1920s Letters Relating to the Confederate Pension of Mary E. Gilbert Fuller of Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 4/2007 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= ================================================================================= 1920s Letters Relating to the Confederate Pension of Mary E. Gilbert Fuller, born in Lowndes County Alabama but raised at Cherry Ridge, of Union Parish Louisiana Source: Mollie E. Fuller Louisiana Confederate Pension File #10983: Mollie E. Fuller, located in the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, LA ================================================================================= ================================================================================= EXPLANATION: Mary E. Gilbert, known primarily as 'Mollie', was born in 1844 in Lowndes County Alabama, the daughter of Charles Larkin Gilbert and Permelia Taylor. The Gilberts moved to Union Parish Louisiana in 1848 or 1849, settling about 0.5 miles southeast of the Village of Cherry Ridge, in northwestern Union Parish. Mollie's father died when she was only nine, and her mother in December 1859, when Mollie was about fifteen. Mollie and her younger siblings lived with their older siblings; in mid-1860 Mollie lived with her sister, Abigail C. Gilbert Darby and her husband, William A. Darby. Mollie married in Union Parish on 18 September 1860 to Dr. Jefferson F. Fuller. During the War Between the States, Fuller joined Company C, 17th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, commanded by Mary's first cousin, Captain J. G. Taylor. Dr. Fuller served as the regimental physician and in other such capacities during the war. In 1868, Mollie and Jeff moved to Arkansas, where they lived until after 1900. Records show Mollie gave birth to only one child, but it died young. They lived for many years in Logan County Arkansas, where her brother, Richard M. Gilbert, lived. In the early 1900s, Mollie and Jeff joined her sister, Emma Antoinette Gilbert Taylor, who had moved to Jacksonville, Duval County Florida. Jeff died there in June 1910. Mollie returned to Louisiana and spent the rest of her life living with various relatives. She lived in Dubach, Lincoln Parish (next to her native Union Parish) for a number of years with Charles C. Fuller, apparently her husband's nephew. While living with them, she applied for a Confederate Pension on 7 January 1918. She stated that her husband died of Bright's Disease on 11 June 1910 in Jacksonville, Florida. Mollie stated that on 4 January 1918 she was aged 73 years, a resident of Dubach, and that she married Dr. Jeff F. Fuller on 18 September 1860 at Farmerville, Louisiana by William Darby, J.P. (her brother-in-law). That her husband served in Company C, 17th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, and that he died on 11 or 19 June 1910 at Jacksonville, Florida (in one place she put June 11 and in another, she put June 19; a later letter she wrote stated that he died on June 18, so it is impossible to tell which is accurate). She stated that her husband was buried at Jacksonville, Florida "and removed to Ft. Smith Ark". Her pension was allowed on 12 March 1918, and she was given $60 per quarter, or $240 annually. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letters Transcribed Below ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Affidavit Dated 23 September 1913: Benjamin Taylor ========================================================================================== State of Louisiana, Parish of Union BEFORE ME, the undersigned legal authority, personally came and appeared BENJAMIN TAYLOR, a resident of Union Parish, Louisiana and to me well known, who, after being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he was a private in Company "C", 17th Louisiana Reggiment, C. S. A., during the war between the states; that he was in the seige of Vicksburg in the year e1863; that Dr. Jeff Fuller was army physician and surgeon for the 17th Louisiana Regiment and the 31st Louisiana Regiment during said seige; that affiant's knowledge of this is based on his own knowledge and observation, he having been treted [sic] and attended by said Dr. Fuller during a case of typhoid fever and was sick about four wees at Vicksburg; that affiant left said Dr. Fuller in charge of the army hospital when he was paroled from said command. Benj. Taylor Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 23d day of September, A. D. 1913. Emmett J. Lee, DC Clerk District Court & Ex- Officio Notary Public, Union Parish, Louisiana ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (written by hand at the bottom of the typed affidavit above) Dr. Jeff fuller, and I were married in Union Ph. 18th of Sept 1860 - Dr. Fuller died, 18th of June 1910. Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller State of Louisiana, Parish of Lincoln Personally appeared before me the undersigned legal authority, Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller, who being duly sworn deposes & says the foregoing statement is correct so help her God. The Jan. 3rd, 1918. E. L. Kedd (?) Notary Public ========================================================================================== NOTEs: (1) Benjamin Taylor was Mary's first cousin -- his father Alexander M. Taylor and her mother Permelia Taylor Gilbert were siblings. (2) The date Mollie gave here for Dr. Jeff Fuller's death conflicts with the dates she gave on her original pension application forms. She stated there in once place that he died on June 11, in another place that he died on June 19, and here she put June 18. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 28 December 1922: Pension Board to Mollie E. Fuller ========================================================================================== COL. J. A. CHALARON, President E. P. BRIAN, Secretary New Orleans, La. Baton Rouge, La. STATE OF LOUISIANA Office of Board of Pension Commissioners Baton Rouge, La., December 28th 1922 Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller Mountain Home, Ark. Dear Madam, You have been challenged as not being entitled to a pension under the provisions of Act 125 of 1898, upon the ground that you are not a resident of this State, that you have not been a resident of the State for forty years The Board of Pension Commissioners directed me to notify you of this challenge, and to say that you are requested to make answer thereto in writing, with such proof as you may deem necessary, within thirty days after you shall have received this notice, and upon your failure to do so within the prescribed time, your name will be dropped from the pension roll without further notice. But where proof is submitted and filed with the Secretary within the time mentioned above, the Board will consider and pass upon the challenge made against your claim at its next regular meeting. Yours respectfully, Secretary of Pension Board. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 17 Jan. 1923: William W. Poer to Pension Board ========================================================================================== Farmerville Jan 17 - 23 La The Hon. Pension Board Dear Sirs I send you a clipping of the Papper [sic] in regard to Ms. Mollie E. Fuller. She visits here once a year for a few week she is a very wealthy widow. She has her check to some of her relative[s] and they chash [sic] it and send the money to her this time it was sent back and the sendder [sic] sent it in care of dr. J. G. Taylor. W. W. Poer ========================================================================================== NOTE: William W. Poer was a justice of the peace in Farmerville in 1920. He had served in Company C, 17th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, along with Mollie Fuller's husband, Dr. Jefferson F. Fuller. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 19 March 1923: John Franklin Archer to Pension Board ========================================================================================== Calhoun La 3-19-1923 This is to certify to the best of my knowledge that Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller has made her home in Louisiana for the last 4 or 5 years making her home part of the time with the undersigned spent winter with Mr. & Mrs. Henry Jones in 1921 Calhoun La. J. F. Archer Calhoun La ========================================================================================== NOTE: John Franklin Archer was the son of Jane Elizabeth Gilbert, the sister of Mollie E. Gilbert Fuller, making Mollie Fuller Archer's aunt. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 12 January 1923: Dr. Jordan G. Taylor to Pension Board ========================================================================================== J. G. TAYLOR Physician & Surgeon. FARMERVILLE, LA. Farmerville, La. Jan. 12, 23 State Pension Board Baton Rouge, La. - Gentlemen, ----- Please forward Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller's pension voucher to Farmerville, Louisiana in care of Dr. J. G. Taylor. The pension for the last quarter of 1922 has not yet been received. Mrs. Fuller is now back in Farmerville, La to spend the winter or perhaps make her home and oblige. Dr. J. G. Taylor ========================================================================================== NOTE: Jordan Gray Taylor is the son of Mollie Fuller's first cousin. Mollie's mother was Permelia Taylor Gilbert, and Permelia's brother Alexander Marion Taylor was Dr. Taylor's grandfather. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 11 February 1923: Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller to Pension Board NOTE: The archaic spelling in the letter below has been retained. ========================================================================================== Farmerville La 2-11-1923 Board of Pentioners Baton Rougue Dear Board of Pentioners, Several weeks ago I got Dr. J. G. Taylor to write to the Board about my Pention that was sent to this office in his care I had gone in November to Ark on a visit & a little business with full intentions of geting back here by Xmas but was delayed on account of unavoidable troubles & could not get back untill he first of Jan instead of the Postmaster giving my mail to Dr. Taylor for him to take care of for me untill I came he sent it back to the Board when Dr. Taylor wrote the Board about it the Board wrote him there was a chalenge a gainst me that I had not lived in the State of Louisiana in forty years I have all way felt like La was my home I was raised within a mile and a half of Cherry Ridge my Husban was an old Exconfederate sergon in the civil war he established the Hospital at Monroe under General Blanchard in 1862. I disremember what month he had a long spell of fever it left him with varicourse veins he never did get over that trouble his feet and legs was affected as long as he lived he had ulsers on each of his ancles that he never could heal up long at the time he died the 18th of June 1910 I have made my home here in La nearly ten years at diferent places I lived with my nephew in Calhoun La The most of three years part of the time I would visit relitives in Monroe part in Shreveport while I was with him I spent one winter in Shreveport with Dr. Sidney Williams that had charge of the charity Hospital the winter after he left the hospital I was a member of the first Baptis Church Dr. Dodd was Pastor of the church I don't remember how many years I have made my home in Dubach & have been a member of the Baptis church in Dubach I don't know how many years I was living at C. C. Fuller's and hadbeen a year or two when the State Passed a law Pentioning all the Exconfederate Soldiers and their widows Mr. C. C. Fuller worked up a pention for me I told him I had allways Promised my Saviorif I ever Drawed a Pention I would give it to the orphant in the State I drawed it in that in that way it would reach many of the old ExConfederate offsprings which I have been giving every penny of my Pention to the Lake Charles Orphantage I can prove it by Dr. Flowers the Superintendent of the Lake Charles Orphants he wrote me last summer I was the best Friend the orphants had in the State if I get it back I will give it to them as long as I draw unless I was to come to want I would not Draw any thing fraudulently under no consideration I feel it is justly mine And I have a right to do what I pleas with it in my last letter to the Board I tould you I had not used a penny of it foolishly nor would I if it was millions. I would like to know your Aurther let me tell you Dear Friends I am a Mason a Royal Arch Mason's widow I have my Husban's Demits a mong My Papers I claim the protection of the Masons I have no fears but what they will protect me I have made my home in La every since my Husbans death I have a small tract of Land in [undecipherable word - looks like 'for'] Ark but no home there I am not able to build a home besides I am too old to live a lone I am in my 79th year I don't supose the Board will be troubled with me many years it it true I never made my home in Union Parish a mong my kin untill last year I lived in Union Parish nearly all last year nearly every year I go to Ark on a little buisness but it is only for a month or two sevral I stayed away nearly two years it had been nearly two years last fall when I went backI have tryed to give you the truths as near as I could my stay in Louisiana Union Parish is not the hole state by no means I hope the informer will be forgiven I hold nothing against them now if you see fit to read this to deal justly & honestly with me I will appreciate it very much for the orphants sake your Friend Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller PS I am making my home with Dr. J. G. Taylor Farmerville ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 1 March 1923: Dr. Jordan G. Taylor to Pension Board ========================================================================================== J. G. TAYLOR Physician & Surgeon. FARMERVILLE, LA. Mch 1, 1923 To Pension Boaord Baton Rouge La This is to certify that Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller has been living at my house since June 1st 1922, and to my Knowledge has been living in La since the death of her husband, Dr. JeffF. Fuller. She has lands and property in Arkansas and goes up to look after her interest once or twice every year. But is near out of this State more than a few weeks at a time. Signed Dr. J. G. Taylor ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 3 March 1923: Affidavit from F. C. Flowers of Lake Charles ========================================================================================== MAYO TITLE COMPANY Abstracters of Title Lake Charles, La Members of American Association of Title Men and Louisiana Association of Title Men ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu Know All Men by These Presents: That Before me, A. M. Mayo, a Notary Public, in and for the Parish and State F. C. Flowers of Lake Charles, La. who being duly sworn, deposes and says: That affiant is fifty one years of age, and is a intendent of Louisiana Baptist Orphanage at Lake Charles, La. That he has been such officer for five years last past. That for some years last past Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller of Farmerville La. has been sending to said Louisiana Baptist Orphanage her check every quarter receive from her pension as the widow of a Confederate soldier. F. C. Flowers Sworn and subscribed at my Office in Lake Charles, La., on this 3rd day of March A.D. 1923. Before me A. M. Mayo, Notary Public, Calcasieu Parish, La. