Children - documented: Daniel Barker; David Jefferson Barker; Sarah A Barker; Pearl May Barker
George was a soldier in the Civil War, Company M, 12th Indiana Cavalry, He enlisted on Nov 24, 1863, and was discharged on June 27, 1865.
Per George's Civil War Military file, he died in Bath, Mason County, Illinois on June 20 1878 at home, with his wife and children present. He was buried at the Bath Cemetery on June 21, 1878. He is in an unmarked grave. This has not been confirmed by cemetery records as of Oct 2016.
Excerpts:
Military Pension File Baker, George W: Widow Barker, Elizabeth: Application Numbers 108780 and 253989 and under Certificate column 970604 and 314568. General index to pension files roll 21 1861-1934 but #'s are unreadable. Thanks to great staff they were able to find the correct numbers thru other means, thus locating the file.
Copied from National Archives April 1999 by Peg Huffman. The original documents were very fascinating. The first sheet was of a cloth type material.
PAGE 15 Albert Spencer, Oct 2nd 1887 "...he was wounded by the accidental discharge of a carbine the ball entered the center of his hand inside ? through after which he was discharged....we went to Alabama in the spring of 1864 in March 1865 we went to Vicksburg where we were mounted and armed with sabers, carbines and this place Vicksburg is where the applicant was wounded and discharged"
PAGE 39 Affidavit -- May Metz,25 and Sarah Mosburger, 34 both residents of Tekamah, Burt Co, NE, " were present when father George W Barker died on 20 June 1878 at home in Bath, Mason Co, IL"
PAGE 40 Affidavit -- J. F. Conner, 46 yrs old, Harpen Co, KS, "brother to Elizabeth J Barker...was at my fathers house at the time that she was married to Geo. W Barker, Warren Co, IA on the 27 Aug 1852 and seen them stand up with joined hands and heard Squire Sheckel pronounce the ceremony, who lived near Greenbush, Waren Co, IA. And I have the old family bible in my possession that my father had at that time and in it with all the rest of the marriages of the family I find the marriage of my sister Elizabeth J Conner and Geo. W Barkers marriage duly recorded in my fathers hand write...."
PAGE 41 Affidavit-- Wilson W Conner, aged 49,Cedar Vale, Chantangua Co, KS, "that Elizabeth J Barker the claimant was married to the said George Barker Aug 27, 1852 in the county of Warren State of Iowa. The marriage Ceremony was performed by Squire Sheckell, a Justice of the Peace, in the county of Warren, IA at the Bride's home in said county. and that she remained the lawful wife of the said Geroge W Barker during his natural life....he was well and intimately acquainted with the claimant and George W Barker and was present at the time and witnessed the marriage ceremony stated above between the two parties aforesaid."
PAGES 65 - 67-- "...The claimant (Elizabeth Barker) bears a good reputation in the community in which she lives and her manner of testifying impressed me with the fact that she aimed to tell the whole truth. She is a feeble old lady, is crippled in one arm, lives in a little shanty, consisting of one room through the crevices of which the winter wind was whistling while I took her statement. She has no other means of support except the pension which she receives....The other witnesses that testified before me bear a good reputation for truth and veracity in the community. They are the children of claimant....Pearly M Barker was born Aug 11, 1866.......The soldier was moving from place to place continually from discharge to date of death....." WV Ruppert, Special Examiner
PAGES 66-67 summary of places lived:
before war Jasper Co, IN
to 1869 Kouts, Porter Co, IN
1869 - 1871 Aroma, IL
1871 - 1873 Goodland, IN
1873 - 1875 Commersville, Dunn Co, WI
1876 to death Bath, Mason Co, IL
PAGES 68 - 73 -- Deposition of Elizabeth J Barker on 16 Dec 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE:
" I am 62 years of age...I am living here with my daughter I am too old and too badly crippled to do any work. I am the claimant in this case and am the widow of George W Barker who served in the Com. "M" 12th Ind Cav, he enlisted Nov 24, 1863, was discharged June 27, 1865, he served as a private, he was not in any other service except as I have stated.
