CIVIL WAR PENSION APP. - DANIEL J. MATTHEWS, OKALOOSA CO., FL

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Application No. 22556
(Form A)
State of Florida, County of Okaloosa

On this 28th day of January, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty four personally 
appeared before me, a County Judge in and for the county and State aforesaid, Daniel J. 
Matthews, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 74 years of age, 
having been born on the ____ day of ____, 1852, in the county of Coffee, in the State of
Alabama.  That he is a bona fide citizen of the county of Okaloosa, State of Florida.
That he has resided in the State of Florida continuously since the ____ day of February,
1883.

That he is the identical person who enlisted as a Home Guard, under the name of Daniel J. 
Matthews, on the ____ day of _____, 1863, in Company of Home Guard, of the State of Alabama
in the service of the Home Guards, of Coffee County, Alabama under Capt. Daniel Miller and
who was HONORABLY DISCHARGED in County of Coffee, in the State of Alabama at the close of 
the war, 1865, on account of end of war.

(Here state fully any other military service performed by applicant)
I was in the Home Guards in Coffee County, Ala. During the last years of the war and help
to guards the homes and property of the citizens loyal to the Confederate Army and States, 
from the federal raiders, and deserters of the Confederate Army, and help to haul provisions
for the citizens loyal to the Confederate cause.

That I served faithfully until HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the service of the Home Guards of 
Alabama in the year 1865, and did not desert the service of the Home Guards of Alabama nor 
take the oath of allegiance to the United States until after the surrender of the 
Confederate Armies.

That I was around in Coffee Co., Alabama or nearby in the State of Florida at the close of
the war.

That I have heretofore applied for a pension from the State of Florida and refer to 
Claim No. ______ for the proof contained therein.

(Here state any disabilities, physical or mental.)
nearly blind

That my postoffice address is Crestview, County of Okaloosa, State of Florida.

Signed:  Daniel J. Mathews

Attest:
(2) T. R. James
(1) Frank C. Webb

Sworn and subscribed before me this 28th day of January, A. D. 1924; 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.

Signed:  T. J. James, County Judge

Report of County Commissioners

We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of Okaloosa Florida, do 
hereby report that a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the
foregoing application of Daniel J. Matthews for a pension under the Laws of Florida, was 
investigated by us, and we are satisfied that the representation made in the petition and 
affidavits are true, and that a pension should be granted to the applicant.

Witness our hands this 12th day of Feb., A. D. 1924.

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State of Alabama, County of Butler.

Before the subscriber, a notary public, personally appeared the within named George M.
Matthews, know to me to be the individual whose name is subscribed hereto, and who being
duly sworn says:  That Daniel J. Matthews joined the Home Guard of the Confederate Army 
in Coffee County, Alabama during the latter part of the late Civil War, and render services
to the Confederate cause, by assisting said cause as such Home Guard; affiant further swears
that said Daniel J. Matthews was, at that time a mere boy, but that he actually did service
for said Confederate cause; affiant further swears that affiant was young at that time, and
it has been a long time ago, but affiant does now particular service rendered by said Daniel
J. Matthews to wit:  He guarded ? and homes of citizens and soldiers loyal to the
Confederate States and Army in Alabama and Florida and knows that he did enlist as a Home 
Guard, and never deserted, nor took the oath of allegiance to the United States until after
the War had closed.

Signed:  His Mark:  George W. Matthews

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 23rd day of January A. D. 1924.

Signed:  Notary Public

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State of Alabama, County of Butler.

