Marion County, WV: Civil War Pension Application of Levi Swisher

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Submitted to the US GenWeb Archives. Copyright June 9, 2000, typed and prepared by
Charlotte Swisher

Pension Bounty-Land File No. SC 477-057 for Levi Swisher, Civil War, Co 17 West
Virginia Volunteer Infantry-received from National Archives 21 Jul 1986
1
Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension

State: West Virginia on this 11th day of August, one thousand eight hundred and eighty
eight personally appeared before me Clerk of the County Court a Court of Record within
and for the County and State aforesaid Levi SWISHER age 62 years, who, being duly
sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Levi SWISHER who was
ENROLLED as a Private on 3rd day of Sept, 1864, in Company "C" of the 17th regiment
of West CA Inty Vols command by Capt. M. D. HELMICK and was honorably
DISCHARGED at Wheeling, WV on the 7th day of July, 1865; That his personal
description is as follows: Age 37 yrs; height 5 feet 7 inches; complexion Darke, hair
Dark; eyes Hazel. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and
in the line of duty at BULLTOWN in the State of West VA on or about the day of
winter, 1864 & 1865 he contacted Rheuratisis mostley in the left shoulder and right hip
this was mostly from exposure and Laying on the grounds. Next was Chronic Diarrhea,
At Wheelng Creek West Virginia on the 2nd day of July 1865 ? can't read these
disabilitys and seizures of same and general disability and claim pension.

Question: was he ever treated at hospitals: Was never treated in Hospital and that he had
not been in the military service otherwise that as stated above. He had not been in the
military since the 7th day of July 1865 in the State of West Virginia and that his
occupation has been that of a Farmer, and since leaving the service has resided in the
Marion County, West Virginia. Prior to his entry into the service he was a farmer, and a
man of good, sound, physical health, and that he is now partially disabled.

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.
James S WATSON of A or U(written over) ffington, WVA his true and lawful attorney.
That he has not received (?) (cant make out) applied for a pension; that his residence is
Catawba Marion Co WV and that his post office address is Catawba Marion Co WestVA

H. M. MORGAN Levi XSWISHER
Archa WILSON

2

(Other papers Included with this Declaration)
These are mostly abstracted as this is a very large file

Original Invalid Claim
Rates $8.00 a month, commencing on August 15, 1888.
Recognized Attorney: James S. WATSON, P. O., Uffington, West VA; Fee, $25.00
APPROVALS:
Approved for Rheumetism & chronic diarrhea, Sumitted April 3, 1890; Walter I. Or J.
HARRIS; ? LOUGHMAN, Legal Reviewer. 8/18-Geo L. FOX a, Medical Examiner,
EDDY, a Medical Reviewer, Apr 10th, 1890, Thos D. SUGRAVES ?, Referee

3
PROOF OF DISABILITY
When Levi Swisher first applied for pension it was in the County of Monongalia Co.
West Virginia
22nd day of February 1889-Notary Public: Archa WILSON age 62 yrs, a resident of
Clinton Dist, Monongalia Co WV.
27th day of February 1889-GENERAL AVVIDAVIT-by Richard W. KISNER, Notary
Public-WM C WILSON, 46 yrs, a resident of White Day, Monongalia Co, WestVA.
28th of February 1889-Notary Public: Eli WILSON age 49 yrs a resident of Marion Co
West VA

4
DECLARATION FOR THE INCREASE OF AN INVALID PENSION
Levi SWISHER was receiving $8.00 a moth at this time

10th of November 1890-State of West Virginia, Marion Co; James S. WATSON,
Attorney, 2 witnesses who can write-John ? (can’t make the writing out), and ? R.
PRICKETT, Levi SWISHER, his mark

3rd of June 1891-Certificate of Examination, Levi was given a 8/18 rating for disability
for diarrhea and 14/18 caused by rheumatism and head lesions, President-G. L.
McINTIRE, Secretary-W. B. Q. WILSON, Treas.-M. L. Miller
Surgeons Certificate included complete with a picture of the human skeleton

The following document is important as it names Levi’s wife and children, & dates of
births for children

