Wayne Co. PAGenWeb Archives Civil War Pension. . . .Micajah WISE / WEISS, 1915 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 ********************************************************* THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES SOLDIER’S CERTIFICATE No 407389 Veteran MICAJAH WISE (WEISS) Rank PVT Service COMPANY G 141 PA VOL INF Additional notes re Micajah Weiss: Church records suggest he was actually born Aug 14 1815. He was the son of John Weiss and Susan LaBar. He was older than most when enlisting in the army in 1862. Issues brought up in his file were the spelling of his last name. The Weiss children often used Wise in the spelling of their surname. Micajah claimed rheumatism, heart issues and hearing problems as disabilities . He had to prove that these were not just the result of age but caused by physical stress during military service. Since he outlived three wives prior to his marriage to his fourth, Christina Gemerlich Weber , Christina had to address the validity of her marriage to Micajah. In the pension file is a copy of his obituary and a letter written by his son- in-law, James Weber, who accompanied Micajah to the 50th reunion at Gettysburg in 1914. ________________________________________________________ CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE In the Town of Highland County of Sullivan This is to certify that Micajah Weiss and Christine Weber Were joined in marriage in our presence, in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, on this 28th day of February 1897, at Yulan, Sullivan County, New York. Witnesses to the marriage: Attest: John Weber Robert H. Metzgar Katie M Weber _______________________________________________________ LAW DIVISION October 20, 1914 Dr. Woods Hutchinson Hotel Marseilles, Broadway at 103 St New York, NY Sir: In response to your letter of the 26 instant, relative to the age of Micajah Weiss, late of Co G 141st PA inf,, you are advised that the records of this Bureau show that said soldier served in the army and was pensioned as Micajah Wise. There is no proof of the date of said soldier’s birth with the other papers in his case, and his own statements as to his age are conflicting. In his original declaration for pension, executed August 28, 1877, he gave his age as 62 years, while in a declaration for increase of pension, executed November 7, 1912, he gave his age as 112 years. In a letter dated September 27, 1914, reporting the soldier’s death, Elizabeth Morean of Beaver Brook, NY, stated that the soldier was 114 years of age the 3de of last June. It may be that she could inform you as to where proof of Mr. Weiss’s age might be obtained. The report from the War Department on file in this Bureau does not show Mr. Weiss’s age at date of his enlistment, but you can doubtless obtain some by addressing The Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, DC Respectfully, Commissioner Beaver Brook, Sullivan, NY March 26, 1915 Mr. GM Saltzgaber Dear Sir I have tried to do the best I can in regard to having this paper filled out. Mr. Weiss had been such a care that we didn’t get much information out of him. His discharges Were lost and I am doing the best I can to give all the information I know of to help Mrs. Weiss as she is really in need of help. It would be a great blessing when she receives some little help as a pension. Mr. Weiss died Sept. 22 nd and there was some pension due from Aug 4. Kindly look the matter over and that this information will be sufficient. Respectfully Mrs. M. Weiss per Lizzie Moreau _________________________________________________________ Civil War Division Wid. Orig. 1,045,207 Christina Wise, Micajah Wise, Co. G, 141st Pennsylvania Inf. July 22, 1915 Mrs. Christina Wise, Beaver Brook, New York Madam: Your claim for pension under the general law, filed April 21, 1915, is rejected on the ground that the soldier’s death from senile exhaustion on September 22, 1914, is not accepted as due to rheumatism and resulting disease of heart for which he was pensioned, nor was it otherwise due to his military service. If you desire to establish your title to the accrued pension which was due the soldier, evidence should be furnished (record if obtainable) showing the dates of death of the soldier’s former wives, Elizabeth (Ansley), Lucy, and Kate (Adams) (alleged by him to have died at Hemlock Hollow, Pennsylvania) and of your former husband, Henry Weber. There is further required testimony of witnesses who lived in the vicinity with you and the soldier and have personal knowledge, showing whether you lived together without divorce from marriage until his death; also testimony of witnesses who knew you from the time each became of marriageable age, showing whether you had been married more than once prior to your marriage to the soldier and whether he was previously married