Military: Civil War: Pension File of Elias Bixler Schuylkill County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gwen Bixler Drivon. GGDGEN@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE:Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. _________________________________________________________________ Civil War Pension Application for Elias Bixler Soldier's Certificate No. 392 498 Rank Pvt & Corp'l Service Co. A 50 Pa. Inf Soldier's Certificate No. 392498 page 1*** Claimant's Affidavit State of Pennsylvania County of Schuylkill County In the Pension Claim of Elias Bixler, late of Co. A 50 Pa. Inf personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, Elias Bixler whose residence and Post Office address is Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co., Pa. well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: That he had no service prior to Aug. 19, 1861, that he enlisted in Co. "A". 50th Regt., Penna. Inft. Vol. And that he had no service subsequent to July 30th, A. D. 1865. V. M. McDonough Elias Bixler L. F. McDonough Stamped U. S. Pension Office Nov. 1, 1905 Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of October A. D. 1905. I certify that said affiant is a reliable person, that the contents of the forgoing affidavit were fully made known to him before swearing thereto, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of said claim. L. F. McDonough Justice of the Peace Com. Ex. May 1910 page 2*** Certificate No. 392498 Department of the Interior Name, Elias Bixler Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C. January 15, 1898 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 respectively, (?)Mclay Evans First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife's name and her maiden name. Answer. Yes Second. When Where, and by whom were you married? Answer. Dec. 30, 1897, Pine Grove, Pa. Rev. D. D. Buddinger Third. What record of marriage exists? Answer .Church record Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of you former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. Answer. Yes, Amelia Barr, March 24, 1894, at Pine Grove Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. Answer. Yes, Harry B., Feb. 22, 1867, Mary, Oct.17, 1868, Kate, Sept. 27, 1871, Emma, July 7, 1875, George, Aug. 23, 1877. Date of Reply, May 4th, 1898 Elias Bixler page 3*** DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C., January 2, 1915 Sir: Please answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below. The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your widow or children. Use the inclosed envelope, which requires no stamp. Very respectively, G. M. Saltzgaber Commissioner Elias Bixler Pine Grove, Pa. 392498 Act May Stamped U. S. Pension Office, Apr 6, 1915 No. 1. Date and place of birth? Answer. Hegins Twp., Pa. The name of organizations in which you served? Answer. Co. A. 50th Regt Pa Vol No. 2. What was your post office at enlistment? Answer. Valley View, Pa No. 3. State your wife's full name and her maiden name. Answer. Emma Donmoyer No. 4. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer. Dec. 30, 1897 in Pine Grove, Pa., by Rev. D. D. Buddinger No. 5. Is there any official or church record of you marriage? Yes If so, where? Answer. At Pine Grove, Pa. No. 6. Were you previously married? If so, state the name of your former wife, the date of the marriage, and the date and place of her death or divorce. If there was more than one previous marriage, let your answer include all former wives. Answer. Yes, to Amelia Barr Feb. 3rd 1866. Died at Pine Grove Pa. No. No. 7. If your present wife was married before her marriage to you, state the name of her former husband, the date of such marriage, and the date and place of his death or divorce, and state whether he ever rendered any military service, and, if so, give name of the organization in which he served. If she was married more than once before her marriage to you, let your answer include all former husbands. Answer. Henry Sporman Sept. 16th 1865, Died at Pine Grove Pa. Feb. 19th 1894. No, she was not married before. No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation? Answer. Yes, I am living with her. No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead. Answer. H. B. Bixler Feb. 22nd, 1867 M. A. Bixler Oct. 17th 1868 Katie Bixler Sept. 27th 1871 Emma Bixler July 7th 1875 Geo. W. Bixler Aug. 25th, 1879 Died April 3rd, 1915 Elias Bixler Stamped ADJUTANT GEN'LS OFFICE, received June 13, 1883 Department of the Interior, Pension Office, June 7, 1883 Respectively requested of the ADJUTANT GENERAL U. S. A. a report of service and disability in the case No. 480254, of Elias Bixler Co. "A" 50 Pa. Vols. Disabled by rheumatism contracted at camp hospital