Carter Co. - Military Pension for Jesse W. Wadkins Thanks to Nita Emberlin for permission to upload this Application for Military Pension to the USGenWeb Archives. I have attached a file "Jesse Wadkins and his pursuit of a military pension." Jesse Wadkins was my gg-grandfather who brought his family to the Chickasaw Nation about 1882 where most of them stayed until their deaths--most lived in or around Carter Co., OK. Submitted By: Nita Emberlin aeberlin@texhoma.net ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Jesse W. Wadkins (1842-1917) and his pursuit of a military pension Jesse Watkins/Wadkins was in Company H of the Union 63rd Enrolled Militia Missouri Infantry according to his pension application and the regiment roster; his three brothers, Terrel, Martin, and John David, and a possible cousin, John W. Watkins of Fulton Co., Arkansas, were also in the same company. He also claimed that he was a member of the 1st Missouri Cav. Volunteers formed in 1861. Jesse was the second son of Thomas and Matilda Woods Wadkins, born about 1842 in Hamilton Co., TN; his grandparents were Jessee and Margaret Wadkins in Hamilton Co., TN and Martin and Rachel Woods in Wright Co., MO. Jesse and Susan McGehee were married about 1862, probably in Texas or Dent Co., Missouri (no marriage record has been found). According to Susan’s statement on Jesse’s Union pension application, she met Jesse Wadkins 1861 in Texas Co., MO. Susan McGehee was the daughter of William McGehee (McGhee on 1850 Dade Co., MO census, later McGeehee on 1860 Dent Co., MO census) and Rebecca ?; she was born about 1844, probably in Dade Co., Missouri; she died between 1900 and 1905 in Pickens Co., Chickasaw Nation. Jesse first began applying for a Union military pension in 1890. According the 1890 affidavit of two witnesses who stated that they had known Jesse Watkins for six years, he was unable to work during those years from his illness from the Civil War. The witnesses were L. Wright and Henry Goodwin (he made his mark). D. West of Healdton, I. T. and W. D. Wasson of Ardmore, I. T. also claimed they had known Jesse Watkins for 6 years in 1890. T. M. Orchard, a lawyer in Salem, Dent Co., Mo, was given power to pursue Jesse’s pension claim; his fee was $10.00, again witnessed by D. West and W. D. Wasson. Mr. Orchard also had a relative who was in Company H of the 63rd Enrolled Militia. On June 27, 1890, Jesse claimed that he was “paralyzed mostly in my lower extremities, but am affected throughout my whole body. The disease was contracted while I was living 2 miles south of Minterville in the Chickasaw Nation, I. T. in the year 1884. The disease began with rheumatism and swelling of the joints.” J. W. Orme and J. E. Perkins witnessed his June 27, 1890 statement. On March 16, 1891, Jesse Watkins was scheduled for an examination for paralysis by Dr. R. E. Innis at Norman, Cleveland Co., O. T. according to another pension form, but Mr. Orchard sent a request to the Pension Commissioner that Jesse could not attend the examination in Norman since he was “totally helpless” and asked if someone in Indian Territory visit Jesse in his home to determine his physical condition. On May 6, 1891, V. A. Wood and S. T. Burch visited Jesse in his Healdton home, examined him for paralysis and rheumatism, and found him deserving of a pension, since his wife and 6 small children depended on him, according to their statement. His first attempt for a pension was rejected on the basis of not serving 90 days. David West wrote to Mr. G. R. Raum: “ Dear Sir I write to inform you that they have me charged of claiming 90 days when I did not serve 90 days. It was sent to me that way by my first attorney Orchard I have got witness to pove that I did not claim 90 days in his country it was on the first affidavit sent by Orchards I am helpless yet and can not get about only as I am carried and I am suffering a great deal of pain yours truly Jessie Wadkins Graham Indian Territory.” “ Mr. Raum I will turn it all over to you and do the best you can writer David West” completed the statement. A request was made October 14, 1895 that a statement by Susan Wadkins be accepted in lieu of statements by Dr. B. S. Allen