Confederate Pension Application of George W. Bowden
Questions for Applicant.
State of Georgia
Banks County.
G. W. Bowden of said State, and
County, desiring to avail himself of the Pension Act approved December 15th
, 1894, 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.)
G. W. Bowden. I reside in Georgia, Banks County, P. O.
Alto.
2. Where did you reside on January
1st, 1894, and how long have you been a resident of this State?
Alto, Banks County, Ga. Since Oct. 1851.
3. When and where were you born?
Anderson Co., S. C., Sept. 29
1830.
4. When and where and what company
and regiment did you enlist or serve?
April 1862 at Camp McDonald in
Company H and 34 Georgia regiment.
5. How did you remain in such
company and regiment?
Till May 16, 1863. Was wounded on that date at Bakers Creek,
Mississippi, and remained in hospital till Sept., then fourloughed (sic) home.
6. For how long a period did you discharge regular military duty?
About 13 months.
7. When, where and under what
circumstances were you discharged from service?
In May or June 1865 after close of
War at Athens, Ga., by Payroll.
8. What is your present
occupation?
Farming when able.
9. How much can you earn (gross)
per annum by your own exertions or labor?
About $40.00.
10. What has been your occupation since 1865?
Farming when able.
11. Upon which of the following
grounds do you base your application for pension, viz: first “age and poverty”,
second “infirmity and poverty” or third “blindness and poverty”?
Age and infirmity.
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 3 years-I was wounded in leg
in May 1863, this caused partial paralysis.
Contracted piles at Vicksburg, Miss., just before was wounded from which
I have never gotten relief.
13. What property, effects or income
do you possess and its gross value?
Kitchen furniture worth about
$50.00.
14. What property, effects of
income did you possess in 1894, 1895 and 1896 and what disposition, if any, did
you make of same?
I paid taxes in 1894, 1895 &
1896 on $1200.00 worth property, which property was sold under Mortgage 1st
day Dec. 1896.
15. In what county did you reside
during those years and what property did you return for taxation?
I resided in Banks County,
returned $50.00 in Banks Co.
16. How were you supported during
the years 1895 and 1896?
From rents from the farm in Hall
County which was sold as stated.
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 $125.00. Could earn about $40.00.
18. What was your employment
during 1895 and 1896? What pay did you
receive each year?
Tried to farm, got no wages.
19. Have you a family? If so, who composes such family? Give their means of support? Have they a homestead?
I have a wife only. She is very feeble. She has no means of support. She owns 25 acres of land, about 6 acres in
cultivation.
20. Are you receiving any pension,
if so, what amount and for what disability?
No pension.
Signed: George W. Bowden,
Applicant
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this the 6th day of December 1897.
T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks
County.
Questions for Witness.
State of Georgia
Hall County.
Allen D. Candler, of said State
and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of
G. W. Bowden for pension under the Act approved December 15th, 1894
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?
My name is Allen D. Candler. I reside in Hall County, Ga.
2. Are you acquainted with G. W.
Bowden the applicant, if so how long have you known him?
Yes; have known him 43 years.
3. Where does he reside, and how
long has he been a resident of this State?
He resides in Banks County, Ga.,
has resided there since 1853.
4. Do you know of his having
served in the Confederate army of the Georgia militia? How do you know this?
Yes; because he served in my
Company.
5. When, where and in what company
and regiment did he enlist?
May 1862, Camp McDonald Ga., in
Co. H 34th Ga. Infantry.
6. Were you a member of the same
company and regiment?
Yes.
7. How long did he perform regular
military duty, and what do you know of his service as a Confederate soldier,
and the time and circumstances of his discharge from this service?
He served a little over a year
when he was severely wounded in battle at Bakers Creek Miss. On the 16 May 1863
and disabled from further service.
8. What property, effects or
income has the applicant? (Give your means of knowledge.)
He has none, and lives with his
daughter. He lived in one mile of me in
1894-5 & 6.
9. What property, effects or
income did the applicant possess in 1895 and 1896, and what disposition, if
any, did he make of same?
Sheriff sold all the property he
had in 1896.
10. What is the applicant’s
occupation and physical condition?
He was in his early life a
carriage builder, afterwards a farmer.
His physical condition bad, too feeble to earn a support.
11. Is the applicant unable to
support himself by labor of any sort, if so, why?
Yes; because of age and
infirmity. His rent supported him in
1895 and 1896. He now has no income.
12. How was he supported during
the years 1895 and 1896?
From rent of farm which has been
sold for debt.
13. What portion of his support
for these two years was derived from his own labor or income?
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14. Give a full and complete
statement of the applicant’s physical condition that entitles him to a pension
under the Act of December 15th, 1894?
He is old and infirm, partially
paralyzed from his old wound, and worn out by hard work, exposure and his
military service.
15. What interest have you in the
recovery of a pension by this applicant?
None.
Signed: Allen D. Candler, Witness.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
this 8 day of November 1897.
And I certify that A. D. Candler
is trustworthy and entitled to credit.
A. Rudolph, Ordinary [Hall County,
Ga.]
Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline
King