Civil War widow's pension of Mary Berryhill Bittle

Submitted by David Morgan dmorgan@efn.org

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Jacob Bittle asked the Creek Nation for permission to reside in the Creek Nation 
with his wife. The following articles are from the Creek Nation records:


"8 August 1881 - Judge - Muskogee Dist. advising that Jacob Bittle, U.S. 
Citizen, living in Muskogee Dist. with his wife, has furnished satisfactory 
evidence to have permit issued".

"13 August 1881 - Jacob Bittle of Concharta - To the Creek Chief, requesting 
permit to remain in the Creek Nation with his wife".


Jacob Bittle died in the Creek Nation 31 July 1884. He was buried in the Church 
Yard at the Old Miller Farm, near Muskogee, Indian Territory. On 28 July 1885, 
Mary Marina (Berryhill) Bittle filed for a widow's pension from Jacob Bittle, 
Sr.'s, Civil War Service.

Following are two affidavits to support Mary Bittle's right to a pension for 
Jacob Bittle's service in the Civil War:


State of Indian Territory
County of Creek Nation
	Before me a United States Commissioner, this 31st day of July 1884 
personally appeared James B. Newton and William B. Shelton both of Muskogee 
Creek Nation Indian Territory, who being duly sworn according to law made on 
their oath, each for himself, Statement as follows: That they knew the late 
JACOB BITTLE, personally and that they were present and assisted at his funeral 
on the Seventh day of March 1884. That they were present on the sixth day of 
March and saw his body and know that it was that of said Jacob Bittle who died 
on the fifth day of March 1884. That they have no interest in the claim of MRS 
MARY M BITTLE his widow for accrued pension.

Jas A Jones			[signed in a very shaky hand] W B Shelton
								  James B. Newton


Subscribed and sworn to before me at my office in Muscogee Ind. Terry. this 31st 
day of July A D 1884 and I certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in 
the above mentioned claim.
								W L Squire

* * * * *

							Ozawkie, Kansas
							Mar 17th 1888

I, the undersigned, hereby, testify to being present at the death of Polly 
Bittle, the FIRST WIFE of Jacob Bittle (deceased) and that said death occured 
before his marriage to his SECOND WIFE, Mary M. Bittle, now of the Ind. Ter.

							Rachael H. Bittle

* * * * *

State of Kansas
Jefferson County
	Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the County and 
State aforesaid Rachael H. Bittle aged about 65 years after being duly sworn 
testified that the foregoing Statements are true.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of March A D 1888.
							W C Trust
							Justice of the Peace

* * * * *

Act of June 27, 1890
Declaration for Widows Pension

Mary M. Bittle, aged 63 years, a resident of Muscogee County, Creek Nation, 
State of Ind. Ter. who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is 
the widow of Jacob Bittle, who enlisted under the name, of Jacob Bittle, at 
Leavenworth, Ks. on the 16th day of Sept., A D 1863, in Company "I", 15th 
Regiment, Kans Cav Vols and served at least ninety days in the late War of the 
Rebellion, who was Honorably Discharged on the 29th day of Sept, 1865, and died 
on the 5th day of March 1884.
	That she was married under the name of MARY M. BERRYHILL to said soldier 
on the 30th day of April 1848, there being no legal barrier to said marriage.

Jacob Bittle was married before, the marriage desolved by death. That she has 
not remarried since the death of said Jacob Bittle.


Mary Marina (Berryhill) Bittle received her Creek Nation Citizenship in 1890. 
She continued to live at the Old Miller Farm and died there in 1897. Mary Marina 
(Berryhill) Bittle is buried in the Church Yard at the Old Miller Farm, near 
Muskogee, Oklahoma.

---
The Story of John Berryhill and Elizabeth Derrisaw and Their Descendants

This is an unpublished manuscript done by Thelma Nolen Cornfeld before
her death in 1996. Her daughter Barbara gave me permission to put her
research online.

David Morgan