Newton County, TX - Civil War Pension Application - Martha Sheppard, widow of Laban E. Sheppard **************************************************************** Contributed by Glenda Sheppard Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************************** (Front) Widow’s Application for Pension Name of Applicant Martha Sheppard Newton County Buna (TX) Filed May 30, 1910 Approved Aug 31, 1910 Pension Allowed from Jun 1, 1910 Signed E. A. Bolmes Commissioner of Pensions Page 1 Form B For Use of Widows of Soldiers Who are in Indigent Circumstances THE STATE OF TEXAS County of Newton I, Mrs. Martha 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, A. D. 1909, on the following grounds: I am the widow of Laban E. Sheppard deceased, who departed this life on the 10th day of April, A. D. 1910, in the county of Newton, in the State of Texas. I have not remarried since the death of my said husband, and I do solemnly swear that I was never divorced from my said husband, and that I never voluntarily abandoned him during his life, but remained his true, faithful and lawful wife up to the date of his death. I was married to him on the 22nd day of October, A. D. 1857 in the county of Jasper, in the State of Texas. My husband, the said Laban E. Sheppard, enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that he did no desert the confederate Service. I have been a resident of the State of Texas since prior to March 1, A. D. 1880, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not 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 from my benefit or use, 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 I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true: 1. What is your age? 73 years old 2. Where were you born? Decatur County Georgia 3. HOw long have you resided in the State of Texas? about 70 years 4. How long have you resided in the county of your present residence: And what is your postoffice address? about 43 years, Buna, Texas 5. What was your husband’s full name? Laban Elzie Sheppard 6. When and where were you married? October 22, 1857, Jasper Co, Texas 7. what was the date of his death? April 10, 1910 8. In what State was your husband’s command originally organized? Texas 9. How long did your husband serve? If known to you, give date of enlistment and discharge. He served about 3 years, Can’t give exact dates of enlistment & discharge 10. What was the name or letter of the company, or name or number of the battalion, regiment or battery of artillery in which your husband served? If he was transferred from one branch of service to another, give time of transfer, description of command and time of service. Co. E, Spaights Reg - of TX Infantry - was never transferred. 11. Name branch of service in which your husband served, whether infantry, cavalry, artillery or the navy, or if commissioned as an officer by the President, his rank and line of duty, or if detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, the nature of such service, and time of service. Infantry - was never commissioned by the President 12. 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 her application for a pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. Signature of Applicant: Martha Sheppard X her mark Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 20th day of May, A. D. 1910 E. J. Newberry County Judge Newton County, Texas AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES Signed on May, 26th, 1910 by H. C. Fuller and F. P. Fuller (they did not add any comments besides what was pre-typed on the form CERTIFICATE OF STATE AND COUNTY ASSESSOR States that she owns no property, signed by State and County assessor: H. L Hent (this may be Hunt) OFFICE OF Commissioner of Pensions State of Texas Austin E. A. Bolmes, Commissioner To the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I have the honor to request the military record of Laban E. Sheppard who is reported to have enlisted in Company E, Regiment 21st Texas Infantry in the service of the Confederate States Army. Purpose: The widow of the person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this State, and I desire to verify his proof of service. Very respectfully, E. A. Bolmes (*E. A. Bolmes had beautiful handwriting) Commissioner of Pensions 1690065 WAR DEPARTMENT, THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE. WASHINGTON, September 3, 1910 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin. The records show that Laban E. Shepherd, private and corporal, Company C, Spaight’s Battalion, afterwards Company E, Spaight’s Regiment, also called 21st Regiment Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted September 1, 1862. He is reported present on the roll of company for January and February, 1864, and his name is borne on the roll for January and February, 1865, last roll on file, without remark as to presence or absence. No further record of him has been found. (signed by The Adjutant General) (*NOTES: Martha’s maiden name was Martha Patsy Kelley. Laban was born in 1834 in GA. There is a monument in Buna TX with his name on it honoring him as a veteran of Texas. Buna is now a part of Jasper County, was Newton County during the time of the application)