Before the subscriber, a notary public, personally appeared the within named Amandy R.
Matthews, known to me to be the individual whose name is subscribed hereto, and who being 
duly sworn says:  That Daniel J. Matthews joined the Home Guard of the Confederate Army 
in Coffee County, Alabama during the latter part of the late Civil War, and rendered
services to the Confederate cause, by assisting said cause as such Home Guard; affiant
further swears that said Daniel J. Matthews was, at that time a mere boy, but that he
actually did service for said Confederate Cause; affiant further swears that affiant was 
young at that time, and it has been a long time ago, and affiant does know any particular
service rendered by said Daniel J. Matthews, that said Daniel J. Matthews guarded the homes
of citizens loyal to the Confederate States, and prevented deserters of the Confederate 
Army, and soldiers of the Northern Army from stealing and taking said houses and also, that
he ? salt and corn for use of Confederate soldiers' families in Alabama and Florida and
knows that he did enlist as a Home Guard, and never deserted, nor took the oath of
allegiance to the United States until after the War had closed.

Signed:  His Mark:  Amandy R. Matthews

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 23rd day of January A. D. 1924.

Signed:  Notary Public

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Letter

February 27, 1924

Mr. Daniel J. Matthews,
Crestview, Fla.

Dear Sir:

In application for pension recently filed you claim to have been a member of a Home Guard
Company of Coffee County, Alabama.  This application was presented to the Pension Board for
consideration yesterday and denied for the reason that service rendered in the Home Guards
in any State other than the State of Florida is not provided for in the Florida Pension Law.

Yours very truly,

Secretary

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Letter

Office of County Judge
Okaloosa County, Florida
Crestview, Florida

February 15, 1925

Honorable Ernest Amos, Comptroller,
Tallahassee, Florida

Dear Sir:  

Sometime last year, old uncle Daniel J. Mathis had me to assist him, or try to assist him,
in getting his name on the pension rolls for a State Pension, but for some reason he
abandoned the application.

I fixed up some papers and affidavits for him, which he says he sent you, but did not hear
from you about them.  He has now asked me to write you, and request you to return all the
papers he sent you regarding his application for pension.  I told him that I would write
you for him, but that such papers may become records in your office as soon as they are 
filed, and it is possible that you can not return them to him. So I am writing you for the 
papers, and if you can do so, kindly send them to me, or direct to him here at Crestview.

Yours very truly,

T. R. James

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Letter

February 19, 1925

Hon. T. R. James,
Crestview, Florida

Dear Sir:  

I am in receipt of your letter of the 15th in re:  application for pension filed by Daniel
J. Mathews, and replying I beg to advise that the records show that on February 27, 1924,
Mr. Mathews was advised of the denial of his claim by the Pension Board on account of the 
fact that he served in the Home Guard of the State of Alabama.  The Pension Law of this
State does not provide pension for home guards of any State other than Florida home guards
and he therefore cannot come within the provisions of the law.

Applications for pension after being presented to the Pension Board become records of that
Department and as such cannot be returned to the applicant.

Yours very truly,

Comptroller

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Letter

Purl G. Adams
Attorney and Counselor At Law
Office Second Floor Ferdon Building
Crestview, Florida

July 28, 1927

Hon. Earnest Amos,
Comptroller,
Tallahassee, Fla.

Dear Sir:

In Re:  Pension of D. J. Mathis, Crestview, Florida.

Some two years ago Mr. Mathis made application for pension to your Honorable Board which
application was refused.

Will you kindly send me a copy of the application and proofs attached thereto, as we think 
we have found some additional evidence that will help in this application.

Yours very truly,

Purl G. Adams

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State of Florida
Comptroller's Office
Tallahassee, Florida

August 4, 1927

Mr. Purl G. Adams,
Crestview, Fla.

Dear Sir:

Replying to your letter of the 28th ult. I beg to advise that I am enclosing herewith
regular form blank for application for soldier's pension so that Mr. Daniel J. Matthews 
may make application for soldier's pension under the present pension law.

When he applied for pension in Feb., 1924, the law was stricter in regard to the service 
being rendered to the Confederate States Army, but in 1925, this law was amended so that
soldiers serving in the Home Guard of other States could receive pension from Florida under
certain conditions.

He furnished in substantiation of his claim the affidavits of George W. Matthews and Mrs.
Amandy R. Matthews, which will be filed with his new application upon receipt of same in
this office.

I am enclosing herewith blank also to be signed by the comrade you mention in your letter.

