Susquehanna Co. PAGenWeb Archives Civil War Pension. . . .Benjamin LAGIER, 1888 Images submitted to PAGenWeb Archives by Joanne Sholes [jlsholes@hotmail.com] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* CIVIL WAR PENSION FILE Soldier: Benjamin Lagier Co H 177 Reg’t PA Vols Application number: 338.325 Widows: Susan E. Lagier (nee Wilmot) Pension date: ________________________________________________________________ DEPOSITION A CASE OF Benjamin Lagier No “special” 338.320 On this 18th day of June, 1888 at Halstead, County of Susquehanna State of Pennsylvania, before me, MB Birdseye, a special examiner of the pension office, personally appeared Benjamin Lagier, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I am 69 years of age and have no occupation, as I am unable to do any work. My PO address is as above stated. I am the identical Benjamin Lagier who served in Co H 177 Regt Pa Vols. I enlisted in said Co and regt Nov 5th 1862 and was discharged Aug 9th 1863. I claim a pension for ulceration of stomach caused by the kick of a mule and rheumatism. I have rendered no service to the United States military or naval except as above stated. At the time I enlisted I was a sound, healthy man, perfectly free from any physical disability or disease. I had then never been sick with anything more serious than a headache, toothache or perhaps belly ache. I don’t remember every having a doctor before service in the army. I was present for duty with said command from the time I first joined it until sometime in the early part of July 1863 when at Frederick City MD I was kicked by a mule. Up to this time I had been perfectly sound and able. I was kicked by the mule under the following circumstances. I was on detailed duty driving one of the reg’t teams and while hitching up my mule team I was kicked in the stomach by one of the mules of said team. I cannot state clearly what happened right after. I was kicked by the mule for the breath was knocked out of my body and I was unconscious for time and when I fully realized where I was and what had happened I was in bed in a house about a half mile from where I was kicked and from where our regt layed. I don’t remember who owned the house I was in but it was owned by a widow woman. It was a stone house. This woman told me that my Capt E W Rogers and some of his men brought me there. And asked her to take care of me. I was at this house about 3 weeks as near as I can fix the time. And was treated by a surgeon of some New York Regt. I don’t remember his name. He came to see me three or four times and gave me a wash to use on the bruised place and he gave me medicine to take internally. I don’t remember that we had a doctor with our regt at the time I was hurt. None came near me that I knew anyway. As near as I can fix the time I must have been bewildered and out of my mind a day or two after being kicked for the stone house I was in was a long was from Frederick City, MD and was near Maryland Heights, MD. I was told by Ed Munson a comrade whose testimony is on file in my case that I was taken along in the wagons to this house. I have no recollection of the matter and can’t say how I got to said house. No, I did not intend to say “that when I first realize where I was after being kicked I was in a house a half mile from where I was kicked.” I meant that I was in a house a half mile from where my regt lay. When I regained full consciousness, the men came from my company to see me while at this house. The only man that I can swear positively saw me at this house was Commander Charles Chamberlain of Co “H.” It would be my recollection that comrade Ed Munson came to see me there. I don’t know When I was at first injured by the kick of the mule the skin was broken in two places just below my chest bone and at the pit of my stomach. It looked inflamed and was swollen and gave me great distress. I was sick at my stomach and had difficulty in keeping my food down, in fact, I had little or no appetite. I was confined to my bed most of the time. When I left the house and went to Sandy Hook, MD to take the train for Harrisburg, PA where I was discharged, Charles Chamberlain helped me and went with me from this house to the cars at Sandy Hook. It was less than a mile from the house where I have been confined to the cars and I had difficulty in walking the distance. After my discharge I returned direct to my home which was then in Oakland township, Susquehanna Co, PA and abut two miles from Susquehanna Village PA BENJAMIN LAGIER ___________________________________________________________________ EXAMINING SURGEON’S CERTIFICATE State: Pennsylvania County: Susquehanna PO: Susquehanna, July 9, 1881 I hereby certify that I have carefully examined