more than three times, and if so, the date of death or divorce of each other consort should be proven. You should state, under oath, the correct date of the soldier’s death; also whether your former husband (or husbands) served in the army or navy of the United States, and if so, the full designation of such service and whether a claim for pension was ever filed on account thereof. Witnesses should state their ages, addresses, and means of knowledge of facts to which testifying, and all statements should be properly sworn to. Very respectfully, G M Saltzgaber. ________________________________________________________ PROOF OF DISABILITY Stat of: Pennsylvania County of Wayne On This Eighth day of February 1884 personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in for the aforesaid county, duly authorized to administer oaths Charles Williams aged 56 years, a resident of Tustin in the county of Pike and state of Pennsylvania acquainted with Micajah Wise applicant for Invalid Pension and know the said Micajah Wise to be the identical person of that name who enlisted or volunteered as a Private in Company G, 141st Regiment of PA Inf. Vols, and who was discharged on or about the 28th day of March, 1865. That the said Micajah Wise while in the line of his duty, at or near Brandy Station in the State of Virginia did, on or about the 28th day of February, 1864 become disabled in the following manner, viz: was taken with inflammatory rheumatism caused by heavy marching and exposure he kept along with the wagon train until about the last of Mayt 1864 in the capacity teamster. He was taken to city point hospital, I was sent to the hospital for treatment and saw the applicant there under the care of physicians. He was not able to help himself. ____________________________________________________________ Town of Tustin, County of Sullivan and State of New York Beaver Brook, NY Oct 22 1915 Patrick Redding of Beaver Brook NY being sworn deposed and says that he is 48 year of age has been a resident of Beaver Brook since childhood and therefore has known Christina Wise formerly Christina Weber for over 35 years was personally acquainted with Henry Weber former husband of Christina Wise will certify that Henry Weber former husband of Christina Wise died June 16th, 1889 have personal knowledge that Micajah Wise the ex soldier was not divorced from his said wife Christina; Micajah Wise died 22nd of September 1914. Henry Webber former husband of Christina Wise never served in the army or navy of the United States. Patrick Redding _________________________________________________________ Town of Tusten County of Sullivan and state of New York To whom it may concern I am William E Rowers a Justice of the Peace for 14 years my term of office will expire 1917. I have known Christina Wise formerly Christina Weber for 43 years and will cetify that no one in this county knew Christina Wise from the time she was of marriageable age for the said Christina Wise formerly Christina Weber. Christina Weber was married in Germany so it is impossible to get any proof from anyone that knew Christina Wise at the time of her first marriage to Henry Weber. ________________________________________________________ Dr. woods Hutchinson The Commissioner, US Pension Department, Washington, DC Dear Sir I have been for a number of years interested in centenarians and have just noted in the public prints the report of the death of one Micajah Weiss of Beaver Brook, Sullivan County, New York, who has just died at the alleged age of 114. The report wtates that he is a civil war veteran and has been in the receipt of a pension, and if it would not be too much trouble I would be very greatly obliged if you could kindly have one of your staff look up his name, and if he is on the rolls, let me know what was his age at death, and also, if it is not too much trouble, what ws the age at which he either enlisted or was mustered out of service. Thank you in advance for any information you may be able to give me. Yours truly, Woods Hutchinson COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA WAYNE COUNTY Personally appeared before me, the subscriber A H Catterall Justice of the Peace of the said county W B Ammerman of Hawley, Wayne County,; PA aged 68 years who being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say, that by profession he is an undertaker; that he knew personally the soldier Micajah Wise for 35 years that he does not remember his first wife (said to have been Elizabeth Ansley Wise) but that he attended the funeral of the second wife (Lucy James Wise, who died October 12th 1891) and buried her at Lakeville PA that he also attended the funeral of the third wife, Kate Adams Wise who died at Lakeville PA April 21, 1895, and buried her at Rowlands, PA April 23 1895 October 25, 1915 ____________________________________________________________ Pension Bureau Washington DC Gentlemen: Enclosed find a true publication of Micajah Weiss with the exception of his being overcome by the heat at Gettysburg Reunion. That is not true. I motored him to Gettysburg and back home. He enjoyed the trip immensely and the following a October I motored him to Stroudsburg PA and back the next day a distance Of seventy miles each way. He also enjoyed that trip buy soon after began to fail and August 1st 1914 took his bed never to rise. And his widow now seventy-two next month cared and waited on him night and day until the end. I desire to know if she is entitled to a pension remaining his widow. Thanking you for an early reply. Yours truly John Weber ----____________________________________________________________ COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, WAYNE COUNTY Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, WB Ammerman, Justice of the Peace of the said county Wayne Lafayette James aged 55 years of Lakeville formerly Hemlock Hollow who being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say, that he knew Micajah Wise personally for 35 years. That he knew his former wives, his first wife being Elizabeth Ansley that he does not remember the date of her death but the inscription on her tombstone at Lakeville PA reads that she died Nov 12 1874. That he later married Lucy James, widow, and mother of the affiant, that she died Oct 12, 1891 and was buried at Lakeville PA. That he then married for his third wife Kate Adams who died at Lakeville, then known as hemlock Hollow, and was buried at Westfalls, now Rowlands, Pike County, PA That he was a neighbor of the said Micajah Wise and knows that he lived with each of the three named wives until the time of their death that to the best of his knowledge and belief there was no public or other record of their death. ________________________________________________________________ DECLARATION FOR WIDOW’S PENSION State of New York County of Sullivan On this 2nd day of November, 1916 personally appeared before me a notary public within and for the county and state aforesaid, Christina Weiss who being duly sworn by me according to law, declares that she is 74 years of age and that she was born Nov 15, 1842 at Auf Alten Dahl, Bavaria, Germany. That she is widow of Micajah Weiss, who enlisted at Honesdale PA under the name of Micajah Weiss as a private in Company G 141st Pennsylvania Vol Unfantry. That she was married to said soldier February 28th 1897 under the name of Christina Weber at Yulan NY by Robt. H. Metzer that she have been previously married; that he had been previously married, Christina Gemerlich to Henry Weber (died June 15, 1896) Micajah Wise to Elizabeth Ansley died Nov 12 1874 Micajah Wise to Lucy James died Oct 12th 1891 Micajah Wise to Kat Adams died May 21st 1895 That the said soldier died Sept 20, 1914 at Beaver Brook NY that she was not divorced from him and that she has not remarried since his death. Left no children. ______________________________________________________________ TO THE PENSION OFFICE Dear Sirs Mr. Micajah Weiss the oldest veteran on the pension list died Sept 22 and was buried Sept 25 at Beaver Brook, Sullivan Co NY M5r. Weiss was 114 years old on the 3rd of June. _________________________________________________________________ DETAILS FROM DEATH CERTIFICATE Place of death Sullivan Co Town: Tusten Village, Beaver Brook Full name: Micajah Wise Date of death: Sept 22, 1914 Date of birth: June 3, 1800 Trade: Lumberman Name of father: John Weiss Birthplace of father: USA Maiden name of mother: Susan LaBarr Birthplace of mother: USA Informant: Joseph Weber, Beaver Brook, NY (son of fourth wife Christina) ___________________________________________________________________ Christina Gemerlich Weber, Wese died July 29, 1917 Obituary of Micajah Weiss/Wise OLDEST MAN IN THE STATE IS DEAD Micajah Weiss was 112 years old Lived at Beaver Brook, Sullivan County-Married Four Widows--was Childless’’ Micajah Weiss, the oldest man in the United States, died at Beaver Brook, Sullivan County, on Tuesday at the age of 112 years. He was married four times. Each wife was a widow. He helped rear several children, but never was father to anyone. He fought in nearly every battle of the Civil War, and was the oldest pensioner at the time of his death. In the summer of the year 1801, along the Delaware River, below the Delaware Water Gap, at a place called Dancing Rift, PA there was born to John and Susan LaBarr Weiss, a son, to whom was given the Micajah Weiss, the subject of this sketch. Besides Micajah, there were eight other children in the family. His early life was spent near his birth place and it may be said that he was not only born and bred along the Delaware Rive5r, but he had kept near it since. It is supposed