Confederate Pension of John W. Kesler

 

Questions for Applicant

State of Georgia

Banks County.

J. W. Kesler 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).

J. W. Keesler and I reside in Banks County (Urena Ga.)

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

All my life and since the 20th day of February 1845.

3. When and where were you born?

20th day of February 1845-Franklin now Banks County.

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

In April 1863 at Franklin County Georgia, Co. F 37th Ga. Regt.

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

Two years and until Surrender.

6. When and where was your company and regiment surrendered and discharged?

April 26th 1865 at Greensborough, N. C.

7. Were you present with your company and regiment when it was surrendered?

No.

8. If not present, state specifically and clearly where you were, when you left your command, for what cause and by whose authority?

I was at home.  I was in the Nashville fight and was sent after was sent to Milledgeville Ga. whereby the authority of our commanding officer was furloughed last February1865 and Sherman’s army came through and cut us off and didn’t get back before surrender to our Command.

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

Nothing.

10. What has been your occupation since 1865?

I tried to farm.

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”?

12. If upon the first ground, state how long and 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?

The cataract came in my eyes during and was caused by my service and became worse all the time and times I can not see to do anything.  Rheumatism commenced about a year ago and I became weak and infirm between four years and now, cannot do anything.

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

None whatever.

14. What property, real and personal, or income did you possess in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902, and what disposition, if any, by sale or gift, have you made of same?

None whatever.  In Franklin County until four years ago I moved to Banks.

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

In Franklin until four years ago I moved to Banks.

16. How were you supported during the years 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902?

By my married children and friends who help me.

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?

Sixty dollars.  I contributed practically nothing.

18. What was your employment during those years during 1898, 1899, 1901 and 1902?  What pay did you receive in each year?

I didn’t [do] anything practically.  Got nothing for any labor.

19. Have you a family?  If so, who composes such family?  Give their means of support?  Have they a homestead, or other property?  Their ages and how employed?

I have a wife who supports herself.

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

I am not receiving any pension.

21. Have you made an application for pension before?

I have never applied before.

22. How many applications have you ever made and under what class?

I have never any.

Signed: J. W. Kesler

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 23 day of August 1904,

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Questions for Witness.

State of Georgia

Franklin County.

W. D. Purcell of said State and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of J. W. Kesler for pension under section 1254, Code, and after being 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. D. Purcell.  Franklin County. [Georgia]

2. Are you acquainted with J. W. Kesler yes the applicant; if so, how long have you known him?

All his life-fifty years.

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

In Banks County Ga.

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

In April 1863-In Franklin County, Ga.-Company F 37th Ga. Regiment.

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

Yes.

6. How long did he perform regular military duty?

2 years.

7. When and where was his command surrendered?

In April 26th at Greensborough, N. C.

8. Were you present when it surrendered?

No.

9. Was applicant present?

No.

10. If he was not present, where was he?

At home of furlough.

When did he leave his command?

Last February 1863.

For what reason?

To get clothing.

By whose authority he left?

By authority of Commanding Officer.

How do you know all of this?

I was present and got a furlough the same time and were to return in 15 days but Sherman’s army came through and cut us off and we didn’t get back to our Command until Surrender.

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

None.  I live close to him.

12. What property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902, and what disposition, if any, did he make of same?

None.

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

None.

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

Nothing.  Suffering with Rheumatism and general debility and blindness.  Can’t see to get about at times.

15. Is the applicant unable to support himself by labor or any sort; if so, why?

He is unable to do any kind of labor for a support.

16. How was he supported during the years 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902?

By his children.

17. What portion of his support during these four years was derived from his own labor or income?

Very little if any.

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

Nothing more than above stated.

19. Who composes family?  What property have they?  Children’s age and their earning capacity?

Wife & one boy.  His wife has 50 acres of land and one horse.  Age of boy 18 years old.  About $7.00 per month.

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

None.

Signed: W. D. Purcell, Witness

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 24th day of August 1904,

L. J. Crow, Ordinary of Franklin County.

[written on left hand margin-“Georgia, Franklin County.

I, L. J. Crow ordinary of said County do hereby certify that W. D. Purcell is a trustworthy character and his statement should have full faith and credit for applicant for pension.

L. J. Crow, Ordinary.”]

 

[Handwritten] Georgia, Banks County.

Personally came before me J. W. Keesler applicant for pension who after being duly sworn says on oath that he was granted a furlough last of February 1865 at Milledgeville, Ga. for fifteen days by Capt. Sanders, the officer in command 37th Ga. Regiment.  That when his furlough expired he returned to Athens where he was command [sic] to go, and he found no officer or other person except those who had been home on a furlough, and found no transportation.  He was informed that Sherman’s Army had cut off his Command and so that they could not reach Athens.  That he made every effort to return to the service, and after using every effort and hearing of the disbanding of his Command and knews [sic] of Surrender, he returned home.

Signed: J. W. Kesler

Sworn to and subscribed before me September 21st 1907.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary of Banks County.

 

Georgia, Banks County.

Personally came before me, Ordinary of said County, the undersigned citizens who after being duly sworn say that they personally knew J. W. Kesler during the Confederate war and have known him since that time.  That he came in a fifteen day furlough and when the time was up he returned to Athens with others to rejoin his Command.  This was some time last of February 1865.

That owing to the fact that Sherman’s Army had cut them off from their Command and as they were inform [sic]  none of the boys could reach the Command before Surrender.

Every effort was made to do, and they were in service all the time ready to perform their duty as soldiers.

J. W. Kesler was a faithfull [sic] soldier all the time until the surrender and we know he is entitle [sic] to a pension under the law.

Signed: J. M. Cochran, W. A. Segers, Marian Banks, Elizabeth Martin, F. W. Martin, James Acry

Sworn to and subscribed before me Sept. 21st 1907.

T. F. Hill, Ordy., Banks County.

 

 

 

 

Notes from Pension Office as typed on Indigent Pension Application folder:

 

Pension Office 10/11/04

State clearly who gave him the authority to leave command, for what cause, for how long was his furlough granted?  State in what way Sherman’s army cut him off from Banks county, and just how he was prevented, and what effort he made to rejoin his comm. and after leaving it in Milledgeville.  Prove every fact clearly by some one that of his own knowledge knows.

J. W. Lindsey, Com. of Pens.

 

Pension Office 7/18/05

Applicant should amend his application and make response to Commissioner’s note of 10/1/04 stating just what was done by him, and the affidavit of Mr. Purcell will be considered.

J. W. Lindsey, Com. Of Pens.

[a handwritten note by the Pension Office is shown also, but too faint to read.  The dates 9/9/04, 4/7/05, 9/8/06, 9/30/07 and 8/12/08 appear as well and then “OK for 1909" when the issues must have been resolved.]

 

Transcribed 2005 by Jacqueline King, fammaw51@yahoo.com