Heard-Carroll-Douglas County GaArchives Military Records.....Hightower, John D February 1887 Mexican - Pension Capt. Wofford's GA Battalion ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: C Teal Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 December 3, 2006, 10:56 pm Mexican War Pension Application Of John D. Hightower And His Widow MEXICAN WAR Pension Application of John D. Hightower and his widow (second wife) Mary: February 5, 1887 MEXICAN WAR Claim of Soldier for Service Pension State of Georgia, County of Carroll On this fifth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighty seven, personally appeared before a justice of the peace within and for said county, John D. Hightower, aged sixty-three, who declares that he is the identical John D. Hightower who served under the name of J.D. Hightower in the company commanded by William T. Wofford in the regiment of Georgia Volunteers commanded by Col. Calhoun in the Mexican War. That he enlisted at Columbus, Georgia on or about the __ day of August, eighteen hundred and forty- seven for a term of three years or for the duration of the war and continued in actual service about eleven months and was honorably discharged at Mobile, state of Alabama on the __ day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-eight. That said since discharge he has resided in the counties of Campbell and Heard in the state of Georgia and now reside in Heard county, Georgia. The following was his description at the time of his enlistment: Age 18 years, 5 feet, 4 inches in height; hair color black; color of eyes blue; occupation farmer. Further more he declares that he was born in the county of Clark, state of Georgia on or about the 25th day of December 1824 and that he is at this time 62 years of age. He makes this application for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which he may be entitled; he also declares that he has heretofore made no application for pension in any war whatever. That his residence is in the county of Heard, state of Georgia; that his post office address is Carrollton, Carroll County, Georgia. Signed, John D. Hightower, X, his mark; Witnesses: Eli Benson, Joseph C. Benson Also personally appeared, Eli Benson, residing at Carrollton, Ga. and J.C. Benson, residing at Carrollton, Ga., persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, state that they have known the said John D. Hightower for thirty years and thirty-five years, respectively; that they were present and saw him sign his name or make his mark to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of the claimant and their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and they further say that they are able to identify him as the indentical person who served in the company of Captain W.T. Wofford orf Col. Calhoun by the following facts: Joseph C. Benson swears that he was with the application in the Mexican War in the same company. Joseph C. Benson, Eli Benson. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of February 1887. Jno. M.B. Kelly, C.S.C.C. ---- June 7, 1887 MEXICAN WAR PENSION State of Georgia, Carroll county On the seventh day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, personally appeared, J.D. Hightower, a resident of the county of Heard, state of Georgia, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says: I am the identical J.D. Hightower who served under the name of J.D. Hightower as a private in the company commanded by William T. Wofford in the Batallion or regiment commanded by Colonel Calhoun in the War with Mexico; that I enlisted at Columbus, Ga on or about September 1847 for the term of ? years and was discharged at Mobile, Ala., on the __ day of July 1848. That being duly enlisted, I actually served sixty days or more with the Army of the United States in Mexico in the war with that nation, which service was as follows: I was a scout and served in that kind of service nearly all the time; was stationed a considerable portion of the time at Cruzeba in Mexico. That I am sixty-three years of age, having been born in Clark county, Ga on the twenty-fifth day of December 1824. That I have been twice married; that the maiden name of my first wife was Rosana Teal to whom I married in Campbell county, in the state of Georgia on the __ day of September 1845; that my wife is now dead, having died on the 9th day of November 1882 in Carroll county in the state of Georgia. That I have since remarried. That the name of my present wife is Mary Smith or Hightower; that in support of proof of my right to pension I herewith submit the following evidence: The application of J.C. Benson who served with me in the same company; also affidavit of Eli Benson who has known me for forty years living on the same district. John D. Hightower, X, his mark. This 7th day of June 1887. ----- February 21, 1893 DECLARATION OF PENSIONER FOR THE INCREASE OF PENSION State of Georgia, Carroll County On the 21st day of Feb'y, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three, personally appeared, John D. Hightower, age 70 years, a resident of Rockalo in Heard county, state of Georgia, who being duly sworn, declares that he is a pensioner of the United states, enrolled and paid at rate of eight dollars per month, Certificate No. 7247. That he is wholly disabled for manual labor and is in such destitute circumstances that eight dollars per month is insufficient to provde the claimant with the neccesaries of life. The affiant believes he is entitled to an increase in pension on account of physical infirmity and disability