CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE: Erie County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Rick Transcribed by William F. Bisbee http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.html ****************************************************************** CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, published in 1884 by Warner, Beers & Co., says of Curtis C. Bisbe: “Curtis enlisted August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was severely wounded in the left leg at the battle of Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862; on account of same was discharged January 19, 1863, and, although he tried to re-enlist, was not accepted on the same account. He was a brave, faithful soldier, and is now an influential citizen, enjoying the respect of the entire community." Curtis was born at Lebanon, Madison County, New York in 1838, and moved with his parents, Joseph C. and Sally Ann Morey Bisbee, to the State Line Community in Amity Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania in 1857. It is curious that his parents and many of his siblings spelled their name Bisbee, while Curtis and at least one of his brothers intentionally and consistently spelled it Bisbe with one ‘e.’ The following pages are a transcription of some of the more informative and interesting documents in his official pension file at the National Archives. CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Adjutant General’s Office Washington, D. C. April 5th, 1864 Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your office of application for Pension No. 121.460, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office. It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that Curtis C. Bisbe was enrolled on the 8th day of Aug., 1862, at Wattsburgh in Co. “F”, 111th Regiment of Penna. Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Prvt & Rct. On the 2nd day of Sept. 1863, at Harrisburg, Pa., in Co. “F”, 111th Regiment of Penna. Volunteers, to serve 3 years or during the war. On the Muster out Roll of Co. “F” of that Regiment, for the months of Dated July 19th 1865, he is reported Private Discharged Jan. 13th, 1863 at Smoketown Hos. Md., of wound rec’d in action. I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Samuel Breck Assistant Adjutant General The Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C. Certificate No. 87174 Department of the Interior, Name, Curtis C. Bisbe Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C., January 15, 1898 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Sir: In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below. Very respectfully, H. Clay Evans Commissioner. --------------------------------- First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife’s full name and her maiden name. Answer. Yes – Effie Bisbee – was Effie Teed Second. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer. September 10, 1886 at Lowville Erie Co Pa Third. What record of marriage exists? Answer. Marriage Certificate – living witnesses Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. Answer. No Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. Answer. Lola Bell Nov 25 1890 – Bertha Dell June 9 1893 – //s// Curtis C. Bisbe/ Date of reply, July 4, 1898. CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Claim no. 773458 Proof statement of Marriage & death and minor children Erie County S.S. Effie Bisbe of Amity Township Erie Co. Pa. Personally appeared before me and being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that her maiden name was Effie Teed and her married name is Effie Bisbe and that she was married to Curtis C. Bisbe on the tenth day of September A.D. 1884 at Lowville, Erie Co,. Pa., by the Rev. Joseph Allen. Also that the said Curtis C. Bisbe died on the 29th day of October at 7:45 A.M., A.D. 1902. Also that he leaves two minor children viz: Lola Bell Bisbe, born Nov. 25th , 1890 Bertha Della Bisbe, born June 9th , 1893. //s// Effie Bisbe //s// Witness: //s// Mr. Claud Thompson Sworn and subscribed to before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the Township of Amity, Erie County, Pa this sixth day of November, A.D. 1902. A. J. Merry Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE JAN 6 1903 DECLARATION FOR WIDOW’S PENSION Act of June 27, 1890, as Amended by Act of May 9, 1900. STATE of Penna., County of Erie, ss: ON this 11th day of November, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and two 1902 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Effie Bisbe, aged 36 years, a resident of Amity Tp., Erie Co., County of Erie, State of Penna., who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain pension under the provisions of the ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED JUNE 27, 1890, AS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF MAY 9, 1900. That she is the widow of Curtis C. Bisbe who was enlisted under the name of Curtis C. Bisbe at Erie, Pa. on the 9th day of August, 1862, as a Private in Company F, 111th Regt., Pa. Vol. Inf. and honorably discharged January 13th 1863, having served ninety days or more during the late war of the rebellion. That the soldier was not in the MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE of the United States except as stated above. No other service (1 word) under Certificate No 87174 @ 8.00 per month last paid Oct 4th 1902 Claims arrears (1word) date of death Oct 29th, 1902. That she was married under the name Effie Teed to said soldier at Lowville, Erie Co., Pa., on the 10th day of day