and Dr. Donegan since the doctors who treated him prior to 1875 were dead. According to Susan McGehee Wadkins’ affidavit made September 19, 1895 in Healdton, Pickens Co., Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, she stated: “I was acquainted with Jesse Watkins in 1861 in Texas Co., MO. I saw said Jesse Watkins when he returned home on furlough and know that at time, he was afflicted with yellow jaundice. I assisted in treating said Jesse Watkins upon the aforesaid occasion. He could not secure a physician at that time.” The affidavit was written by W. F. McKnight (druggist and pharmacist at Healdton, I. T. from oral statements and signed by Susan Watkins (her own handwriting). This was made after Jesse was denied a pension the first time; one basis being he served only 60 days, instead of the minimum of 90 days military service during the Civil War. After first being denied, he then stated that he was a member of the 1st Missouri Cavalry. On the 1895 pension application, J. W. Orme and Dr. J. A. Gordon witnessed the statement: “He enlisted in Co. B 1st MO. Cavalry during the latter part of September 1861 under Captain Charles Clinton. He served almost two months in said company. He was furloughed on a 7 day furlough and went home, was taken sick with jaundice, and when he was released, he tried to find his company, but could not. He enlisted again on Sept. 7, 1864 in Co. H., 63rd Regt., E. MO. M. under Captain P. C. Roberts and served 87 days, but enlisted for only 60 days. He failed to obtain a discharge from the Co. for the reason that he had gone to get a wagon to move his family and returned about 3 hours after the pay rolls had been signed and the discharges issued. …. In the last service aforesaid, his Colonel’s name was Womack and Lieutenant Alf Young. Jesse made his mark on the pension claim form, stating that time he was 53 years old. In a “history of claimant’s disability” made August 26, 1895 in Healdton, I. T., Jesse Wadkins stated that “I have resided in Wright Co., MO, Shannon Co., MO, Chickasaw Nation, it. T., moved from Wright Co. in 1867, moved from Shannon Co., 1881, his occupation was farmer, the original pension claim is from jaundice contracted Sept. 1861 , at Springfield, MO, from exposure.” “Dr. Campbell of Shannon Co., MO who began treating me in 1868 for about a month, he is now deceased.” “Dr. Dongal of near Burneyville, I. T. began treating me in April 1886. He treated me about 3 weeks. He is now deceased. Dr. Ben Allen of Healdton, I.T. began treating me in Mar., 1887, and treat me about 3 weeks, he is now deceased. Dr. J. A. Gordon of Healdton, I. T. began treating me in Nov. 1886 and treated me till March 1887, he is still living at Healdton, I. T. Dr. Williamson in Feb. 1889 at Healdton, I. T. he treated me 3 weeks or thereabouts, he is now at Brown, O. T. Dr. Gordon aforesaid treated me beginning March 1 1889 till about July 1889. Dr. S. F. Mains of Healdton, I. T. treated me in fall of 1889, he is now deceased. Dr. Calhoun of Healdton, I. T. treated me in 1890 nearly 1 ½ months. Dr. Heald at Healdton I. T. treated me in 1891.” From the office of Patrick O’Farrell, attorney and counselor at law and solicitor of patents, pensions, and claims in Washington, D. C., inquiries were made on why Jesse Wadkin’s pension claim was not being approved in September 1897. Forms were filed through 1899. In someone else’s handwriting on notepaper dated October 24, 1899 at Fox, I. T., Jesse supposedly wrote “Mr. Maccinly der sur wil you please instruct me in regard to mi pension or tel mi attourney whot to do I filed application for pension 8 years ago Patrick o ferrel is mi attourney name I think it ort to have bin tended to before now wil you please give the infomation I want I am verry poore bin parilized not able to bi medisine that I need I ort to have mi pension I ham helpless diseased up” signed J. W. Wadkins. In Aug. 8, 1909, someone wrote for Jesse Wadkins: “To the penion beurow Washington, D. D. Well gentlemen. I wish to call you attension to my pension claim I have on file ther under the 60 Day Law I think I am intitled to it under the late act. The books shoes in Co. H 6Reg. E. Mo. Malisha Enfery of 