Yours very truly,

Ernest Amos,
Comptroller

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Soldier's Pension Claim
(Form A)
State of Florida, County of Okaloosa

On this 10th day of August, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-Seven personally
appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the county and State aforesaid, Daniel J.
Matthews, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 79 years of age,
having been born on the 9th day of August, 1848, in the county of Pike, in the State of 
Alabama.  That he is a bona fide citizen of the county of Okaloosa, State of Florida. 
That he has resided in the State of Florida continuously since the ____ day of January, 1883.

That he is the identical person who enlisted as a home guard, under the name of Daniel J.
Matthews, on the ____ day of ____, 1863, in Company of Home Guards, Regiment ____ of the 
State of Alabama in the service of the Home Guards of Coffee County, Alabama under Capt.
Daniel Miller, also served in Jackson County, Florida, because the headquarter was on State
line and who was HONORABLY DISCHAGRED at in Coffee County, in the State of Alabama, on the
at the close of the way, 1865, on account of the end of the war.

I was in the Home Guards in Coffee County, Ala. During the last years of the war and helped
to guard the homes and property of the citizens loyal to the Confederate Army, and States, 
from the federal raiders, and deserters of the Confederate Army, and help to have provisions
for the citizens loyal to the Confederate Cause.  I served about equally in the State of 
Florida and the State of Florida, because we were living on the Division line of the State 
of Florida and State of Alabama, we were assigned to protect the salt wagons along the line 
from St. Andrews Bay all through Florida into Alabama.

That I served faithfully until HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the service of the Home Guards in
the year 186_, and did not desert the service of the Home Guards nor take the oath of
allegiance to the United States until after the surrender of the Confederate Armies.

That I was around in Coffee Co., Alabama or nearby in the State of Florida at the close 
of the war.

That I have heretofore applied for a pension from the State of Florida and refer to
Claim No. not known for the proof contained therein.

That my postoffice address is Crestview, County of Okaloosa, State of Florida.

Signed:  Daniel J. Matthews

Attest:  P. J. Steele, T. R. James

Sworn and subscribed before me this 10th day of August A. D. 1927; 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.

Signed:  T. R. James, Notary Public

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Report of County Commissioners

We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of Okaloosa Florida, do
hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the 
foregoing application of Daniel J. Mathews for a pension under the Laws of Florida, was 
investigated by us, and we are satisfied that the representation made in the petition and 
affidavits are true, and that a pension should be granted to the applicant.

Witness our hands this 13th day of August, A. D. 1927.

Signed:  County Commissioners
         Clerk Circuit Court

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(Form D)
Affidavit to be Made by a Commissioned Officer
State of Florida, County of Holmes

Before me, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally came 
Burel Mathews who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he was a commissioned
officer with the rank of private soldier in Company 33 Regiment of the State of Alabama 
during the War between the States of the United States; that he was enlisted at Troy, Ala.,
in the State of Alabama on the about day of Sept., 1864, and that he was commissioned in 
the above company and regiment on the ____ day of ____, 186_, and that he was	HONORABLY
DISCHARGED at Memphis, Tenn. about July, 1865, by reason of end of war.

That he personally knew Daniel J. Mathews, who is an applicant for a pension under the 
Laws of Florida; that he knows that the said applicant enlisted in Company Daniel Miller 
Regiment of the State of Alabama; that he served faithfully until HONORABLY DISCHARGED on 
the ____ day of July, 1865, on account of end of war, at Coffee County, State of Alabama, 
and that the said applicant did not desert the service of the Confederate States, nor did 
he take the oath of allegiance to the United Stated before the close of the war.

Signed:  His Mark:  Burel Mathews, Late _____ of Company 33 Regt.

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 27 day of August, 1927; and I hereby certify that 
the above declaration was fully made known to the affiant before swearing, and that I have 
no interest, direct or indirect, in the foregoing for any purpose.