of Sept., 1884 by Rev Joseph Allen; that there was no legal barrier to the marriage; that she had not been previously married; that the soldier had not been previously married. That the said soldier died Oct 29th, 1902 at home, Amity Tp., Erie Co., Pa.; that she was not divorced from him; that she has not remarried since his death; and that she is without other means of support than her daily labor and an actual net income not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars per year. That the said soldier left the following named children who are now living and under sixteen years of age, to wit: Lolla Bell Bisbe born Nov. 25, 1890 at Amity Tp., Erie Co., Pa. Bertha Della “ born Jun 9th, 1899 at “ “ “ “ “ That she has not heretofore applied for pension. This is the first and only application. That she hereby appoints John L. Wells of Erie, Pa., her true and lawful attorney, to prosecute this claim and directs that the sum of Ten Dollars be paid for his services. That her post-office address is Wattsburg, Erie Co., County of Erie, State of Penna. ATTEST: (1) //s// J. J. Rouse //s// Effie Bisbe (2) //s// R. J. Backus Signature of claimant CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE (beginning of page missing) Wattsburg Pa., Erie Co., and R. J. Backus, residing at Wayne Tp.—P.O. Corry, Pa., R. F. D. No 11, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say they were present and saw Effie Bisbe the claimant, sign her name (or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her of 15 years and 12 years respectively, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; that she is without other means of support than her daily labor and an actual net income of not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars per year; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. 1 //s// J. J. Rouse 2 //s// R. J. Backus SWORN to and subscribed before me this eleventh day of November, A. D. 1902, 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, including the words ______ erased, and the words ______ added; and that I have no interest, direct, or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. //s// A. J. Merry Justice of the Peace CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Claim No. 773458 State of Pa. . Personal statement County of Erie } S. S by claimant Hon. E. F. Hare Commissioner of Pensions I Effie Bisbe am the widow of Curtis C. Bisbe late of Amity Township, County of Erie, State of Pennsylvania who died without will. I have one third of the income of farm of (200) two hundred acres on which there are judgments of ($1204.29) twelve hundred and four 29/100 dollars besides local debts that will use up the personal property and that the income of the farm will not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars after the debts are paid. Effie Bisbee Sworn and subscribed before me this 19th day of December A.D. 1902. A. J. Merry Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE JAN 6 1903 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Claim No. 773.458 Property Statement & Dependence State of Pennsylvania County of Erie } S. S. Hon E. F. Hare Commissioner of Pensions We A. E. Reynolds and E. A. Bisbee have been acquainted with Curtis C. Bisbe late of Amity Township, Erie Co. Pa., for 37 years and 25 years respectively that he died without a will and leaves a farm of two hundred acres valued at three thousand dollars, $3000, that there are judgments entered against this property amounting to twelve hundred and four and 27/100 ($1204.29/100) dollars, that the legal debts will use up the personal property, that the farm will not bring an income of more than one hundred and fifty dollars after the debts are paid. The law allows his widow one third of this and we know this to be her only means of support except her daily labor. Sworn and subscribed to A. E. Reynolds before me this 19th { E. A. Bisbee day of December A. D. 1902 A. J. Merry, Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE FEB 7 1903 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Claim No. 773.458 Proof of service of soldier Curtis C. Bisbe State of Pennsylvania County of Erie } S. S. Hon E. F. Hare Commissioner of Pensions We, John Bennett of Venango Township, Erie County, Penna., and Edwin Read of Amity, Township, Erie County, Penna., P. O. Wattsburg, Erie County, Penna., have been personally acquainted with Curtis C. Bisbe deceased late of Co. F, 111th Pa. Inf. The past 40 and 40 years respectively and we are positive that his only enlistment in the Army or Navy of the U. S. Was his enlistment Aug 9th 1862 Co. F, 111th Pa. Inf. Discharged Jan. 13th 1863 and came home to Amity Township, Erie Co., Pa., and remained there until his death Oct. 29th, 1902. Personally appeared John Bennett before me a Justice of the Peace this { Edwin Read 31st day of December A. D. 1902 The above named John Bennett and Edwin Read depose and say, being duly sworn, that the above statements are true. A. J. Merry, Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE JAN 8, 1903 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Wid. Div. Widow’s No 773458 State of Pa. Widow of Curtis C. Bisbe County of Erie } S. S. F. 111th Pa. Inf. Hon. E. F. Hare Commissioner of Pensions I, Effie Bisbe of Amity Tp. Erie Co. State of Pa. P. O. Wattsburg, Pa., do not own any other property of any kind other than my interest in the estate of my late husband Curtis C. Bisbe deceased, and the said Curtis C. Bisbe deceased left no insurance on his life. He left personal property that was inventoried and appraised at nine