Ogle County, Illinois, Chester H. Eastman Pension Documents ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: © Peg McLaughlin ==================================================================== Chester Hutchins Eastman (1824-1890) was 38 years old when he enrolled in G Company, 74th Infantry, Illinois Volunteers (Captain McCain's Company) on Aug. 13, 1862 at Rockvale, Illinois. The Company participated in the Battle of Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee from Dec. 31, 1862 through Jan. 2, 1963, where they defeated General Braxton Bragg's forces (now the site of Stones River National Battlefield). However, after occupying the town, the unprepared company was caught in a late winter storm in March 1863, and Chester developed rheumatic fever which damaged his heart and would plague him with rheumatism for the rest of his life (see statement to Pension Office below). Chester was too disabled for combat and was moved to the Veteran Reserve Corps (VRC), established by the army for injured men who could still perform limited duties. This was in line with a new program at that time which no longer allowed men, as in the past, to recuperate from wounds and illness at home, a privilege that had been greatly abused. In the VRC, for a short time Chester, a talented musician, became a company bugler, until he was finally discharged as a Corporal on July 1, 1865 and returned to Oregon, Illinois. As far as my mother could discover, Chester was never able to collect a pension from the Government. He died Jan. 16, 1890 near Boulder, Montana. As shown, his son Verner later tried to collect the outstanding pension for the family, but also failed. Peg McLaughlin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copy of Handwritten Sworn Statement of Chester H. Eastman regarding His Pension Claim [Stamped Received by the Pension Office Nov. 10, 1886] Pension Claim No. 583,381 STATE OF ILLINOIS ) ) ss, COUNTY OF OGLE ) On this 8th day of Nov. 1886, before me, Clerk of the County Court, within and for the County and State aforesaid, appeared Chester H. Eastman, who claims to have served as Corporal of G Company, 74th Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, to me well known, whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credence, who being by me first duly sworn declares that his age is sixty-one years, by occupation he is a Taylor (sic), and his post office address is Oregon, Ogle County and State of Illinois. He further states that he enlisted the 13th day of Aug. 1862; that he was a healthy man and had never been afflicted with rheumatism or any hereditary disease up to that time. In Mar. 1863, he with his Regiment was sent out from near Murfreesboro to Franklin, Tenn. They were caught in a storm of snow and sleet. They got very wet and as the weather was cold, they suffered severely. Soon after their return, he was taken down with inflamitory (sic) Rheumatism, was taken to the field hospital and there treated by the hospital Surgeons for a period of four weeks; that he never fully recovered from this attack, but continued to linger along, some days up and some days down, until about the first of July 1863, when an examination of those who were ailing was made. All of those who were fit for any kind of service were transferred to the fifteenth reserve Corps; that himself was thus transferred. His left arm and left leg were so lame, stiff and sore, he was unfit for active service, and he was appointed Bugler for the Corps. In this capacity he served until the close of the war, and that he was mustered out at Cairo, Illinois in July 1865. He then immediately came home to Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois. In consequence of the pain and stiffness of his arm and leg, he was unable to do anything at tayloring (sic) for several months after his return home. When he did commence his avocation again, he was obliged to sit in a chair and in an unnatural position; but he endeavored to earn something by his trade, because he was poor and needy. Dr. E. S. Patterson -- now dead -- prescribed for him from time to time with only temporary relief. He had heard that further west, Rheumatism was rarely known and that some had recovered by change of climate. In 1876, somewhere between the first and middle of Apr., he went to the Black Hills in Dakota, more on the account of his health than anything else. The change of climate and scenery did seem for awhile to ameliorate his Rheumatism, but it was not lasting. On several occasions he had a renewed attack of acute Rheumatism and was treated by Dr. G. B. Cheney. His post office address while living at the Black Hills, Deadwood, Lawrence County, Dakota. He remained at the Black [Hills] about six years and worked at his trade all he was able to do. Learning that Calafornia (sic) was a better country for rheumatics, he started for that state in June 1883. He stopped on his [way] at Anaconda mills [smelting mills for Anaconda Copper Mining Company] and staid (sic) here about six months until emegrants (sic) came along with whom he could get a passage. He arrived in Shasta, Calafornia (sic) about the first of Sept. 1884. Having arrived at this place, he found a mining company at a place called Whiskey Creek. At first he went into the mines, but could do but very little at mining. At this business he hardly did enough to pay his board and was obliged to resort to his traid (sic) when he found anything in this line to do. He had not been there only about four months when he was seized with Sciatic Rheumatism. He was taken to Shasta Hospital in Shasta County. Here he was sick between four and five months. The name of the Hospital doctor he cannot bring to mind. He thinks he knows very nearly, but is not satisfied he is right. After he left the Shaster (sic) Hospital he went to Sacramento. [He] was here about six weeks. Finding there was a poor prospect of his ever becoming able to earn a living by manual labor, he started for Illinois to his friends, where he arrived in June 1886, since which time he has not been able to earn his living. His arm and leg are still lame and stiff and gradually growing worse. He has applied to no physician since he came home for two reasons, viz. 1st - He is thoroughly disgusted with medicine and 2ly - He has no hope or confidence that the Medical Profession can do anything for him. If medicine can do him no good, he may as well suffer without it as with it. That my Post Office address is Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois. Chester H. Eastman [signed] Witnesses {Joseph Sears {Charles R. Potter Also personally appeared Joseph Sears and Charles R. Potter, both of Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say they were present and saw Chester H. Eastman, the claimant, sign his name to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the presentation of this claim. Joseph Sears [signed] Charles R. Potter [signed] Sworn to and subscribed before me the 8th day of Nov., A.D. 1886, 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. Henry P. Lason [signed] County Clerk, Ogle County,Illinois ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copy of Handwritten Sworn Statement of Silvester C. Patrick [December 10, 1886] STATE OF ILLINOIS ) ) ss, COUNTY OF OGLE ) On this 10th day of Dec., 1886, before me Henry P. Lason, County Clerk within and for said County and State, personally appeared Silvester C. Patrick, whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credence, who being by me first duly sworn, declares that he served as private of G Company of the 74th Regiment of Infantry Illinois Volunteers and in reference to Chester H. Eastman, who served as a Corporal in the said G Company, said 74th Regiment, he declares as follows: My Post Office address is Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois. I well remember Eastman as a sound & healthy man when he entered the service in Aug. 1862. He performed his duties right along and I think was not sick or disabled at all until as hereinafter stated. Sometime in Mar. 1863, a detachment of our Regiment under command of Major Dutcher was sent out on a raid. Our Company G was with the forces on said raid. We started from our camp near Murfreesborough (sic), Tennessee and went out in the direction of Franklin, Tennessee. We were out on this raid nearly three weeks. We encountered some very stormy weather -- were in particular exposed to a severe storm of sleet and snow from which the men suffered greatly. Eastman was with us on this raid -- and while on this raid and directly following this storm of sleet he was taken sick with rheumatism. When we got back to our camp near Murfreesborough (sic), Tennessee, Eastman was bad off with rheumatism; was at once sent to hospital and never rejoined the Company. I am very confident said Eastman contracted his said disease -- rheumatism -- while in the line and discharge of his duties -- from the severe exposure on this raid. [Remainder of statement and signature missing] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copy of Handwritten Sworn Statement of Chester H. Eastman regarding His Pension Claim [Stamped Pension Office Feb. 1, 1887 Western Received Feb. 2, 1887 and Western Received Feb. 25, 1887] STATE OF ILLINOIS ) ) ss, COUNTY OF OGLE ) On this 24th day of Jan., 1887, before me Henry P. Lason, County Clerk within and within and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Chester H. Eastman, who being by me first duly sworn declares that he is applicant No. 583,381 for Original Insurance Pension; that for 3 years immediately preceeding his enlistment in Aug. 1862 his Post Office address was Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois, and he was a tailor by occupation. That he was always in sound health so he neither employed nor needed any Doctor for more than 3 years immediately preceeding his said enlistment; that he has recited in his declaration on file as definitely as he is able to do the time, place and circumstances under which he contracted the disease on which he claims pension and