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 23 March 1923: Dr. Sidney L. Williams to Pension Board ========================================================================================== This is to certify that Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller resided with me in Shreveport for three months in 1916 from June 1st to August 30th and again from December 1st to May 1st, 1917. She has resided in Louisiana since the above dates. signed: S. L. Willias, MD Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 23rd, day of March 1923 ========================================================================================== NOTE: Sidney H. Williams is the grand-nephew of Mollie E. Gilbert Fuller. Williams was the son of Mary Isolene Gilbert Williams, whose father, Dr. William Taylor Gilbert, was Mollie's eldest brother. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 12 April 1923: Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller to Pension Board NOTE: The archaic spelling in the letter below has been retained. ========================================================================================== Farmerville La 4-12-1923 Board Pention Commisioners Baton Rougue La Dear Sir, This Letter of April the 10th just received this is the first notice that I have ever had of the challenge of my not being a Resident of the State of Louisiana in forty years I have writen to the Board several months ago that Farmerville was my Po addres c/o Dr. J. G. Taylor you have been sending my mail to my old address Dubach Louisiana I made my home in Dubach for eight or ten years & have mad my home in La evey since my Husbans death 1910 would go back to Ark a few weeks once or twice a year on buis ness but I have never made Ark my home I have recently mailed you affidavits from diferent parties of this State Louisiana Showing that I have lived in Louisiana evey Since the death of my Husban I hope you have recevid them & will present them in my behalf to the Board there is absolutely nothing or no truth to the chalengge nor the chalener I dont know who my chalenger is but he has made no effort to State facts to you as to my residenc during the last thirteen years you will you pleas notify me wheather you received the last Registered letter and affidavits I sent you also will yo upleas notify me who my chalenger is and wheather it will be necessary fo rme to get other affidavits as to my Residence. awaiting your reply yours truly Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 17 April 1923: O. P. Raley to Pension Board ========================================================================================== TATUM BROTHERS Dealers in GENERAL MERCHANDISE Dubach, La. State of Louisiana Parish of Lincoln O. P. Raley, Clerk of Dubach Baptist Church, being by the undersigned legal authority duly sworn says: That Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller has been a member of Dubach Baptist Church ten years and has made her home in Dubach for the last ten years until the last few days when she moved to Farmerville, La. and the Dubach Baptist Church granted her letter of dismission to join the Farmerville Baptist Church. So help him God. O. P. Raley Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 17th day of April 1923. Emmette B. Tatum Notary Public ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 25 April 1923: Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller to Pension Board ========================================================================================== Farmersville La 4-25-1923 Board of Pention Commisioners Baton Rougue La Gentlemen I am sending you an Affidavit from mr. O. P. Raley Clerk of the first Baptis Church of Dubach La how long I had been a member of that Church and how long I had lived in Dubach La hope this will be Satisfactory with the Pen Board with kindest regards to the Board Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller Rec. the April Check Sent it to Lake Charles orphantage ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 27 April 1923: Pension Board Secretary to William W. Poer ========================================================================================== STATE OF LOUISIANA ________ Office of STATE BOARD OF PENSION COMMISSIONERS MOLLIE E. FULLER April 27th, 1923 Mr. W. W. Poer, Chm & Secy. Farmerville La. Dear Sir, In a for- letter your Committee have challenged the right of Several parties to the pension. Among them Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller, who you say has not lived in the State for forty years, that her home is in Arkansas. I must have a statement from your Committee in her case to file with her papers so that the Board can act intelligently when they meet next time, which I hope will be in the month of June. Unless you do this your Committee action will miscarry because she is leaving nothing undone to hold her position on the roll. I hope you will let the office hear from you very soon. Very respectfully, E. F. Brian Secy. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 30 April 1923: James Marion Odom & William W. Poer to Pension Board ========================================================================================== Bernice Union Par La April 30th, 1923 This is to whom it May concern I J. M. Odom do certify to the best of my knowledge & belief that Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller has not been a resident La since 1868 when she & her Husband moved to Ark & continuously lived she has relatives in this State which she has frequently visited since her Husband Dr. Jeff Died several years ago she has no property in this State but does claim property in Ark i was borned in this parish & State in 1846 & have lived here all my life & if there is any one that know about Mrs. Fuller Residence in the State I ought to Raised in Just a few miles of the Family as mmy varasity & varasity & integrity I refer the Board to O. P. Smith or Judge G. A. Killgore. Yours Respt, J. M. Odom P. O. Magazine Ark The above is a true Statement She don't live in this State She is very wealthy widow has inn her own riht up in Ark 50 thousand dollars worth of Property our committee could not meet W. R. Carpenter died a few week ago J. M. Odom sick in bed ever since the [?] W. W. Poer ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 18 June 1923: Board of Pension Commissioners to Mollie E. Fuller ========================================================================================== STATE OF LOUISIANA ________ Office of STATE BOARD OF PENSION COMMISSIONERS Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller June 18th, 1923 Farmerville La. Dear Madam, At the first regular meeting of the Board since June 1922, they have taken up the challenges and have dropped from the rolls al challenged parties. In your case, you are challenged as not being a resident of the State in forty years and the Board directs the Secretary to drop you from the pension roll which has been done. Very respectully, Secy. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 16 July 1923: H. E. Dawkins to Pension Board ========================================================================================== H. E. Dawkins Lawyer Farmerville, La. July 16, 1923 Board of Pensions, Baton Rouge, La. Dear Sir & Friend, I am ask by my old friend Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller of this town, Farmerville, La., to write to you concerningg her pension. it seems tat her check due her in January was sent here during her temporary absence and was returned to your board with some kind of protest, so she states and later the contest was overruled and she received here next quarter's check. Now since the contest was overruled, she has never received anything for the January payment. This I presume is oversight and will ask you to mail it to me for her. She certainly cannot be made lose her payment of January because someone sees fit to levy useless protests for if this were the case some malicious and designing persons could defeat anyone's rights to a petition entirely be filing worthless protests and contests. Yours truly, H. E. Dawkins ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 18 July 1923: Pension Board Secretary to New Orleans Bank and Trust Co. ========================================================================================== STATE OF LOUISIANA ________ Office of STATE BOARD OF PENSION COMMISSIONERS MOLLIE E. FULLER July 18th, 1923 The New Orleans Bank and Trust Co., New Orleans, Louisiana Dear Sirs: Please stop payment on check number 10983 dated January 1st 1923, amount $60.00, drawn in favor of Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller, Farmerville, Louisiana, pension for quarter ending Dec. 31, 1922. Kindly advise me when you have entered the stop order so that I can issue a duplicate check. Yours very truly, E. F. Brian, Secretary. ========================================================================================== ========================================================================================== Letter Dated 19 July 1923: New Orleans Bank and Trust Co. to Pension Board Secretary ========================================================================================== NEW ORLEANS BANK & TRUST COMPANY NEW ORLEANS, USA July 19th, 1923 Mr. E. F. Brian, Secretary State Board of Pension Commissioners Baton Rouge, La. Dear Sir: Resonsive to yours of the 18th, beg to advise that necessary steps have been taken to stop payment on check No. 10893 dated January 1st, 1923 for $60.00 in favor of Mrs. Mollie E. Fuller, Farmerville, La. pension for quarter ending December 31st, 1923. Yours very truly, [illegible signature] Vice-President & Cashier. ########################################################################################