MILITARY: CIVIL WAR: Pension File of George W. Cessna, Bedford County, PA Contributed for use in the Bedford County PA USGenWeb Archives by Mary Cessna Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/bedford/ ________________________________________________ CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE OF GEORGE W. CESSNA PA Volunteer, 76th Regiment, Company "E" Military Service, Sept 1861- June 1863 [tombstone photo] Grave of George W Cessna and Elizabeth McMonigal Cessna Fairview Cemetery, Sec H-59 Altoona, Blair Co, PA Table of Contents Facts found in the file iii Index A - Names on Depositions (chronological order) v Index B - Names mentioned in the Depositions ix Index C - All Names in the file (alphabetical order) x Pension file of George W Cessna 1 [card image] Card File of George W Cessna, Civil War Veterans 1861-1866 PA Digital State Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/ Facts found in the File Marriage to Elizabeth Diehl in 1861 in Bedford Co, PA (just before his enlistment) Enlisted 21 Sept 1861 at Bedford, PA in 76th Regiment, PA Volunteers (by Captain Henry Rice) at age 21 Mustered into Company "E" of the 76th Regiment ("Keystone Zouaves"), PA Volunteers on 9 Oct 1861 Injured 1 August 1862 at Hilton Head, South Carolina during a review of the troops for General Hunter. It was reported by different soldiers who were interviewed that it was "awful hot" and that the parade area was an abandoned campground with occasional large, deep holes. Cessna was said to be a "fellow who kept everything he got" and as a result, had a heavy knapsack which he carried on the parade ground. Cessna "ruptured himself" after falling into one of these holes. Some men were taken to the hospital after the parade for treatment of heatstroke. Disability Discharge on 2 June 1863 at Botany Bay Island, South Carolina with stated reason, "chronic diarrhea, has been unfit for duty for the last eight months" (No mention of a hernia was on the disability discharge form, a fact which would cause George W Cessna to battle with the government for 13 years before his pension was finally granted.) Death of 1st wife, Elizabeth Diehl Cessna on 3 May 1870 in Juniata, Bedford Co, PA Marriage of Elizabeth McMonigal of Logan Township, Blair Co to George W Cessna of Altoona in Altoona, Blair Co, PA by A. Carl Whitman, Minister of the Gospel in the Reformed Church on 24 Nov 1872 Physical description in 1872 - Age 32, height 5 foot 6 inches, complexion dark, hair brown, eyes hazel First Pension Application filed on 28 April 1873, rejected Re-filed Pension Application in 1879, rejected Re-filed Pension Application in Dec 1884, granted in Jan 1886. George W Cessna was paid $4.00 per month retroactively to June 1863 and $8.00 per month from April 1884 Occupations: Hired himself out to local Bedford farmers before and after the Civil War until 1869; "Striker" in Blacksmith's shop 1866-1867; rented one of the Bortz farms in Juniata township from 1869-70; Carpenter from about 1870- 1882, worked at building cars in the PRR shops in Altoona from 1872-1880; Agent for a copying house 1883; Chief of Police of Tyrone, Blair Co, PA, 1884 Residences: Bedford Co until 1870, left for Altoona, Blair Co in 1870 after death of his 1st wife, Elizabeth Diehl. Moved to Tyrone in 1882 and then to Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon Co around 1883; Lived in Ohio for 3 months during 1883. Moved back to Tyrone, where he became police chief around 1884; Family living in Tipton, Blair Co from at least 1892 to the time of his death in 1898. Filed for Pension Increase on 31 October 1896. Granted an increase to $10.00 per month, retroactive to December of 1891 Committed to PA State Lunatic Asylum on 27 July 1898 for senile dementia Died 14 Oct 1898 in PA State Lunatic Asylum, Harrisburg, PA Cause of Death - Exhaustion due to senile dementia Buried 16 Oct 1898 at the expense of Blair County due to the impoverished circumstances of his widow, (Note from M. Cessna- George w Cessna's Grave is in Section H-59, Fairview Cemetery, Altoona, Blair Co, PA. Source- Fairview Cemetery Records.) Surviving Family: wife, Elizabeth J McMonigal and 5 minor children (Note from M. Cessna- George and Elizabeth had 2 other surviving children- Margaret A, b around 1875 and Edgar B, b around 1878. Source- 1880 Federal census, PA, Blair Co, City of Altoona, ED 158, pg 35) Albert Clair Cessna, b 27 June 1885 Leroy Cessna, b 7 March 1887 Emma Bridge Cessna, b 9 Feb 1889 Edith Myrea Cessna, b 22 Jan 1892 Jacob S Cessna, b 26 Aug 1894 Widow's Pension granted to Elizabeth J Cessna on 16 Jan 1899 Death of Elizabeth McMonigal Cessna of tuberculosis of lungs on 2 Feb 1908 S.S. McMonigle (uncle) of 2722 West Chestnut Ave in Altoona, PA is appointed guardian of Jacob S. Cessna at Hollidaysburg, Blair Co Orphans' Court on 19 Feb 1908 Orphan's pension granted to Jacob S Cessna, age 14, on 16 April 1908 Index A: Names of those making declarations, statements and depositions (chronological order or in pension examiner's order) Pg 4, Cessna, George W, declaration on 17 Dec 1872 Pg 8, Withers, M A, MD, deposition on 24 April 1873 Pg 9, Whittlesey, William W, examiner's summary on 16 Jan 1874 Pg 13, Pennsyl, Philip H, MD, deposition on 28 Feb 1873 Pg 15, Withers, M A, MD, follow-up statement on 28 Nov 1873 Pg 18, Slayman, George W, deposition on 19 Feb 1875 Pg 19, Kipple, Andrew, deposition 19 Feb 1875 Pg 20, Burket, Isaac, deposition on 20 Feb 1875 Pg 21, Devore, James C, deposition on 20 Feb 1875 Pg 22, Pennsyl, P H, MD, deposition on 20 Feb 1875 Pg 23, Smith, Levi, deposition on 27 Feb 1875 Pg 24, Withers, M A, MD, deposition on 27 Feb 1875 Pg 26, Corkhill, W H, special examiner's statement in 1875 Pg 32, Findley, William M, Examining surgeon's statement on 6 Oct 1879 Pg 34, Cessna, George W, affidavit on 13 Oct 1879 Pg 36, Hodgsen, V M, special examiner's statement on 28 Feb 1885 Pg 53, Cessna, George W, statement on 1 Dec 1884 Pg 65, Pensyl, Phillip H, deposition on 13 Feb 1885 Pg 70, Klahre, Theodore M, deposition on 13 Feb 1885 Pg 73, Leary, James M, deposition on 14 Feb 1885 Pg 78, Diehl, Solomon F, deposition 11 Feb 1885 Pg 81, Smith, Seth S, deposition on 14 Feb 1885 Pg 83, Diehl, Henry P, deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 86, Pensyl, John W, deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 89, Koontz, Josiah, deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 92, Cessna John H, deposition on 21 Feb 1885 Pg 95, Elliott, D Stewart, deposition on 13 Feb 1885 Pg 98, Stoudnour, Jacob, deposition on 14 Feb 1885 Pg 103, Burkett, Henry, deposition on 19 Feb 1885 Pg 