He died at Bath, Mason Co, IL on June 20, 1978. The doctors said that chronic diarrhea was the cause of his death, the physicians that attended him during his last sickness were Dr. John Curoz, Dr. Willings, and Dr. Fullerton do not know their first names.....
I was married to Geo. W barker at Des Moines, IA on the 27th day of August 1862 by Esq. Shuckle, I do not think they kept any record of marriages then. Willson W Conner of Cedar Vale, KS was present when I was married. No, neither Geor W nor myself had been married prior to our marriage to each other. My maiden name was Elizabeth J Conner....I had 1 child that was under sixteen years of age when soldier died, her name was Pearly M barker, she was born Aug 11, 1866, near Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN....old Mrs. Couch was there but she is dead, old Mrs. Price was there she must be dead now, I had no physician.
Rachel Pearcey of Craig, NE knows about the date of my daughters birth, Sarah Mosburger here in Tekamah knows about the date of Pearls birth here is my family record, the date was set down there when it was fresh in my mind. I know that the date is Aug 11, 1866.....There is no record of Pearlys birth that I know of except the family record kept by me.
George had good health before he enlisted, he was not sick in bed at any time before he enlisted, no, he did not have the diarrhea before he enlisted. For several years before soldier enlistment, we lived near Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN, some of our neighbors there were George Childers, Joseph Childers, and Albert Spencer of Kouts. Albert Spencer could probably give the names of other neighbors that are there now. We had no family physician before the war. George was farming before the war, he was farming Truman Stoddardard farm.
My husband had a claim for pension on file, he never got anything before he died, I want to complete that claim. I am now drawing a pension under the act of June 27, 1896. ...He got shot through his left wrist in the service, he came home on Furlough later he was short, his writs was still sore when he cam home and his arm was never of any more account to him as long as he lived, he had no strength in that arm after he was shot, when he would use it, it would swell up and get sore....
He said it was an accident, that his gun was behind the bunk, that he reached for it, it caught in the cover of the bunk, and the ball ball went through this wrist, he said he was going to clean up the fun for a general muster, he said that Randolph Trinkle was with him when he was shot. I do not know where Randolph is, he was his bunkmate.....
When soldier was discharged, he located at Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN. We lived there about 3 years, he farmed Mr. Prieces place one year. That was just after the war he had the diarrhea and failes so bad that he could not do much good farming, he hauled some for various parties part of the time that he was at Kouts, IN, he worked for W Stoddard, Joe and Geo Childers and Jno Gibson. Dr. Shultz of Logansport treated him a few times....soldier took a good deal of patent medicine.
About 1869 we went to Aroma, IL on the Kankakee river, we lived there 2 years, soldier hauled wood and worked by the month there, he worked for W and Aee Beebe, he had no Doctor there he used patent medicine.
In 1871 we went to Goodland, IN and lived there 2 years, soldier was breaking prairie and farming some there. Elizabeth Conner of Commersville, WI knew soldiers condition while at Goodland, IN...
We went to Commersville, Dunn Co, WI in 1873 and stayed there a year. Soldier was engaged in clearing land there he did the hauling and the boys did the cutting. W Riller, Lewelle Sutcliffe, Wesley Roberts, Joe Roberts and W Noonleith knew him. He also lived at Commersville, WI during the year 1875....he had several bad spells...
In 1874 we lived at Sandwich, IL, he was hauling wood there, I don't remember any names of my people there.
In 1876 we went to St. Louis, MO and lived there a year....he was burning and hauling charcoal for a living there, some of our neighbors there were Richard Grors, Thos Mayberry and Pleus Coffe and Geolfrey Loner.
In 1877 we went to Bath, Mason Co, IL and lived there until the soldier died....Dr. Fullerton treated soldier during his last sickness he told me that he would not make a affidavit unless I gave him a hundred dollars which he claimed that my husband owed him for some mules two mules.
Soldier worked some at Bath, he plowed some, we got to Bath in the fall of 1877, my husband took to his bed the 25 of May and did not get out of it until he died June 20, 1878.....I have always thought that this diarrhea was the cause of this death...No, soldier had no other disease at any time except as I have stated."