(Form E)
Affidavit to be Made by Comrade
State of Florida, County of Holmes

Before me, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid, personally came 
Burell Matthews, of Noma County of Holmes, State of Florida who, being duly sworn according
to law, declares that he is the identical person who enlisted at Troy in the State of 
Alabama on the Sept. 1864 day of ____, in Company 33 Regiment of the State of ____, which 
organization was regularly mustered into the service of the Confederate States of America; 
that he knows of his own personal knowledge that Daniel J. Matthews enlisted in Company 
Daniel's Miller's Co. of the State of Alabama - Home Guard, Coffee County, in the State of 
Alabama on the Spring, 1863; that he served faithfully in the said organization until the 
end of the Confederate War, 1865, when he was HONORABLY DISCHARGED on account of end of war,
at Coffee County, in the State of Alabama, and did not desert the Confederate States service
nor take the oath of allegiance to the United States before the close of the war.

I know personally of the above stated service, because I served in said Company with him 
in Home Guard work when I was home on furloughs etc., from my Company which was in Company 
33 Regiment ____ of the State of Alabama, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at end of war, in 
the State of Tenn., about July, 1865, by reason of end of war and I did not desert the 
Confederate States service nor take the oath of allegiance to the United States before the 
close of the War.

Signed:  His Mark, Burel Mathews, Late of Company 33

Sworn and subscribed before me this 27 day of August, 1927, and I hereby certify that the 
above declaration was fully made known to the affiant before swearing, and that I have no 
interest, direct or indirect, in the pension claim sought to be established by this 
declaration.

Signed:  Minnie Balkcom, Notary Public

(Form F)
Affidavit to be Made by Comrade
State of Florida, County of Okaloosa

Before me, a notary public in and for the State and County aforesaid, personally came 
John Irvin, of Niceville County of Okaloosa, State of Florida who, being duly sworn 
according to law, declares that he is the identical person who enlisted at Andalusia, 
in the State of Ala. About Spring 1865, in Company Captain Gants of the State of Alabama, 
which organization was regularly mustered into the service of the Confederate States of 
America; that he knows of his own personal knowledge that Daniel J. Matthews enlisted in 
Company Home Guards, Coffee County, Ala. Under Capt. Daniel Miller's Company, State of Ala.,
in Coffee County, in the State of Alabama on the Spring, 1864; that he served faithfully in
the said organization until the end of Confederate War, 1865, when he was HONORABLY 
DISCHARGED on account of war ending, at Coffee County in the State of Alabama, and did not 
desert the Confederate States service nor take the oath of allegiance to the United States 
before the close of the War.

When I was honorably discharged and returned home, I found said Daniel J. Matthews serving 
in the said Home Guards in Alabama and Florida by reasons of living near State lines.

I know personally of the above stated service, because I served in Company Gants of the 
State of Alabama, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Dog River, in the State of Alabama, on 
the winder of 1865, by reason of sickness and I did not desert the Confederate States 
service nor take the oath of allegiance to the United States before the close of the War.

His Mark:  John Irvin

Sworn and subscribed before me this 4th day of August, 1927, and I hereby certify that 
the above declaration was fully made know to the affiant before swearing, and that I have 
no interest, direct or indirect, in the pension claim sought to be established by this 
declaration.

Signed:  Purl G. Adams, Notary Public

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Letter

October 7, 1927

Mr. Earnest Amos will wright few line in regard of the letter of all in receipt of in the 
war service Mr. Daniel J. Matthews is my brother and he left my home in 82 an I haven't 
seen him since till this past June an when ? wanted to ? of me how he would git a pension 
an I taled him I didn't knows unless he would git up his witness for I was not with him an 
I can't know what he done I went to see him an I taled him I wanted my name out of it for 
I couldn't sign no papers for him.

