before me a Notary Public, personally came A. J. Higginbotham, who being by me first duly sworn deposes and says, that the statements made in the foregoing application for a pension in his own behalf are true: This deponent further says that the answers written herein to the following questions, numbered from 1 to 12 inclusive are true: 1. What is your full name, and where do you reside? "Aaron James Higginbotham" 2. In what State and County were you born and when? "Alachua Co., Florida" 3. How long have you been a citizen of the State of Florida? "nearly 80 years" 4. When and where and in what organization did you enlist during the war between the States: "In 1861, Jacksonville, Fla. Company G" 5. Give the name of your Captain at time of your enlistment. "George W. Calls" 6. Give the name of your Captain at the time of your discharge from service. "Lee Butler was acting". 7. Give the name of your Battalion or Regimental Commander both at time of your enlistment and discharge from service. "Gen. Ward and Gen. Perry at the close". 8. If you enlisted in the navy give name of your Commanding officer, date of enlistment and place of service. (Left blank) 9. If discharged prior to the termination of war, state place and cause of discharge. "I was discharged on account of my wounds in Sept 1863 and I got better and enlisted again under Captain Chambers and served until surrender". 10. If you lost an eye or limb during your service in the war, state when and where and in what engagement you sustained such injury. (Left Blank) 11. If you received a wound during your service in the war, which permanently disables you, state when and where you received the wound. "In Virginia, Richmond, Bull Run and Getisburg" 12. Describe the wound and state how it affects you - "my sckull was fractured and it has weakend my eyes and ingerd my mind my right thigh was broken and my arm was broken". His X mark: A. J. Higginbotham, Applicant Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of August, A. D. 1907. R. S. Tucker, Notary Public Forms C & D are blank Form F State of Florida,} County of Alachua} Before me personally came Dr. O. S. Clyatt, who being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is a physician, that he is a resident of the State and County aforesaid. That he personally knows A. J. Higginbotham, the applicant named in the foregoing application for a pension. This deponent further says that he has carefully examined the said applicant's physical condition and finds: (Here state nature, character and extent of wounds, disease or disability.) "Him with right arm off above elbow. Right femur, has been broken twice which has caused shortness of leg about 6 in. & almost totally blind" This deponent further says that the said A. J. Higginbotham is permanently and totally disabled by reason of such wounds from earning a livelihood for himself by manual labor. O. S. Clyatt, Physician Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of August, A. D. 1907. Samuel B. Hardee, Notary Public My com. expires Feb. 12th, 1908