Ky. Sept and Oct, 1863 Discharged July 30, 1865; Full military history desired. page 4*** War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Sept. 15, 1883 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. Elias Bixler, a private (subsequently Corp'l) of Company A, 50th Regiment Penna Volunteers, was enrolled on the 19th day of August, 1861, at Hegins, for 3 years and is reported on Company Rolls from enlistment to August 31, 1863 present; Sept. And Oct. 1863 absent sick at Crab Orchard, Ky., from Sept. 10, 1863; arrived on Dec. 1863 present, reenlisted as pvt Vol Dec. 31, 1863, Jan. And Feb. 1864 to June 30, 1865 present. Mustered out with Company July 30, 1865. No evidence of rheumatism alleged. Nature of sickness not stated. Regimental hospital records are not on file. Co. (?) reports do not cover prior to 1865. page 5*** War Department, Surgeon General's Office, record and Pension Division, Washington, D. C., Aug. 30, 1887 Respectively returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. No information bearing upon this inquiry has been obtained from records of Crab Orchard, Ky. Aug. 24, 1863 (earliest date) to Dec. 1, 1863 By the order of the Surgeon General, C. R. Greenleaf, Surgeon General, U. S. Army, (106) Per J. Frech Stamped R. & P. Div. Aug. 27, 1887, 467569 Stamped Middle Aug. 31, 12887 Stamped U. S. Pension Office Aug. 31, 1887 page 6 *** Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, August 26, 1887 Sir: Please furnish this Bureau a report of hospital treatment in the Claim No. 480254, of Elias Bixler, late a Corporal Co. A 50 Pa. Vol., from the data given below. 1. Disability from rheumatism, contracted in Kentucy in Sept. And Oct. 1863. 2. Treatment, as follows: at Crab Hospital in Kentucky during Sept. And Oct. 1863 3. The Adjutant General's report shows: absent sick at Crab Orchard, Ky. From Sept. 10, 1863 4. Discharged July 30, 1865 Very respectively, John Black, Commissioner page 7*** PROOF OF DISABILITY Note - This affidavit must be executed by a Commissioned Officer, if possible, but, if not possible to secure such evidence, then two of the soldier's comrades should testify. State of Penna., County of Schuylkill. On this 7th day of May A. D. 1887: personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid county, duly authorized to administer oaths Jacob Lehman aged 53 years, a resident of Ravine in the county of Schuylkill and state of Penna. And James Ellenbaum aged 49 years, a resident Ravine in the county of Schuylkill and the state of Penna. who being duly sworn according to law, state that they are acquainted with Elias Bixler applicant for Invalid Pension, and know the said Elias Bixler to be the identical person of that name who enlisted or voluteered as a Corporal in Company A 50th Regiment of Penna. vols,, and who was discharged at Harrisburg on or about the 30th day of July 1865 by reason of expiration of term of service. That the said Elias Bixler while in the line of his duty, at or near Crab Orchard in the State of Kentucky, did, on or about September 1863, became disabled in the following manner, viz: He was attacked with rheumatism and was placed in the hospital by reason thereof. That they frequently met him since discharged and heard him complain of rheumatism, that they were well acquainted with Dr. J. (?) Drker and that he died some years ago. That the facts are personally known to affiant by reason of being comrades. And deponent further state that they are well acquainted with the claimant, having known him for at least 25 years and further, that their knowledge of the facts above stated are derived from said acquaintance, and from having served as members of Company H, of the 50th Regiment of Penna. volunteers. And deponent further state that the claimant was a sound and able bodied man at and prior to enlistment, so far as they knew, and that they are totally disinterested in this claim. Postoffice address of affiant is Ravine Schuylkill County, Penna. Jacob Lehman James Ellenbaum Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above affiant, and I certify that I read said affidavit, and acquainted them with its contents before they executed the same. I further ceertify that I am in no wise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiant are personally known to me, and that they are credible persons. Edward Hummel, J.P. Stamped May 13, 1887 page 8*** Aug. 4, 1920 Nov. 10, 1920 To the Chief, Finance Division: You are hereby notified that check #7513284 for $150.00 dated Nov. 4, 1920 in favor of post-office Certificate # 392498, Elias Bixler, Pine Grove, Pa. Class Act of May 1, 1920 Section 4 has been returned to this office by the Postmaster with the information that the pensioner died Oct. 17, 1920 and said check has this