resulting from age. He has suffered intensely for the past eight years with a rupture of the stomach and is unable to do manual labor on this account and on account of extreme old age. His post office address is Carrollton, Carroll County, Ga. John D. HIghtower, x, his mark. Witnesses James J. Morrison, S.E. Grow Also personally appeared, James J. Morrison residing in Carrollton, Ga and Samuel E. Grow, residing in Carrollton, Ga., who being duly sworn say that they were present and saw John D. Hightower the claimant make his mark to the foregoing declaration. James J. Morrison, Samuel E. grown; This 21st day of February 1893. J.H. Barron, Clk. Supr. Court, Carroll Co. GA ----- August 19, 1893 GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Georgia, Carroll county In the matter of the Mexican War Increase Claim No. 7247 On this 18th day of August 1893, personally appeared, John D. Hightower, aged 70 years, a resident of the county of Heard, state of Georgia, who is well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, who, being duly sworn declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: I was badly ruptured while in the Mexican War being thrown from my horse and badly hurt in the spine besides the rupture. I was not entirely disabled from manual labor until about ten years ago; about that time, I became so from the heart, together with my age which is now age seventy and am getting worse. Daily, as I grow in age am slow and have been for ten years, and cannot support myself alone. I have fifty acres of bare lands, lying in Heard county where I have lived for forty-five years, also one horse and buggy. The land is worth about $200., the horse and buggy about fifty; from that and what I receive from the government, I get a meager support and need the increase to live on. John D. Hightower, X, his mark ---- November 3, 1893 GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Georgia, Heard County In the matter of the Mexican War Increase of Pension of John D. Hightower, of Rockalo, Heard county, Ga On this 3rd day of November 1893, personally appeared, John D. Hightower, age 70 years, a resident of Rockalo, in the county of Heard, state of Georgia, who after being duly sworn, states: That he has no means of support, only his pension check which he now draws and that pension is not sufficient to provide the necessaries of life. This affidavit is written by J.P. Atkins in my presence from oral statements. John D. Hightower, X, his mark Witnesses: Robert Merrill, N.J.M. Dyer Also personally appeared, Robert Merrill and N.J.M. Dyer, residents of Rockalo, Georgia who being duly sworn declare as follows: That we are citizens of Rockalo, Heard county, Georgia; that we are personally acquainted with the claimant John D. Hightower; that we reside near him and know of our own knowledge that he has no visible means of support except his pension which he now draws and that it is not sufficient to provide for him the required necessaries of life, he being unable to do manual labor. Robert Merrill, N.J.M. Dyer J.P. Atkinson, Notary Public and Ex officio Justice of the Peace. Heard county, Georgia; this Nov. 3, 1893. ----- January 15, 1900 MEXICAN WAR Claim of WIdow for Service Pension State of Georgia, Carroll county On this 15th day of Jan. 1900, personally appeared, Mary C. Hightower, aged 56 years, who being duly sworn, declares that she is the widow of John D. Hightower, deceased, who was the identical John D. HIghtower who served as a private in the company commanded by Capt. Wooford, Co. E., in the Ga Regiment of mounted vols. in the Mexican War. That he was engaged in the following battles: I have heard him speak of being in a battle but don't know what battle. That he also served in the War of the Rebellion. He served in that war but don't know what Confederate company it was. That after leaving said service, he resided near Franklin, Heard county up to the time of his death. That she was married to him on the 29th day of April 1883 at Victory, Ga., by W.S. Darrington, Justice of the peace, under the name of Mary C. Smith; that he had previously been married to Roseanna Teal who died on the 25th day of October ? 1882; that she had not been previously married to anybody. That at her husband's death he was 83 years old. That her said husband died at Heard county, Georgia in October 1899; that she has not since remarried. That she is 56 years of age and was born on the 17th day of Sept. 1844 at Randolph county, Alabama. That she has been disabled since 1890 by being fat and on account of that she can't get about to do anything weighing between 290 and 300 lbs; she also bases her claim on being dependent. That she has been dependent for support since Oct. 11, 1899 upon friends and others and the little left me by my husband which is exhausted. That she owns the following real estate: None That she owns the following personal property: A pony and old buggy nor worth more than $30., a cow worth $20., Household furniture not worth more than $30. That her income from all resources is: None Mary C. Hightower ---- MARRIAGE LICENSE (included in pension file) State of Georgia, Carroll County To any Judge, Justice of the Peace or Minister of the Gospel: You are hereby authorized to join John D. Hightower and Miss Mary C. Smith in the holy state of matrimony according to the constitution and laws of this state and for so doing, this shall be your license. This 29th day of April 1883. R.L. Richards, Ordinary I certify that John D. HIghtower and Mary C. Smith were joined in matrimony by