87 day in 1864 at the age of 21 pass Please inform me in regards of my claim. I am diseable to an need it Patrick Oferell in your city is my attorney” signed “Yours truly Jessie” In Sept 27, 1909 from Lehigh, Oklahoma, someone wrote a letter for Jesse Watkins to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, D. C., requesting that a soldier of 70 years is entitled to a pension regardless of the time he might have served. There was a note written at the top of the page “Mr. Neely says to files & no answer.” In September 2, 1909, Jesse received a letter from J. L. Davenport, Acting Commissioner for the Bureau of Pensions. His claim was again denied on basis of less than 90 days service and his name was never found on the rolls of Company B of the 1st Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He received another letter from J. L. Davenport in November 16, 1912 that his claim was denied again on basis less than 90 days service and also rejected on ground of his inability to furnish evidence of unfitness and incapacity for the performance of manual labor from causes due to your military service and in line of duty. Jesse again applied for a pension in August 12, 1912 (the Act of May 11, 1912 allowed state militia service to be counted toward a military pension). On the declaration of pension form, Jesse was living at Fox, Carter Co., OK; he stated that he enrolled as a private in Co. H., 63rd Regiment, Infantry Volunteers at Raleight (Rolla), Phelps Co., MO. His physical description included 5’2” (5’5’” on his original military record), dark complexion, black hair and blue eyes; his birth was given as March 19, 1838 in Sequatchie Co., TN (his family moved from Hamilton Co. before Sequatchie Co. was formed in 1857). He also stated that he had live in Oklahoma since 1882. C. A. Bennett was the notary public who witnessed the statement. Jesse received letters denying his claim in 1913. In January 18, 1915, Dr. W. D. Irby of Graham, Carter Co., Oklahoma, stated that Jesse Watkins had no way to support himself or his wife with manual labor due to his old age and physical infirmities; another document sent for Jesse’s pension claim. J. T. Bennett of Graham, Oklahoma stated that he had lived in the vicinity for 25 years and had been acquainted with Jesse Watkins, knew him to be in need of support. Both statements were sent by T. P. Gore, Oklahoma Chairman in the United Sates Senate on January 25, 1915 to the Commissioner of Pensions. The senator’s office was sent a letter by the pension commissioner stating why the pension should be denied. Jesse Watkins was approved for a pension on September 29, 1916 by a Special Act. He first received his pension for $18.00 in October 16, 1916; he died in November 29, 1917. Jesse married Mary Malissa Thomason Reed February 3, 1910 in Carter Co., Oklahoma; he was 71 years old and she was 70 years old according to their marriage license. The witnesses were S. G. Nordman (Jesse’s son-in- law) and J. H. Snyder. After Jesse’s death in 1917, Mary began the efforts of getting a widow’s pension. She was denied a widow’s pension on the basis there the soldier’s death did not result from military service and there was no law providing for a soldier’s widow whose marriage to him occurred after June 27, 1905. Efforts were made through the American Legion Post in Healdton, Oklahoma (Post Commander John E. McCain wrote a letter in 1928), the office of U. S. Senator T. P. Gore, the office of Mrs. Effie Wilkes who was the probation officer in Carter County, Oklahoma in 1928; and the office of Rep. Wilburn Cartwright from 3rd District, Oklahoma in 1929. Mrs. Effie Wilkes stated that Mary Malissa was nearly 90 years old and lived with a widowed daughter, each without income. R. C. Thompson and Luther Thompson of Healdton, Oklahoma made a statement in 1929 that they knew Mary M. Reed and Jesse Wadkins had been married. Finally on April 15, 1929, a widow’s accrued pension was approved for Mary Malissa; she received it for a short time until her death. Jesse W. Watkins/Wadkins was a reluctant draftee during the Civil War; he did not pay for a permit to live within the Chickasaw Nation, but he certainly wanted a pension.