From Burrell Matthews

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State of Florida, Okaloosa County

Before the subscriber personally appeared the within named Burell Mathews, who being duly 
sworn says; that he affiant is personally acquainted with Daniel J. Mathews, and has known
the said Daniel J. Mathews all his life; that affiant knew the said Daniel J. Mathews all 
his life; that affiant knew the said Daniel J. Mathews during, and at the close of the war 
between the States; that prior to the close of the said war, the said Denial J. Mathews 
served the Confederate States as a member of the militia, or home guards of the State of 
Alabama at the close of said war; and that the said Daniel J. Mathews never did desert the 
Confederate Army; and that affiant was at home from the Confederate Army just before the 
close of said war, and affiant served in the confederate army, or militia or home guards 
with the said Daniel J. Mathews during the latter part of said war, and was engaged in such 
service with the said Daniel J. Mathews at the close of said war; but affiant also served 
in the regular army of the Confederate States during the said Civil war.

Signed:  His Mark:  Burell Matthews

Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 12th day of October, A. D. 1927.

Signed:  Clerk of the Circuit Court, Okaloosa County, Florida
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State of Florida, Okaloosa County

Before the subscriber personally appeared the within named John Ervin, who being duly sworn
says; that he, affiant is personally acquainted with Daniel J. Mathews, and has known the 
said Daniel J. Mathews all his life; that affiant knew the said Daniel J. Mathews during, 
and at the close of the war between the States; that prior to the close of the said war, 
the said Daniel J. Mathews served the Confederate States as a member of the militia, or 
home guards of the State of Alabama, and was so serving said Confederate States as a member
of the militia or home guards of the State of Alabama at the close of said war; and that 
the said Daniel J. Mathews never did desert the Confederate Army; and that affiant was at
or near the close of said war serving in the confederate army, or militia or home guard 
with the said Daniel J. Mathews during the later part of said war, and was engaged in such
service with the said Daniel J. Mathews at the close of said war; but affiant served in 
the regular army of the Confederate States, also, during the said Civil War.

Affiant further swears that he is not related to the said Daniel J. Mathews either by 
blood or marriage.

Signed:  His Mark: John Ervin

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of Nov., 1927.

Lula J. Edge, Notary Public

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Letter

Dec. 7, 1927

Mr. Daniel J. Matthews
Crestview, Florida

Dear Sir:  I regret very much indeed to advise you of the fact that your application for
pension was considered by the Pension Board yesterday and denied on account of insufficient
proof of your war service.

The records in this office show that Mr. Ervin was serving in a different organization and 
Mr. Burrell Matthews withdrew the affidavit filed by him, stating that he had made none.

The Pension Law is explicit in its requirement of certain proof of war service and leaves 
no discretion with the Pension Board in matters of this kind.

Yours very truly,

Secretary, Pension Board

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State of Florida, Holmes County

Before the subscriber personally appeared the within named A. J. Broxton, who being duly 
sworn says; that he, affiant, is personally acquainted with Daniel J. Matthews, and has 
known him, the said Daniel J. Matthews practically all his life; that affiant knew the 
said Daniel J. Matthews during, and at the close of the war between the States; that prior 
to the close of the said war, the said Daniel J. Matthews served the Confederate States, 
with the affiant, as a member of the Home Guards of Alabama, under Daniel Miller, Captain, 
of said Home Guards, until the close of the said war, and that the said Daniel J. Matthews 
never did desert the Confederate Army, and did serve in said Home Guards continuously until 
the close of the said war, and was discharged from service at the close of the war in 
Coffee County, Alabama.

Affiant further states that he is not related to the said Daniel J. Matthews either by 
blood or marriage.

Signed:  His Mark:

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 23rd day of November 1928.

Notary Public

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November 28, 1928

Miss Ila Ringstaff
Secretary, Ala. Pen. Com.,
Montgomery, Ala.

Dear Miss Ringstaff:

If you have any record of Captain Daniel Miller's Home Guard Co. of Ala., Coffee County, 
kindly advise if the name of A. J. Broxton appears thereon.  Mr. Daniel J. Mathews is 
applying for pension upon service rendered in Capt. Miller's Company and Mr. Broxton makes 
affidavit of his service.

Assuring you of my appreciation for your co-operation in Pension matters, I am.

Respectfully,

Secretary, Pension Board