me, this 29 day of April, eighteen hundred and eighty three. W.S. Darrington, J.P. Recorded 1st day of May 1893. R.L. RIchards, Ordinary ----- February 5, 1900 AFFADIVIT Regarding the Pension Claim of Mars. Mary C. Hightower, widow of John D. Hightower, Private Woffords Co. E, Ga Batl. Mexican War Personally appeared, James W. Farmer, aged 63 years, whose P.O. address is Tyus, Georgia, and Lucinda A. Farmer, aged 64 years whose P.O. address is Tyus, Georgia, each of whom I certify to be worthy of belief and entitled to credit, who being duly sworn, depose and say as follows: We have each known the claimant for 50 years and 50 years respectively. We both know that the claimant was married to John D. Hightower who was a Mexican War pensioner when he died, by the following facts: James W. Farmer says that he saw them married; was at Victory, Carroll county, Ga. on the 29th day of April 1883 by Esq. Darrington of Heard county, Ga. Lucinda A. Farmer says she saw them married near Victory, Carroll county, Ga. on the 29th day of April 1883 by Esq. Darrington of Heard county, Ga. We both knew that his former wife Rosanna Teal is dead because: James W. Farmer says it is because I have been to her grave and saw the inscription upon her tombstone. She died in Heard county, Ga. In October 1882. Lucinda A. Farmer says it is for the reason that I have been to the grave and read the inscription on the tombstone. She died in Heard county, Ga. in October 1882. We both know that the soldier John D. HIghtower is dead because: James W. Farmer and Lucinda A. Farmer say they know he died about the 11th day of Oct. 1899 in Heard Co. Ga because they saw him after he died and attended his funeral and burial. James W. Farmer and Lucinda A. Farmer say they have lived within four miles of them ever since they were married and visited them frequently. Signed, James W. Farmer, Lucinda A. Farmer, WItnesses: Minnie Farmer, Thomas Farmer. Sworn to and subscribed before me by both of the above named affiants this 5th day of February 1900. J.P. Perdue, Justice of the Peace ---- February 10, 1911 From: the office of Superior Court, Douglas County, Georgia To: Honorable Wm. Rule, U.S. Pension agent at Knoxville, Tenn. Dear Sir, Mrs. Mary C. Hightower, holder of pension certificate No. 12082 , who was drawing $36. per quarter, has died . And her relative. T.J. Farmer of Douglasville, Ga., with whom she resided at the time of her death, wants to make out application for burial and other expenses incurred during her last sickness. Please send him such blanks and instructions as is necessary. Yours very truly, J.W. Winn ---- Jan. 7, 1911 Receipt for puchase of Casket N.B. & J.T. Duncan, Dry Toods, CLoting, Coffins, Wagons, Caskets Douglasville, Georgia Mr. T.J. Farmer purchased for Mrs.Mary C. Hightower 1 casket for $30. This bill does not include charges for livery and cemetery expenses. N.B. Duncan --- April 21, 1911 APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT State of Georgia, County of Douglas On the 21st day of April, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, personally appeared, T.J. Farmer, aged 32 years, a resident of Douglas county, Georgia, who being duly sworn, makes the following declaration in order to obtain reimbursment for the accured pension for expenses paid by claimant for the last sickness and for the burial of Mary C. Hightower, who was a pensioner of the United States on account of the service of John Dickerson Hightower who served in Wofford's company E, Mounted Batallion, Georgia Volunteers. What was the full name of the deceased pensioner: Mary Catherine Hightower In what capacity was decedent pensioned: As a widow Did the deceased pensioner have any money, real estate or personal property? Yes If so, state the character and value of such property: She left only $2.50 in money. No property of any kind. What was your relation to the deceased pensioner: Nephew of Pensioner What was the cause of death: Apoplexy When did the pensioner's last sickness begin: Dec. 29, 1910 Give the name and post office of physicians who attended the pensioner during last sickness: Dr. C.C. Garrett, Lithia Springs, Ga. State the names of persons by whom the pensioner was nursed during the period of last sickness: Mrs. Ida Farmer, Mrs. L.A. Farmer, and T.J. Farmer. Where did the pensioner live during the last sickness: In the home of Mrs. L.A. Farmer, Douglas Co. Ga. Where did the pensioner die: At Mrs. L.A. Farmer's home. When did the pensioner die: January 6, 1911. Where was the pensioner buried: At Mr. Carmel church, Douglas Co. Ga. Signed, T.J. Farmer, Douglas County, Georgia ----- May 28, 1912 DEPOSITION Case of Mary C. Hightower (deceased) On this 28th day of May 1912 at Douglasville, Georgia, before me, J.R. Bachelder a special examinier of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared, Mrs. M.L. Renfoe, who being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am Mrs. M.L. Renfroe. I am over 21 years old, occupation housewife and my post office address is Douglasville, Douglas county, Georgia. I am the niece of Mary C. Hightower, a pensioner of the United States and I was present at her bedside when she died at her home near Douglasville, Ga. on the 6th of January 1911. She left no minor children. I have heard the foregoing statement read, understood your questions and my answers are correctly recorded therein. Mrs. M.L. Renfoe ---- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/heard/military/mexican/pensions/hightowe292gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 16.9 Kb