Mr. Benjamin Lagier, late a Teamster Co H, 177 Regiment PA Vols in the service of the United States, who is an applicant for an invalid pension by reason of alleged disability resulting from injury to stomach causing ulceration and rheumatism. In my opinion the said Benjamin Lagier is three eights (three dollars per month) incapacitated for obtaining his subsistence by manual labor from the cause above stated. Judging from his present condition, and from the evidence before me, it is my belief that the said disability did originate in the service aforesaid in the line of duty. The disability is probably permanent. A more particular description of the applicant’s condition is subjoined: Height 5 ft 10 in Weight: 150 Complexion: Dark Age 61 Pulse 80 Respiration: 20 Applicant states, that, while on duty, at Fredrick City, Maryland, he was kicked in the epigastria by a mule and that as a consequence, he was unconscious for about three days. That there has been tenderness of the stomach ever since. That his appetite is poor and that he has occasional attacks of vomiting. I find that there is epigastria tenderness, the tongue is red at tip and edges and coated in the center. I think applicant has chronic congestion of the stomach but not ulceration. No disability on account of rheumatism. Disability on account of injury of stomach. Three Eighths. Samuel Birdsall (examining surgeon) Mr. John C. Black Dear Sir, In regard to Benjamin Lagier, as near as I can remember we were at or near Fredricks City and he was one who was sent to catch the horses and mules and word came in that Lagier was hurt. I did not witness the accident. We were just ready to leave the place but he was unable to go on with us and was left behind with the guard who attended to the baggage, and if I remember rightly he was no on duty after that. This was in the summer of 63. I would not be positive as to the month, but think it was in June or July Respectfully Edward Munson Hickory Grove, PA Mr. Lagier is quite an old man and does not enjoy good health but has managed to keep along thus far. He has a bad cough and complains of his chest troubling him a great deal. ______________________________________________________________ Susquehanna, PA Sept 1881 This certifies that Benjamin Lagier, lat of Co H 177 Reg’t Penn. Vols, while in the line of duty at Frederick City, Maryland, on or about the 6th day of July, 1863, received from a mule a severe kick in the stomach disabling him entirely from further duty while in the service. Our Reg’t was en route from Deep Creek, VA to Gettysburg, Penn. Said Lagier was left at a private house in the care of a physician, not belonging to our Reg’t, and whose name I do not know. He joined his Reg’t at harper’s Ferry on a few days prior to the mustering out of the Reg’t. I am personally conversant with the facts above stated, having many times while at Harper’s Ferry, personally furnished him with rations suitable to his condition. EW Rogers ___________________________________________________________ Susquehanna County Personally appeared before one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, Benjamin Lagier who being duly sworn makes the following statement: For five years I lived previous to my enlistment in the US service in Oakland Township, Susquehanna Co, PA my occupation was taking jobs cutting wood and farming and was always in good health. From the time of my discharge for the first year I was unable to do anything was under the doctors care, E. Patrick MD, now deceased,,,,,,,,,,,, Doctor with him three or four years after my discharge Employed SW Dayton MD I have doctored with him up to the present time. I lived in Oakland Township for about one year after my discharge then moved into Great Bend Township, Susquehanna Co, PA and have lived there up to the present time. I suffer from acute attacks of the disease of the stomach also rheumatism. These attacks are often. I have to get out of my bed often in the night to keep from strangulation. Since my discharge I have not been able to perform any kind of labor more than one quarter of the time. My Post office address is Great Bend Village, Susquehanna, PA Benjamin Lagier ______________________________________________________________________- DEPOSITION A Case of Benjamin Lagier On this twenty eighth day of July 1888 at Binghamton, County of Broome State of NY before me, H B Brown, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Lafayette C. Chase, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: Claimant witness, Claimant’s son-in-law I am 50 years old. Laborer, residence and PO 25 Morgan St Binghamton NY. I have known Benjamin Lagier since 1864. I married his daughter in 1865 and lived within