the medical attendance he received for the same prior to his discharge therefrom. That his Orderly Sergeant is dead and he cannot find any commissioned officer of his company, nor any Army Surgeon by whom he was treated at any time since his discharge from the army. That when discharged he returned to Oregon, Illinois and was engaged as a tailor until Apr. 1876. That [he] went to Dead Wood (sic), Dakota until May 1883. That [he] went to Shasta, Calafornia (sic) where he remained until sometime in the month of Sept. 1885, when he returned to where he now lives. [He] has been a tailor since discharged & has not at any time since his Discharge been seriously sick with any other disease except Rheumatism. When he returned home from the army he employed Doctor E. S. Potter of Oregon, Illinois, who was his physician up to the date he left Oregon in Spring of 1876. Said Potter is now dead. Since then he has been treated for a short time by several different Doctors, but he is unable now to find any one of them. He has treated himself more or less constantly since his discharge from the army, as he found he could not be cured in any case and he could generally get relief without calling a physician. That he has not at any time since his discharge from the army been seriously sick with any disease except Rheumatism. That he has not at any time since his discharge from the army been able to engage in ordinary, normal labor. His occupation as a tailor is light work where he can avoid all exposure and yet he has been disabled by Rheumatism about one-third of the time since his discharge from the army. That he has not been engaged in the military, marine or naval service of the United States since he was discharged therefrom the 15th day of July, 1865. Chester H. Eastman [signed] Subscribed to and sworn the 24th day of Jan., 1887 -- signed Henry P. Lason, County Clerk, Ogle County, Illinois Filed by: E. S. Weeden Chicago, Illinois ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copy of Handwritten Statement of Major Edward S. Hutchin regarding Chester H. Eastman WAR DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, Mar. 29th, 1887. Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. Edward S. Hutchin, a Major of Company G, 74th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, is reported: On Muster call of F.Y.S. for Jan. & Feb., 1863; present Mar. & Apr. 1863; Resigned and accepted Mar. 3, 1863. Return for Jan. 1863 does not report him absent. [signed and initialed] Adjutant General ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Text of Handwritten Letter from Verner Eastman [son of Chester Eastman] to U.S. Commissioner of Pensions [Stamped Received by Congressional U.S. Department of Pensions Sept. 7, 1908] Oregon, Ill. Sept. '08 Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C. In reply to your letter of recent date, I will say I cannot produce a physician's affidavit, and will tell you my reasons. My father Chester H. Eastman had been wandering more or less through the West since the death of my Mother at Deadwood, S.D. in 1880. In year of 1889 he came to Illinois where I was at that time living with Mr. & Mrs. John McPherson. My father was in poor health for years but the few weeks that he was in Oregon he grew more feeble from Rhumatism (sic), which greatly affected his heart. Chester H. Eastman went from Oregon to Quincy, Ill. in fall of '89, saying he believed he would make his Home at Soldiers' Home at that place. He remained but two weeks, leaving the word that he was going West. But with no further message to any one. That is the last I heard of my father, until about nine or ten months ago. My Sister read the slip of paper you have with the picture [of Chester and a friend], saying he died Jan. 16, 1890. Mr. McPherson, in making a trip through the West, S.D., Wyoming, accidentally came into conversation with the man, an old miner named Joe Amhurst, who had the paper and picture on his person. And saying he was with my father Chester H. Eastman when he died, on the above date, near Boulder, Montana. Mr. John McPherson questioned him asking if he had Physician -- he said he had. But he died a number of yrs. ago after leaving Montana. Mr. McPherson not being at all familiar with the law & its rules, did not occure (sic) to him to have this man swear to those documents or give his sworn affidavit. He & the Physician being the only ones with him, my father, at his death. Mr. McPherson in making out the affidavit of his, that you have on file, said his information was based on the knowledge from one who was with him at time of death. Mr. McPherson has done everything in the meantime to find the whereabouts of this man, but with no gratifying results. This is all the information I can furnish for the present. Verner E. Eastman [signed] Oregon, Illinois [HANDWRITTEN NOTE IN MARGIN OF LETTER] -- This document was on the 12th day of Sept., A.D. 1908, subscribed and sworn to before me. Orville R. Ely [signed] Minor Claim No. 908,508(071) Ill.-11/23/08 Notary Public