Confederate Pension Application of Alanson G. Bowden

 

Questions for Applicant

State of Georgia

Banks County.

A. G. Bowden of said State and County, desiring to avail himself of the Pension Act (Section 1254, Code), hereby submits his proofs, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your name and where do you reside? (give State, County and post office.)

A. G. Bowden.  I reside in Banks County, Ga., Homer P. O.

2. How long and since when have you been a resident of this State?

Since 1854.

3. When and where were you born?

1828.  S. C.

4. When and where and in what company and regiment did you enlist or serve?

I have been a resident since 1854 of Ga. Enlisted in Co. H 34th Ga. May, 1862.

5. How long did you remain in such company and regiment?

Until the surrender May 1865.

6.For how long a period did you discharge regular military duty?

About 22 months.

7. When, where and under what circumstances were you discharged from service?

I was surrendered at Greensborough, N. C. May 1865.

8. What is your present occupation?

I have no occupation at present.

9. How much can you earn (gross) per annum by your own exertions or labor?

I can earn nothing.

10. What has been your occupation since 1865?

Farming.

11. Upon which of the following grounds do you base your application for pension, viz: first, “age a poverty,” second, “infirmity and poverty,” or third, “blindness and poverty”?

[Blank]

12. If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such condition that you could not earn your support?  If upon the second, give a full and complete history of the infirmity and its extent?  If upon the third, state whether you are totally blind and when and where you lost your sight?

About four years ago had attack of La Grippe.  Left him in a very weak and feeble condition.  Kidney and bladder became affected.  Have to pass urine every few hours.  Very troublesome at night.  Pain and difficulty.  Much debility. [continued in left margin of application] Also have much trouble with dizziness or partial blindness.  Cannot walk alone in the dark and often in the daytime.

13. What property, effects or income do you possess, and its gross value?

A little household goods and 1 cow. ($25.00)

14. What property, effects or income did you possess in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898, and what disposition, if any, did you make of same?

In 1894 I had 1 horse, some yearlings and cows.  Since then [the] horse died and I had to dispose of the cattle for support.

14. In what County did you reside during those years, and what property did you return for taxation?

I resided in Banks County.  The horse and cattle.

16. How were you supported during the years 1897 and 1898?

I was supported by my wife and children.

17. How much did your support cost for each of those years, and what portion did you contribute thereto by your own labor or income?

About 50 or 60 dollars.  I did not furnish none.

18. What was your employment during 1897 and 1898?  What pay did you receive in each year?

I did nothing.  Nothing except a little work in garden.

19. Have you a family?  If so, who composes such family?  Give their means of support? Have they a homestead?

I have a wife and 3 children-2 girls and 1 boy, and one of the girls not able to do anything.  All have to work for their support & mine.

20.  Are you receiving any pension?  If so, what amount, and for what disability?

None.

 

Signed: A. G. Bowden, Applicant

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 31st  day of March, 1899.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions for Witness.

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

W. O. Hopper, of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of A. G. Bowden for pension under Section 1254, Code, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows:

1. What is your name and where do you reside?

W. O. Hopper is my name and I reside in Banks County.

2. Are you acquainted with A. G. Bowden, the applicant; if so how long have you known him?

I have know [sic] him 40 years.

3. Where does he reside, and how long and since when has he been a resident of this State?

He resided in Banks County, Ga., and been resident 40 years in the State.

4. When, where and in what company and regiment did he enlist, and how do you know?

May 1862. Co. H 34 Regt. Ga. Vols.  I was a member also.

5. Were you a member of the came company and regiment?

I was.

6. How long did he perform regular military duty, and what did you know of his service as a Confederate soldier, and the time and circumstances of his discharge from the service?

He done regular service as a soldier 2 ½ years and was surrendered at Greensborough, N. C. May, 1865.

7. What property, effects or income has the applicant? (Give your means of knowledge.)

He has no property except a little household goods and one cow.

8. What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1896, 1897 and 1898, and what disposition, if any, did he make of same?

He had some cows and the household furniture which he has had to sell to make support.

9. Has he conveyed away any of his property in the last three years, if so, what was it, and to whom?

He not conveyed any only what he sold for support.

10. What is the applicant’s occupation and physical condition?

He has no occupation now, and he suffers all the while with back and kidneys.

11. Is the applicant unable to support himself by labor of any sort, if so, why?

He is unable to support himself on account of the pains in his limbs and back.

12. How was he supported during the year 1897 and 1898?

By his family.

13. What portion of his support for these two years was derived from his own labor or income?

None.

14. Give a full and complete statement of the applicant’s physical condition that entitles him to a pension under Section 1254, Code?

He suffers all the while and is confined to his room ½ of his time on account of his feeble condition.

15. What interest have you in the recovery of a pension by this applicant?

None.

 

Signed: Wm. O. Hopper, Witness

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 3rd day of April 1899.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King