that Micajah Weiss was born on June 3rd, 1801, but as to the day and the month, it cannot be definitely asserted. For 70 years he made Purdytown his residence and was well known by all the people in that region. In 1828 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Ansley, who was the mother of four children, all of whom lived to become old men. Leonard Ansley, who made his residence at St. Louis; Joseph, of Scranton, PA; William and Permiellia, of Purdytown. William, the youngest of the family, was about two yers of age when Mr. Weiss married his mother, and it is said that Mr. Weiss was 27 years of age at the time. William Ansley died at Lakeville, PA, in February, 1905, aged 79 years. If he were living today he would be 88 years of age. So adding the age of Mr. Weiss at the time of his marriage to Mrs. Ansley to the age of Mr. Ansley, loess 2, would give us the age of Mr. Weiss now, or 112 years. Two children were born to Mr. Weiss by his first wife, a son and a daughter, both of whom died in infancy; they being the only offspring of Mr. Weiss. Mrs. Ansley-Weiss died in 1871. In 1875, he wa united in marriage to mrs. Lucy A. James, the widow of Thomas D. James, of Lackawaxen, PA, and the mother of five sons and a daughter: Edward, of Ashley; Silas, of Sugar Notch; Samuel, of Hawley; Lafayette, and Della, of Lakeville, and William, of East Orange. NJ. Mrs. James-Weiss died in October, 1891. In 1894 he married Mrs. Kate Adams, widow of John Adams, of Rowlands, PA. Soon after their marriage Mrs. Weiss‘ health failed and she lived only four months. Abut a year after the death of this third wife, Mr. Weiss came to Sullivan County, and has since that time made his residence in the county. On February 28, 1897, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Christina Weber, of Beaver Brook, by R H Metzger, Justice of the Peace. For about 55 years Mr. Weiss engaged in lumbering and had taken hundreds of rafts down the Delaware to Eason, Trenton, and Philadelphia; many times walking back the entire distance. He had the reputation of being one of the most expert stearsmen on the Delaware. A few years ago he wanted to make a trip down the river, just to show the boys that he had not forgotten how; but he was persuaded otherwise. As a hunter Mr. Weiss is scarcely excelled by any man living in this part of the country. In his hunting days game was plentiful. He is known at one time to have taken a four horse load of venison to Philadelphia to dispose of in the market. Very few men, if any, have killed more deer than Micajah Weiss. In later years he was an inveterate raccoon hunter. Many of the younger men would go out with him, expecting that the long tramp and the drowsy feeling would capture and overcome the old man, but he had been too long in the business to allow the lads to out do him, and each occasion added to their admiration of his strength and skill. Mr. Weiss had always been a hard worker. When younger, as it has been intimated he was a lumberman. Of course this relates to the winter season, for he was engaged in farming for the greater part of his life. One winter he was engaged by George Sandercock, of Long Eddy, PA to work in the lumber woods. He built a cabin for himself and a shed for his oxen, at the head of Long Pond, near what was known as the Big Ledges. It was interesting to hear him tell of his encounter with a pack of wolves with which he had to fight in order to save his oxen in the shed. He saved them, but nearly lost his life. As a farmer he was industrious and active and was well able to keep up to his neighbors in the amount of work done and the quantity of crops raised. He wa a soldier of the Civil War. He enli9sted in the 143rd Penn. Regiment on August 14, 1862 and served until the close of the war. A short time ago when he was asked how many battles he took part in, he replied: “Most all of ‘em” In personal appearance Mr. Weiss was short and stocky, his form slightly bent, and until the rheumatism got hold of him he walked with apparent ease, though he used a cane. His face was almost ruddy with health and his eyes fairly danced as he talked and laughed. His memory was bright and the operations of his mind seemed lively. His locks were snowy white and hung down over his neck,. He had never worn glasses, and there had not been much need for them in his case, since his education was so scanty and limited that he could not read or write. For ordinary purposes his eyes were nerly as good as they ever were. He never used tobacco in any form, though he had a glass of whiskey whenever he felt like it. Last year he attended the Gettysburg reunion and was overcome by the heat. He never fully recovered from the trip and the experience probably hastened his death. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/wayne/military/civilwar/pensions/wise-m.txt