106, Smith, Levi, deposition on 11 Feb 1885 Pg 117, Smith, Rueben, deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 120, Hern, Henry, deposition on 19 Feb 1885 Pg 123, Bortz, William F, deposition on 19 Feb 1885 Pg 126, Hern, George W, deposition 26 Feb 1885 Pg 129, Slayman, George W, deposition on 3 Dec 1884 Pg 132, Kipple, Andrew, deposition on 4 Dec 1884 Pg 135, Roush, Justis R, deposition on 5 Dec 1884 Pg 138, Hostler, Jacob F, deposition on 5 Dec 1884 Pg 141, Burket, John B, deposition on 5 Dec 1884 Pg 144, Cessna, George W, claimant's statement on 28 Feb 1885 Pg 146, Perkins, D W, special examiner's statement on 11 May 1885 Pg 149, Miller, Clement R, deposition on 6 May 1885 Pg 152, MacCarthy, Charles H, special examiner's statement on 27June 1885 Pg 157, Withers, M A, MD, deposition on 26 June 1885 Pg 165, Rucker, V D, Adjutant General's office, statement on 17 Dec 1885 Pg 169, Cessna, George W, Declaration for increase of pension on 18 Oct 1890 Pg 174, Cessna, George W, Declaration for Increase of pension on 16 Feb 1893 Pg 177, Cessna, George W, Declaration for Increase of Pension on 24 Oct 1896 Pg 180, Bell, Martin, Commitment Orders on 19 July 1898 Pg 184, Whitmen, A Carl, affidavit on 3 Sept 1898 Pg 186, Wolfgang, William, affidavit on 6 Sept 1898 Pg 186, Weight, George, deposition on 6 Sept 1898 Pg 188, Cessna, Elizabeth J, affidavit on 6 Sept 1898 Pg 190, Hartman, J L, Blair Co Prothonotary testimony on 27 Sept 1898 Pg 191, Smith, A, Justice of the Peace testimony on 28 Sept 1898 Pg 193, Cessna, Elizabeth J, Declaration for Widow's Pension on 18 Oct 1898 Pg 195, Myers, Catherine A, affidavit on 24 Oct 1898 Pg 197, Cessna, Elizabeth J, Widow's Application for Accrued Pension on 27 Oct 1898 Pg 199, Piper, Mary E, affidavit on 28 Oct 1898 Pg 201, Little, Nancy, affidavit on 29 Oct 1898 Pg 201, Earnest, Julia A, affidavit on 29 Oct 1898 Pg 203, Hayes, R H, MD, Physician's statement on 31 Oct 1898 Pg 205, Stonebraker, Winfield, affidavit on 31 Oct 1898 Pg 205, Smith, W Scott, affidavit on 31 Oct 1898 Pg 207, Brown, Annie L, affidavit on 3 Nov 1898 Pg 209, Trimble, Maggie Burket, affidavit on 4 Nov 1898 Pg 211, Beyer, Susan, affidavit on 4 Nov 1898 Pg 213, Weight, George (Tipton), affidavit on 7 Nov 1898 Pg 215, Cessna, Elizabeth J, affidavit on 25 Nov 1898 Pg 217, Cessna, John H, affidavit on 26 Nov 1898 Pg 219, Weight, George (Snyder Township), affidavit on 23 Dec 1898 Pg 219, Bateman, Parker, affidavit on 23 Dec 1898 Pg 221, Orth, H L, MD, Certification of death on 9 Jan 1899 Pg 226, McMonigle, SS, Declaration on 20 Feb 1908 Pg 233, McMonigal, William, affidavit on 25 March 1909 Pg 233, Weidley, F E, affidavit on 25 March 1909 Index B: Additional Names mentioned within the depositions Pg 6, Rickel, William Alexander, character witness, brother-in-law of George w Cessna Pg 6, Rickel, Mary, character witness, sister of George W Cessna Pg 9, Rawlins, J H, attorney for George W Cessna Pg 12 Keely, E, MD, surgeon for 76th PA Regiment. Responsible for disability recommendations. He signed Cessna's disability discharge papers. He was accused by military authorities of selling discharges to soldiers. (a fact which complicated George W Cessna's pension claim) Pg 54 Ray, William, "messmate" of George W Cessna on Hilton Head, SC in August 1862 Pg 54 Eckels, Frank & John, brothers and "messmates" of George W Cessna on Hilton Head, SC in August 1862 Pg 54 Rollins, Isaiah, "messmate" of George W Cessna on Hilton Head, SC in August 1862 Pg 56 Rogers, Henry, a "crazy man" of Company "E" whom George W Cessna escorted to Beaufort, SC where they were both discharged in June 1863 Pg 59 Diehl, Elias, father-in-law of George's deceased wife. Living in Cumberland, MD in 1884 Pg 76 Flegle, Simon, soldier discharged around same time as George W Cessna Pg 76 Gates, Joseph, soldier discharged around the same time as George W Cessna Pg 76 Fink, John, soldier discharged around the same time as George W Cessna Pg 85 Pinckington, a Sergeant stationed at Hilton Head, SC, fell from a bridge over a creek on the same day as George W Cessna's injury in August 1862 Pg 99 Snave, Warren, a member of 76th PA regiment, Company "E" and referred to as a "relation" of George W Cessna. He was reported to know of the fall and injury to Cessna Pg 207 McClellan, Mrs., the midwife at the birth of Edith Cessna on 22 Jan 1892 Index C: Alphabetical List of Surnames Bateman Parker Affidavit on 23 Dec 1898 Pg 219 Bell Martin Commitment Orders on 19 July 1898 Pg 180 Beyer Susan Affidavit on 4 Nov 1898 Pg 211 Bortz William F Deposition on 19 Feb 1885 Pg 123 Brown Annie L Affidavit on 3 Nov 1898 Pg 207 Burket Isaac Deposition on 20 Feb 1875 Pg 20 Burket John B Deposition on 5 Dec 1884 Pg 141 Burkett Henry Deposition on 19 Feb 1885 Pg 103 Cessna Elizabeth J Affidavit on 6 Sept 1898 Pg 188 Cessna Elizabeth J Declaration for Widow's Pension on 18 Oct 1898 Pg 193 Cessna Elizabeth J Widow's Application for Accrued Pension on 27 Oct 1898 Pg 197 Cessna Elizabeth J Affidavit on 25 Nov 1898 Pg 215 Cessna George W Declaration on 17 Dec 1872 Pg 4 Cessna George W Affidavit on 13 Oct 1879 Pg 34 Cessna George W Statement on 1 Dec 1884 Pg 53 Cessna George W Claimant's statement on 28 Feb 1885 Pg 144 Cessna George W Declaration for increase of pension on 18 Oct 1890 Pg 169 Cessna George W Declaration for Increase of pension on 16 Feb 1893 Pg 174 Cessna George W Declaration for Increase of Pension on 24 Oct 1896 Pg 177 Cessna John H Affidavit on 26 Nov 1898 Pg 217 Cessna John H Deposition on 21 Feb 1885 Pg 92 Corkhill W H Special examiner's statement in 1875 Pg 26 Devore James C Deposition on 20 Feb 1875 Pg 21 Diehl Elias Father-in-law of deceased wife. Reported by Cessna to be living in Cumberland, MD, in 1884 Pg 59 Diehl Henry P Deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 83 Diehl Solomon F Deposition 11 Feb 1885 Pg 78 Earnest Julia A Affidavit on 29 Oct 1898 Pg 201 Eckels Frank & John "Messmates" of George W Cessna, stationed with him on Hilton Head SC, in August 1862 Pg 54 Elliott D Stewart Deposition on 13 Feb 1885 Pg 95 Findley William M Examining surgeon's statement on 6 Oct 1879 Pg 32 Fink John Fellow soldier, discharged around the same time as George W Cessna Pg 76 Flegle Simon Fellow soldier, discharged around same time as George W. Cessna Pg 76 Gates Joseph Fellow soldier, discharged around the same time as George W. Cessna Pg 76 Hartman J L Blair Co Prothonotary testimony on 27 Sept 1898 Pg 190 Hayes R H, MD Physician's statement on 31 Oct 1898 Pg 203 Hern George W Deposition 26 Feb 1885 Pg 126 Hern Henry Deposition on 19 Feb 1885 Pg 120 Hodgsen V M Special examiner's statement on 28 Feb 1885 Pg 36 Hostler