a mile or mile and a half of him for some three years. Then I went west for about three years then I cam back and worked with him one season summer and winter. Then lived 10 or 12 miles from him and we visited back and forth frequently up to 1884 and since then I haven’t seen him. When I first became acquainted with him he complained of trouble with his stomach. Couldn’t work but a few minutes before he became exhausted. I asked him what the matter was and he told me that while he was in the army a mule kicked in the stomach and ever since that he had trouble with it. He had great pains in his stomach and he could not drw a long breath, got exhausted very easily and could not do any work. Lafayette C. Chase ______________________________________________________________ Additional witnesses Index of letters/Affidavits Edward Munson EW Rogers JP Doud SW Dayton SW Wilmot Charles Chamberlain L C Chase Wlm Taylor W P Dayton H D Barnes Uriah Dennis H W Kenyon S H Shaw S N Galloway Ella Boice ______________________________________________________________ WIDOW’S PENSION Claimant: Susan E. Lagier Soldier: Benjamin Lagier PO: Hallstead Rank: Private Co H County: Susquehanna State: PA Regiment: 177’ PA Drafted Mil APPROVALS Submitted for adm Oct 8, 1894 Approved for Admission October 31, 1894 The soldier was pensioned at $12 per month Enlisted Nov 5, 1862 and honorably discharged Aug 7, 1863 Died March 21, 1894 Declaration filed April 11, 1894 Claimants marriage to soldier January 29, 1842. _________________________________________________________________- Application for accrued pension WIDOWS On this 7th day of April 1894 personally appeared Susan E. Lagier who being duly sworn declares that she is the lawful widow of Benjamin Lagier deceased: that he died on the 21 day of March, 1894; that he had been granted a pension by certificate no. 411759; that he had been paid the pension by the Pension Agent at Philadelphia up to the 4th day of February, 1894 after which date he had not been employed or paid in the Army, Navy, or Marine service of the United States. That she was married to the said Benjamin Lagier on the 29th day of January, 1842 at Hickory Grove in the State of Pennsylvania that her name before said marriage was Susan E. Wilmot; that she had not been previously married; that her husband had not been previously married; that she hereby makes application for the pension and that her residence is the city of Hallstead, County of Susquehanna, State of Pennsylvania and her PO address is the same. _________________________________________________________________________ GENERAL AFFIDAVIT New York, County of Broome In the matter of Susan E. , widow of Benjamin Lagier H 177 PA Personally came before me Sophia A. Perkins aged 66 years citizen of the town of Binghamton NY County of Broome, State of New York. Being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: That she is and was personally acquainted with Benjamin Lagier and Susan E. Lagier from early childhood they were neighbors and lived in the township of Great Bend, PA that she was present at their marriage and witnessed the same, this was on or about the last of January 1842 at the residence of the father of the soldier in said town. They were married by the Rev Levi Lewis. That from her personal knowledge knows that neither of them were married prior to this marriage to each other and to her knowledge the claimant has not been married since the death of her husband the soldier. That this is from her oral statement made to and within by James Pettie at her home No 538 State Street, Binghamton NY. SOPHIA A PERKINS (Sophia Perkins was Benjamin’s sister) ____________________________________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Philadelphia Agency Oct 3, 1908 THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS------WASHINGTON, DC SIR: I have the honor to report in the case of Susan E. Lagier, widow, act April 19, 1908, Certificate No 403.288 that Frank D. Croft, of 607 Kilmer Building, Binghamton, NY was on Sept 23, 1908 appointed as committee by the Supreme Court of Broome County, State of New York pensioner having been adjudged incompetent. Respectfully S A Mulholland US Pension Agent. Hickory Grove Nov 20, 1886 ________________________________________________________-- PENSIONER DROPPED United States pension Agency Philadelphia, Pa March 24, 1910 Certificate No 403,288 Class: Widow act of April 19, 1908 Pensioner: Susan E. Lagier Soldier: Benjamin Lagier Servie Pt H, 177th PA Pensioner dropped because of death on July 30, 1909 __________________________________________________________ This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/susquehanna/military/civilwar/pensions/lagier-b.txt