Elizabeth could not sign her name, there is her mark and signatures of May Metz and DL Barker as witnesses.
PAGE 74, Deposition "B" of Mrs. P. M. Metz 16 Dec 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE
"I am 29 years of age, I was 29 years years old the 11th of last August....I am keeping house for my mother who is the claimant in this case. There has never been any question or doubt in my mind in regard to my age. I have always understood that I was born on the 11th of Aug, 1866...My maiden name was Pearly M Barker I was almost 12 years old when my father died. Yes I remember my fathers last sickness. I have a clear recollection of it, I was at home during the whole time he was sick in bed about a month.....I understood them and have always since believed that it was the diarrhea that caused his death. No, my mother has not remarried...Yes, she took care and provided for me until I was sixteen years of age and I have been with her most of the time since then, no, my mother is not able to do any work, her left arm is crippled and she has poor health in general. She has no other means of support except her pension. I understand the questions, my answers are correctly recorded. Pearly May Metz"
PAGES 76-77, Deposition C of David J Barker on 16 Dec 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE
"I am 36 years of age..I am a laboring man. I am the son of the claimant. I know that I am six years older than my sister Pearly M and that her birthday does come in August and mine in November. Yes, I worked with my father and worked right along with him from the time that I was big enough to work until he died. I was at home most all the time.....He was bothered with that chronic diarrhea and the piles a great deal, he did not have good use of his left arm, it would get lame often and he could not do hard work to amount to anything on account of that arm....he was a thin man and got poorer every year until he died. I was at home during my fathers last sickness, I was about the sick room every day...I helped to take care of him and ...I have known him to have to quit his work several times on account of his sickness.
No, my mother has never remarried...she has no other means of support except her pension. She is not able to do any work, her health is not good and she is crippled in her left arm. Yes, my mother took care of and provided for Pearly M Barker until she was 16 years of age and they are still living together. David Jefferson Barker"
PAGE 78 Deposition C of Mrs. Sarah Mosburger Dec 16, 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE
"I am 39 years of age...I am a housekeeper. The claimant is my mother. I know that I am 10 years older than my sister Peary M and that her birthday comes in Aug and mine in Nov. Yes I was at home during my fathers last sickness, had never been away from home yet, I was 22 years old that fall. I was right in the room waiting on him most of the time while he was sick, I was with him day and night, he was sick in bed about 4 weeks...Dr. Fullerton, Dr. Curry and Dr. Wellings waited on him...His left arm would get quite lame at times..the two fingers on the left hand next to the thumb were so stiff that he could not use them.....Sarah Mosburger"
PAGES 90-93 - Deposition B from Matthew Jones on July 8, 1896, Valparaiso, Porter Co, IN, details the gun shot wound -
" 52 yrs old I served as a private, corporal, and quarter master sergeant of Co. M 12th Ind Cav and enlisted Dec 7 1863 and was discharged about the 10th Nov 1865.........We were at Vicksburg, Miss in cau____ I think it was in Feb 1865. I remember very distinctly the circumstances under which he received this would of the left wrist. Our tents were little pup tents and right on each side of the tent we had stakes d_______ to b_______ a fork to lay the gun in and keep them off the ground, and he wanted the gun out and had it laying between the two stakes with the hammer down and in reaching out and catching his _____ near the end of the barrel so that the end touched his wrist he pulled at it to get it ut and the hammer was drawn back coming in contact with the stake and the gun went off and shot him in the wrist. He was on his knees outside. I was ten feet away from him at the time but did not see him reach for the gun. I first heard the gun go off and then he hollard and then i went to the tent and saw the wound I was the first man I think who saw it. I think there was no one in the tent with him at the time.....My opinion is that it was an accident for he was cheerful and did not seem to be homesick and I don't know of any reason why he would want to get out of the service....the result of his carelessness. It might have been foolish but it was natural for him to take hold of his gun that way but he should have lifted it higher. I don't recall any other trouble of any kind that he had in the service...."