day been canceled. Very respectfully, Guy O. Taylor page 9*** DECLARATION FOR PENSION, Act of May 1, 1920 State of Pennsylvania, County of Schuylkill, : On this 25 day of September, A. D. 1920, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county and State aforesaid, Elias Bixler who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 79 years of age, and a resident of Pine Grove county of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania; and that he is the identical person who was Enrolled at Harrisburg, under the name of Elias Bixler on the 19th day of August, 1861, as a private in Co. "A" 50th Regt. Penna, Inft. Vols. in the service of the United States, in the Late Civil Wars, and was Honorably Discharged at Blaines Cross Roads, Ten., on the 31 day of Dec., 1863. That he also served Corp. Co. "A" 50th Regt. Penna. Vol. Inft. Dec. 31, 1863. Honorably discharged Delaney House, D. C. July 30, 1865. That his personal description at enlistment was as follows: Height, 5 feet 9 ½ inches; complexion, florid; color of eyes, blue; color of hair, brown; that his occupation was farmer; that he was born Feb. 26, 1841, at Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. That he requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another person on account of the following disabilities: That he suffers from chronic diarrhea, Bright's disease associated with dropsy, partial blindness and old age weakness, that said soldier requires the aid of attendants in dressing, his ablutions, , at his meals, and in fact more or less all the time. That since leaving the service he has resided at Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylavania most of the time and his occupation has been farmer laborer. That he has applied for pension under Original No. - . That he is pensioner under Certificate No. 392498. That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of May , 1920 for increase of pension. Thomas B. Hughs Elias Bixler Pine Grove, Pa. Mrs. Dan Greenwalt Pine Grove, Pa. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of September, A. D. 1920, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to the applicant before swearing, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. L. F. McDonough Justice of the Peace Pine Grove, Pa. Com. Ex. Jan. 1924 Stamped U. S. Pension Office Sept. 28, 1920 page 10*** DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENSION, to be executed before a court of record or some officer thereof having custody of its seal State of Pennsylvania Schuylkill County On this 16th day of April, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty three personally appeared before me, Clerk of the Quarter Sessions, a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid, Elias Bixler aged 42 years, a resident of the Twp. Of Pine Grove, county of Schuylkill ,State of Penna., who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Elias Bixler, who was Enrolled on the 19th day of Aug., 1861, in Company "A" of the 50 Regiment of Penna. Commanded by Henry Brodt and Samuel Schwenk and was honorably Discharged at Tenn. on the 31 day of Dec., 1863; that his personal description is as follows: height, 5 feet 9 ½ inches; complexion, florid; hair, brown; eyes, blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at Camp Hospital, in the State of Kentucky on or about Sept. And Oct, 1863, he contracted rheumatism from which he has suffered ever since. He claims pensions on the above. That he was treated in hospitals as follows: in camp hospitals. That he has been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above A 50 Pa. Vol., Dec. 31st 1863, discharged July 30th, 1865. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the county of Schuylkill in the State of Penna., and his occupation has been that of a farmer. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a farmer. That he is now greatly disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States. He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Stoddart & Co., of Washington, D. C., his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim. That he has never received nor applied for a Pension. That his Post office Address is Pine Grove county of Schuylkill State of Penna. Claimant's signature, Elias Bixler Attest: G. M. Saser John B. Barr Also personally appeared G. W. Saser, residing at Pine Grove and John B. Barr, residing at Pine Grove, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say they were present and say Elias Bixler, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. G. W. Saser John B. Barr Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of April. A. D. 1863, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. E. W. Frehafer Clerk of the court of Quarter Sessions