Newton County, TX - Civil War Pension Application -Laban E. Sheppard **************************************************************** Contributed by Glenda Sheppard Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************************** (Front) Pension Number 16199 Form A Soldier’s Application for Pension Name of Applicant: Laban E. Sheppard Newton County Postoffice: Buna Filed: Jul 12, 1909 Approved: Aug 31, 1909 Form A For use of Soldiers, who are in indigent circumstances THE STATE OF TEXAS County of Newton I, Laban E. Sheppard do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved March 26, 1909, on the following grounds: I enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that I did not desert the Confederate service, but during said war I was loyal and true to my duty, and never at any time voluntarily abandoned my post of duty in the said service; that was honorably discharged or surrendered (shown by original discharge hereto attached.) that I have been a bona fide citizen of this State since prior to January 1, 1880, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not hold any national, State, city or county office which pays me in salary or fees one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor have I an income from any other employment or other source whatever which amounts to one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does any one hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does any one hold in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and that I am not an inmate of the Confederate Home, and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true: 1. What is your age? 75 years 2. Where were you born? Thomas County GA 3. How long have you resided in Texas? 59 years 4. In what county do you reside? Newton County 5. How long have you resided in said county and what is your postoffice address? Have lived in Newton county since July 1867, Buna, Texas 6. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension law and been rejected? No 7. What is your occupation, if able to engage in one? Can work very little 8. In what State was the command in which you served organized? Texas 9. How long did you serve? Give, if possible, the date of enlistment and discharge. Enlisted Sep 1862 and was discharged May 1865 10. What was the letter of your company, number or name of battalion, regiment or battery? Company C, (Capt. Gibbs Co)(See attached discharge) 11. If transferred from one command to another, give time of transfer, name of command and time of service. Was never transferred. 12. What branch of the service did you enlist in--infantry, cavalry, artillery or navy? Infantry 13. If commissioned direct by the President, what was your rank and line of duty? was not commissioned 14. If detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, what was the nature of your service and how long did you serve? Was not conscripted, but (wruk?) after- conscript law took effect 15. Have you transferred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? no Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. Signature of Applicant: Labon E. Sheppard Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 29th day of June 1909. E. J. Newberry County Judge Newton County, Texas. AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES Witnesses who signed were H. C. Fuller and F. P. Fuller on June 29, 1909 They added “That they served personally with him the Laban E. Sheppard for the full time claimed by him in this application. CERTIFICATE OF THE STATE AND COUNTY ASSESSOR I, H. L. Hext, State and County assessor in the County of Newton State of Texas, do certify that Laban E. Sheppard or his wife, or his trustee, or trustee for his wife, whose name is signed to the foregoing application for a pension, under the Act of the Thirty-first Legislature, approved March 26, 1909, is charged on the land personal property rolls of said county with estate, real, personal and mixed, at the assessed value of nine hundred sixty one dollars. Given under my hand, this 27th day of June, 1909. H. L. Hext State and County Assessor 1555109 WAR DEPARTMENT THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 1909 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin, The records show that Laban E. Shepherd, private, Company E, Speight’s Regiment (15th) Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, was enlisted September 1, 1862. On the roll of the company for January and February, 1864, the last roll on file, he is reported present. no later record of him has been found. Signed by the The Adjutant General H Cuis___k CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA SOLDIER'S DISCHARGE TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, Know ye, that Laban E. Shepherd Corporal of Captain W. C. Gibbs Company, E Speights Regiment of Texas Infantry who was enlisted the First day of September one thousand eight hundred and Sixty two, to serve _____ is hereby HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the ARMY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES, Having Remained True to his Colors to the Last. Paid L. E. Shepherd was born in Thomas County in the State of Georgia, is Twenty Eight years of age, Five feet Eleven inches high, Fair complexion, Grey eyes, Brown hair, and by occupation, when enlisted, a Farmer. Given at Houston Tex, this Twenty Seventh day of May 1865. R. C_______nce of TX Gen. E Kirby Smith Gen E A. A. Gei__ral