hundred and forty and 48/100 dollars of which I took my dower of three hundred dollars. The balance has been sold to pay local debts other than the judgments entered against the said estate. At Present I am living on the farm. //s// Effie Bisbe Sworn and Subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace this 24th day of January A. D. 1903 A. J. Merry Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE FEB 7 1903 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Wid. Div. Widow’s No 773458 State of Pa. Widow of Curtis C. Bisbe County of Erie } S. S. F. 111th Pa. Inf. Hon. E. F. Hare Commissioner of Pensions We A. C. Bisbe and C. B. Bisbee both of Wattsburg, Erie Co., Pa., have been personally acquainted with Curtis C Bisbe deceased, late of Amity Tp., Erie Co., Pa., ever since his birth and we know his only marriage was with Effie Teed and also we know his only enlistment in the Army or Navy of the United States was his enlistment of August 8th, 1862. A fair rental value of the farm would be about one hundred dollars and the taxes. The P. O. address of E. A. Bisbee and A. E. Reynolds is Wattsburg, Erie Co., Pa., their testimony sent in previously. Sworn and Subscribed to { A. C. Bisbe before me a Justice of the Peace in and C. B. Bisbee for the County of Erie, State of Penna. this twentieth day of January A. D. 1903 A. J. Merry Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE FEB 7 1903 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Wid. Div. Widow’s No 773458 State of Penna. Widow of County of Erie } S. S. Curtis C. Bisbe F. 111 Pa. Inf. Hon. J. S. Davenport Acting Commissioner of Pensions I have no income from the farm as it is in the hands of the administrator and he has to use the income to pay debts. I expect to have a home in the house but have no income except for my daily labor. //s// Effie Bisbe Sworn and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Erie, State of Pennsylvania, this 20th day of February A. D. 1903. A. J. Merry Justice of the Peace US PENSION OFFICE FEB 1903 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE ACT OF JUNE 27, 1890. FF DECLARATION FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE. FF State of Pennsylvania {ss: County of Erie On this 6th day of April, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and six personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and State aforesaid, W. G. Harwood, aged _______ years, a resident of Wattsburg, county of Erie, State of Penna., who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain pension under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 27, 1890. That he is the guardian of Lola Bisbe legitimate child of Curtis C. Bisbe, who was enrolled under the name of Curtis C. Bisbe at see case of Curtis C. Bisbe, Certificate No. 87174 Pension Bureau, Erie, Pa as a Private in Company “F” 111th Pa. Vol. and honorable discharged see above cases Certificate no. 87174, having served ninety days or more during the late war of the rebellion. That the soldier was not in the military or naval service of the United States except as stated above. That the mother of said child was married under the name of Effie Teed to the soldier at Lowville, Pa. on the 10th day of Sept., 1884 by Rev Joseph Allen, that there was no legal barrier to the marriage; that she had not been previously married; that he had not been previously married. That the said soldier died October 29th, 1902, at Amity Tp., Erie Co., Pa. that he left a widow surviving, who was remarried on November 30, 1905. That the following named are the only children of the soldier who are now living and under sixteen years of age, to wit: Lola Bisbe born Nov. 25, 1890, at ______________ That no prior claim on behalf of said child has been filed. That his post-office address is Wattsburg, county of Erie, State of Pennsylvania. ATTEST: D. A. Coolidge //s// W. G. Harwood A. L. Phelps claimant’s signature US PENSION OFFICE 9 APR 1906 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Also personally appeared D. A. Coolidge, residing at Wattsburg, Pa., and A. L. Phelps, residing at Wattsburg, Pa., persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw W. G. Harwood, Gdn., the claimant, sign his name (or make h__ mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him of 16 years and 25 years, respectively, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. //s// D. A. Coolidge //s// A. L. Phelps signature of witnesses Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of April, A. D. 1906 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, including the words ________ , erased, and the words _________, added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim W. H. Cornell Justice of the Peace Wattsburg, Pa. Validity Accepted S. A. Cuddy, Chief, Law Division. Per JCS, 4 11 06 CURTIS C. BISBE CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE I know that Lola B. Bisbe is the only living child of Curtis B. Bisbe, deceased soldier. I have been well acquainted with said family for twenty years, I having lived neighbor to said family. I am forty three years old. My Post Office address is Wattsburg, Pa. June 14, 1906. John J. Rouse State of Pennsylvania County of Erie { S. S. Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace John J. Rouse who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and says that the facts set forth in the above statement are just and true to the best of his knowledge and belief. Given under my hand and official Seal this 14th day of June A. D. 1906. W.H. Cornell Justice of the Peace Wattsburg, Pa.