15th January 1898-DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR; Levi SWISHER-Claimant,
Commissioner-H Clay ?rans? (hard to read)
1. Are you married ? If so, please state you wife’s full name and her maiden name,
Answer-Yes, Nancy WILSON
2. When, Where, and by whom you were married? Answer-February the 13, 1845 in
Marion Co West VA by Rev Alexander SUMMERS
3. What record of marriage exists? answer-Recorded in Fairmont the County, Seat of
Marion Co
4. Were you previously married and if so, please state the name of your former wife and
the date & place of marriage. Answer-NO
5. Have you children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer-Napoleon Gibbins SWISHER born december 15, 1845, Sarah Druscilla
SWISHER born April 14, 1857; Caroline Terrissa SWISHER born April 2, 1853; Mary
Levina SWISHER born April 5, 185? hard to read, looks like a 1 or a 7/9; Horatio
Columbus SWISHER born October 18, 1858; Louesa Jane SWISHER born Jul 30, 1862;
Ulyssess Grant SWISHER born June 2, 1864
Date of Reply: June 4, 1898 signed: Levi SWISHER, his mark

DECLARATION OF INVALID PENSIONS FOR INCREASES
Levi SWISHER was was granted $12.00 a month, his reason for request for pension
increase was that he was unable to do manuel labor
16th day of December 1904-Notary Public-Eldridge CARTER, 2 witnesses who could
write: Thornton W. MALONE and John N. SWISHER, and Levi SWISHER, his mark
SURGEON’S CERTIFICATE- his physical makeup was given again and this time
included his Pulse rate-(sitting-74, Standing-88, Excercise-120) and resperation
(Sitting-20, Standing-26, Exercise-30) temperature-98 3/5, President-I. W. CHESNEY,
Sec’y-M. N. KINST ?, Treas-G. H. Brownfield; very detailed certificate

Levi SWISHER was granted $17.00 a month
9th day of March 1907. Pension & Patent Attorney-Joseph H. HUNTER, Filed. Attest:
Dallas C. HAUN & J. J. STARN; Justice of the Peace-Thornton W. MALONE, Levi
SWISHER, his mark (he couldn’t write), Affidavit of-David HESTON, and 2 persons
who could write-Hannah DOOLITTLE, & E. L. BOLTON, Notary Public-William S.
DOOLITTLE

24th day of May 1912.reissue from Act of February 6, 1907, Notary Public-Eldridge
CARTER, signed Attest 1. Carl CARTER & Mrs. Valerie CARTER and Leevi (spelled
this way) SWISHER, his mark; Approved for $22.50 a month; Validity accepted.

Very important, all of this stuff was in Levi’s complete file-after 2 attempts
names all family members living and deceased

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR-January 2, 1915
1. Date & Place of Birth ? Born Geb. 10-1827 at Morgans-(now Marion Co WV)
Name of Organizations in which you served? the 17th WVA Infantry CO C
2. What was Post Office at your Enlistment? White Day, Monongalia Co
3. State your wife’s full name and her maiden name? Nancy SWISHER, Maiden
Name-WILSON
4. When, Where, and by whom were you married? Feb 13-1845 by Alexander
SUMMERS, a Minister of the gospel in marion co WV
5. Is there any official record of your Marriage? Yes, in the Clerk Office Fairmont, WVA
6. Were you previously married? No, 7. Was your wife ever married before? No
8. Are you now living with yur wife, or has there been a seperation? We lived together
until her death October 5 (almost looks like a 6) 1905.
9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead. Napoleon G.
SWISHER born Dec 15, 1845, Rebecca E SWISHER-Sept. 23, 1847-dead; WM E.
SWISHER born May 22, 1847/9 ?, dead; Sarah D. SWISHER-April 14, 1851, Caroline T.
SWISHER-Apr 25, 1853; Henry M. SWISHER-Mar 31, 1855-dead;Mary L. Swisher-Apr
5, 1857; Horatia C SWISHER-Oct. 18, 1859; Louesa J. SWISHER-July 30, 1862; Ulysses
G. SWISHER born Jun 2, 1864; Nimrod H. R. SWISHER-Sept 20, 1866-dead

Signed Mar 18, 1915 Levi SWISHER, his mark

Also Included was a Complete Index of all Originals, more of the above,Claim No.
668822