Confederate Widow’s Pension Application of Isabella S. Ash Turk

 

Widow’s Pension 1897.

Paid to Mrs. Turk, I. S.

Of Banks County

Widow of William H. Turk

Warrant Issued 8/10 1897

And Handed To T. F. Hill-mail.

 

Affidavit to be Made by the Widow.

 

State of Georgia,

County of Banks.

In person came before me, the undersigned Ordinary in and for said County of Banks, Mrs. I. S. Turk, who being sworn according to law, says under oath that she is the widow of William H. Turk, who was a soldier in the service of the Confederate States, and served as a member of Company A of the 24 Regiment of Georgia Volunteers; that he enlisted in said Confederate Army on or about last of February 1862, and was in the Confederate Army up to 1st November 1864.  That while in the Army, he was on the [blank] day of [blank] 186_:

He was discharged at or near Richmond, Va., the first November 1864 on account of his disability and came home suffering with Chronic Diarrhoea & kidney trouble, was treated by several Physicians but without any permanent relief.  His bowels never could be controlled but a  short time which kept him down so that he was not able to do but a little manual labor after he came home in 1864 to his death in January 1885. [January 9, 1885]

Deponent further swears that she was the wife of said deceased soldier during his term of service in the Army, and that she has never married since his death; that she became his wife on the 2nd January 1845, and that she was born in Franklin County Ga. and has resided in Georgia continuously since the her birth day of 12th February 1827; that Georgia is her home, and was such on the 23rd day of December, 1890, and since said date she has not lived in any other State or locality.  Deponent, as widow of said deceased soldier husband, applies for the pension provided by Act of General Assembly of Georgia, approved December 23rd, 1890, for the pension year ending February 15th, 1897, and herewith tenders the proof of her right to receive the pension granted by said Act.

Signed: Isabella S. Turk

Post Office Homer.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 24th of March 1897.

T. F. Hill Ordinary

 

Affidavit for Three Witnesses.

 

State of Georgia,

County of Banks.

In person came before me, the undersigned Ordinary in and for said County, witnesses W. M. Boling, B. T. Smith and W. H. Meeks (each known to said Attesting Officer as  truthful, reliable and reputable citizens), who severally say under oath, that, from their own personal knowledge, Mrs. I. S. Turk, now a resident of the County of Banks State of Georgia, is the widow of William H. Turk who was soldier in Company A of the 24th Regiment of Georgia Volunteers.  That said soldier enlisted in the service of the Confederate States (or the Georgia State troops) on or about the Last day of February 1862.  That while in said service or by reason of said service in the Army, he died on the Sixth day of January 1885 from the following causes:

While on the march to Gettysburg, Pa., in June 1863 he contracted Chronic Diarrhoea and that he remained in the Army until last October or first November 1864 but was not able to do much Service and was discharged in Nov. 1864 on account of the failure of his health.  At the time of his discharge he was threatened with Dropsy, feet and legs swollen and we further testify that we have been acquainted with said soldier until his death and know what he has never had good health since the War.  That at times he was troubles with Diarrhoea and that he died with Diarrhoea and Dropsy January 6th 1885.

Our opportunity for knowing the facts stated in reference to death of applicant’s husband were:

That we belong to said Company and was with him all the time he was in the Army and since the War.  We have been within 5 or 6 miles of him and met with him often.

We further swear that she became the wife of said soldier on the [blank] day of [blank] 18_, and so remained to his death, and since then she has not again married, and that she resided in said State of Georgia on the 23rd of December, 1890, and that she has continued to reside up to this date.

We further swear that we have no personal interest in the pension asked for.

Signed: W. M. Boling, B. T. Smith, W. H. Meeks

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 24 day of March 1897.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary.

 

Additional Witnesses Affidavit. [Handwritten]

Georgia,

Banks County.

Personally came before me W. M. Ash and T. B. Griffin known to me to be truthful witnesses entitled to full faith and credit as such and on oath says that they were personally acquainted with W. H. Turk, the deceased husband of Isabella S. Turk applicant for pension.  We knew him from before the war and we know that he served in the Confederate war up to Nov. 1864 and was discharged on account of his disability, and was sent home and he was confined to his bed for a long time.  He was suffering with Chronic Diarrhoea and Kidney trouble which he contracted while in the Army.  We swear that he done but little work after he came home from the Army, and we are satisfied that the disease contracted while in the army was the cause of his death.

Signed: T. B. Griffin, William M. Ash

Sworn to and subscribed before me, 5th April 1897.

T. F. Hill Ordinary

 

Affidavit to Proof of Marriage. [Handwritten]

 

Georgia,

Banks County.

Personally before me came W. M. Ash and Margret [sic] Neal who are personally known to me to be truthful witnesses and entitled to full faith and credit as such, and afterebing duly sworn says that they were present and saw William H. Turk and Isabella S. Ash married on the 2nd day of January 1845 in Franklin County Ga. by H. C. Carter M. G., and that we further swear that Isabella S. Turk, widow of Wm. H. Turk deceased, has not remarried since.

Signed: William M. Ash, Margret Neal [siblings of Isabella Semira Ash Turk]

Sworn to and subscribed before me July 19th 1897.

T. F. Hill Ordinary.

 

Affidavit regarding Physicians’ Treatment. [Handwritten]

 

Georgia,

Banks County.

In person before me came Mrs. I. S. Turk widow of W. H. Turk deceased and after being duly sworn says that Drs. A. P. Henley, D. C. Young and A. D. Chenault who treated her husband, W. H. Turk, from the time he came home from the Confederate Army up to his death and now all dead.

Signed: Isabella S. Turk

Sworn to and subscribed before me, May 6th 1897.

T. F. Hill Ordinary.

 

Power of Attorney

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

I, I. S. Turk hereby authorize T. F. Hill of Banks County to receive and receipt for the pension allows and request that he remit the same to me at [blank] by [blank].

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 5th day of April 1897.

Signed: Isabella S. Turk

Executed in the presence of William M. Ash, Logan Perkins, Clerk of Superior Court

 

Notes- Isabella Semira Ash, born Feb. 12, 1827, in Franklin County, Ga., to Alexander Fleming Ash and Elizabeth McCracken, died 31 January 1900 and is buried beside her husband at Homer Presbyterian Church cemetery in Banks County, Georgia.

Children of William Harvey Turk and Isabella Semira Ash:

William Rutherford Turk, Alexander Ash Turk, Elizabeth Turk, Lucas Newton Turk, Cynthia Jane Turk, John Irenus Turk, James Jackson Turk, William Harvey Turk, Jr., Mary Malinda Turk, Cornelius Addison Turk and Joseph Columbus Turk.

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King