PAGES 94-96 - Deposition C -- knowledge of George before war Township of Pleasant, Porter Co, IN Lewis Stoddard " 66 years old Kouts, IN and occupation farmer. I was acquainted with Geo W Barker before his enlistment in the army and knew him for probably 8 or 10 years. He never worked for me but we worked together some, probably once or twice a year. His health was good during that time...I was captain of Co M 12th Ind Vol Cav - I enlisted about July 1862 in the 73rd Ind Inf ...as a private and was mustered out of that organization and received a commission in the 12th Ind Ca. I was commissioned captain of the 12th Ind Cav July 9 1864, but was wounded in August 1864 and never went back to the regiment. I was with my company........I used to see Barker often in the service, pretty nearly every day but i don't think we ever messed together or bunked in the same tent....."
PAGES 97-98 Deposition E William Stoddard..."79 farming Valparaisa, Porter Co, IN... I became acquainted with Geo W Barker before the war and used to see him frequently. I should say it was several years before the war. I don't know that he worked for me then, but he was a neighbor and lived within a few miles of me. I think he was a healthy man at least I never saw anything to indicate that he was sickly. After he came home from the army he went into Jasper Co about 7 or 8 miles from me and I did not see him very often but about 4 or 5 times a year. He only stayed in that locality about 3 or 4 years to the best of my knowledge...."
PAGES 99-100 Deposition F --G.W. Childers..."58 stock buyer and post office address at Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN. I first became acquainted with Geo W Barker shortly after the war, but I could not say positively that I knew him before he went into the army. I knew him directly after he came out of the war. He lived in this township about 4 miles from the town and remained in the vicinity I think about 4 years. I used to see him every day or two after he came back and he worked for me now and then. His health was bad when he first came back and he complained, but I don't know what it was....I remember that he looked pale and thin but I cannot recall any specific disease...I know that he was sick but that is all...."
PAGES 101-103 Deposition taken 11 Nov 1897 at Fredick, Ri__ Co, Kansas ----- Sheldon Stoddard."51 yrs old living in Frederic, KS farming...I served as a private in Co M from Nov 1863 until July 1865. I was with the company all the time until about the 1st of April, 1865. I was _____ sent to the hospital from which I was discharged. I knew the soldier Geo W barker, before we enlisted, but I was quite young and did not know much about him. We enlisted at the same time but I do not know when he was discharged. He was wounded when we were in camp at Vicksburg, Miss in the spring of 1865, and I do not recollect to have seen him since that time. I was not in his tent when he was wounded, but was right there and think I was the first person in the tent after he shot himself. He was getting his gun out for some purpose, to clean it, i was dis______ and it caught in some was and went off and shot him through one wrist. I do not know which wrist it was and....but I know the opinion at the time was that it was an accident.....No sir, I do not know of any thing else that ______ him in the service, except that i did not think he was a real sound man and if i remember correctly, I think he had a cough a great deal of the time while we were in the army....."
PAGES 121-122 Deposition A taken on 24 Feb 1898 at Elkhart, Polk Co, IA ----Henry Ault "61 yrs old...knew Geoge W Barker, he was a member of my company, he was one of the original members of the Company he joined the company about the same time I did. We were all stripped and H____________ at Michigan City, IN before we were mustered into the service, at time of Barkers enlistment and mustered into the service was a hale and hearty young man free from any disease, as far as I could see. I can't tell you when or where Barker was discharged...I do remember that while we were in camps at Paint Rock Ala. in July or August 1864 Barker had an attack of fever and a____, and was sent to the hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, on account of fever and a_____. I can't say how long he was in the hospital at this time but my best impression now is that he was away from the company at this time about 2 weeks before reporting back to the company for duty....until we moved ______ to Mar___boro or Nashville, Tn in the spring of 1865, when I was taken over with rheumatism and was sent to the hospital in Nashville where I remained for 3 months.....rejoined my company at Columbus, MS about May 1865. Barker was not with the company and I never seen anything more of Barker until after I was discharged and came back to my house at Loassanoug, IND."