Jacob F Deposition on 5 Dec 1884 Pg 138 Keely E, MD Surgeon for 76th PA Regiment, responsible for disability recommendations. He signed Cessna's disability discharge papers. He was accused by the authorities of selling discharges to soldiers. (a fact which complicated George W. Cessna's pension claim) Pg 12 Kipple Andrew Deposition 19 Feb 1875 Pg 19 Kipple Andrew Deposition on 4 Dec 1884 Pg 132 Klahre Theodore M Deposition on 13 Feb 1885 Pg 70 Koontz Josiah Deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 89 Leary James M Deposition on 14 Feb 1885 Pg 73 Little Nancy Affidavit on 29 Oct 1898 Pg 201 MacCarthy Charles H Special examiner's statement on 27 June 1885 Pg 152 McMonigal William Affidavit on 25 March 1909 Pg 233 McMonigle SS Declaration on 20 Feb 1908 Pg 226 Miller Clement R Deposition on 6 May 1885 Pg 149 Myers Catherine A Affidavit on 24 Oct 1898 Pg 195 Orth H L, MD Certification of death on 9 Jan 1899 Pg 221 Pennsyl P H, MD Deposition on 20 Feb 1875 Pg 22 Pennsyl Philip H, MD Deposition on 28 Feb 1873 Pg 13 Pensyl John W Deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 86 Pensyl Phillip H Deposition on 13 Feb 1885 Pg 65 Perkins D W Special examiner's statement on 11 May 1885 Pg 146 Pinckington Sergeant at Hilton Head, SC who fell from a bridge over a creek on the same day as George W Cessna's injury Pg 85 Piper Mary E Affidavit on 28 Oct 1898 Pg 199 Rawlins J H Attorney for George W Cessna Pg 9 Ray William "Messmate" of George W Cessna, stationed with him on Hilton Head, SC in August 1862 Pg 54 Rickel Mary Character witness, sister of George W Cessna Pg 6 Rickel William Alexander Character witness, brother-in-law of George W Cessna Pg 6 Rogers Henry A "crazy man" of Company "E". He was escorted by George W. Cessna to Beaufort, SC where they were both discharged in June 1863 Pg 56 Rollins Isaiah "Messmate" of George W Cessna, stationed with him on Hilton Head, SC in August 1862 Pg 54 Roush Justis R Deposition on 5 Dec 1884 Pg 135 Rucker V D, Adjutant General's office Statement on 17 Dec 1885 Pg 165 Slayman George W Deposition on 19 Feb 1875 Pg 18 Slayman George W Deposition on 3 Dec 1884 Pg 129 Smith A A, Justice of the Peace Testimony on 28 Sept 1898 Pg 191 Smith Levi Deposition on 27 Feb 1875 Pg 23 Smith Levi Deposition on 11 Feb 1885 Pg 106 Smith Rueben Deposition on 23 Feb 1885 Pg 117 Smith Seth S Deposition on 14 Feb 1885 Pg 81 Smith W Scott Affidavit on 31 Oct 1898 Pg 205 Snave Warren Member of 76th PA regiment Company "E", reported to be a "relation" of George W Cessna. He knew of the fall and injury to Cessna. Pg 99 Stonebraker Winfield Affidavit on 31 Oct 1898 Pg 205 Stoudnour Jacob Deposition on 14 Feb 1885 Pg 98 Trimble Maggie Burket Affidavit on 4 Nov 1898 Pg 209 Weidley F E Affidavit on 25 March 1909 Pg 233 Weight George Deposition on 6 Sept 1898 Pg 186 Weight George (Snyder Township) Affidavit on 23 Dec 1898 Pg 219 Weight George (Tipton) Affidavit on 7 Nov 1898 Pg 213 Whitmen A Carl Affidavit on 3 Sept 1898 Pg 184 Whittlesey William W Examiner's summary on 16 Jan 1874 Pg 9 Withers M A, MD Deposition on 24 April 1873 Pg 8 Withers M A, MD Follow-up statement on 28 Nov 1873 Pg 15 Withers M A, MD Deposition on 27 Feb 1875 Pg 24 Withers M A, MD Deposition on 26 June 1885 Pg 157 Wolfgang William Affidavit on 6 Sept 1898 Pg 186 Indexed by Mary Cessna