PAGES 133-134 Deposition of James Fullerton, MD taken 20 Jan 1897 in Bath, Mason Co, IL "67 yrs old retired from practice of medicine. I never graduated but practiced under certificate issued by the state board of health. I practiced medicine ___ 1852. I have not ____ ____ practice for some 15 years. I remember the soldier Geo W Barker and that they lived out at Moscow. I remember ___ ___ his family but have no recollection of having treated him was his family physician for some time. Yes i knew his death. It is my __ that he died at Moscow but I was not his attending physician at his death....looked over my records, both ledger and journal, but fail to find any treatment for the soldier. I find that you have some charges against heirs, but I was for treatment for other members of his family + I find some treatment for members of his family in 1878 in Feb of that year."
PAGES 135-136 Deposition of Mary E Eerland, of Bath, Mason Co, IL taken on 20 Jan 1897 "56 years old.I remember that I formally knew the claimant and her husband George Barker, and knew that Berker died when a near neighbor of ours. They had moved with our neighborhood about 3 miles east of here, and lived there about 1 year when Barker died. They had 4 children. 3 or ___ about grown, and one a girl____. I do not know her age, but I would judge about 14 years old at the death of the father. I believe he farmed or teamed. After he died, the family left, but some years ago years ago came back here and lived a few years. I never knew the family til the came to my neighborhood....He could not do any work to account to anything and... He was not a drinking man, can't say about his appetite but they were poor, and had scarcely anything to eat...."
PAGES 138-139 Deposition of Albert M Moore, of Mason Co, IL taken on Jan 20, 1897 "56 yrs old I formerly lived in a place called Moscow, IL and knew George Barker and his family. I knew them for about one year. I knew of the death of Geo Barker and i lived about a mile of his....I prepared his body for burial, there was no undertaker and helped bury him. Don't recall who the coffin was purchased from....There is no headstone at his grave....His boys did what work they could..."
PAGES 140-141 Deposition of John C Smith of Moscow, Mason Co, IL taken on Jan 20, 1897 in Bath, IL "72 yrs old farmer...I formerly lived out east of here, at a place called Moscow, and knew George and his family. I lived about a mile of his. And I knew him all the time he lived there from about a year. I was to seem him a few times during his fatal sickness and helped to lay him out for burial and was a the funeral but not burial...."
PAGE 145 letter from Special Examiner and response from Postmaster: "Please inform me by return mail whether Dr. Curry receives mail at your office or if his whereabouts are known. He lived years ago in Bath, and I understood ____ to you city and I also find that he killed himself but have no authentic record of such. Any information relating to the case will be thoughtfully received....Charles Hughes office of Commercial House, Mason City, IL 21 Jan 1897
response: Dr. Curry resided here several years ago and was arrested for making counterfeit money and shortly afterward killed
himself. This occurred ten or twelve years ago."
PAGE 152 - 153, 155 Letter from Pearl May Booten, very hard to read, mailed 20 Jul 1922 from Yankton, SD To US Pension Office, Des Moines, IA "Mrs. Elizabeth J Barker, aged 88 years and 11 months Died July the 7th and I did not have enough to pay all expenses of her doctor bills and all ___ I thought as there should of ____ 2 months of ___ ___ ___ coming to her that year would _____ it - to me to ____ ____ paying up over as I have always taken care of her and was appointed her house keeper then my name was Mrs. May Metz married later to Booten so now it ____" Mrs. May Booten
PAGE 154 Reimbursement for funeral Claimant May Booten 313 West 2nd Yankton, SD RE: Pensioner Elizabeth J Barker widow law May 1, 1920 agency group 1 rate $30 last paid July 4, 1922; last illness commenced June 19, 1920 Date of Death July 7, 1922 accrued pension $4.00 Charges approved: physicians bills $4; undertakers bill $79
PAGE 156 Frick and Lawrence Furniture and Undertaking 205 West 3rd Yankton, SD July 10, 1922 for funeral of Elizabeth J Barker
Casket $75, Hearst $15, Single lot in cemetery $5, Opening grave $7 by discount $23 by cash $79 Total $102.00
PAGE 157-159: Application for reimbursement on 4 Aug 1922 Mrs. May Booten of Yankton, SD; Dr. E.M. Morehouse physician, Last lived and died at 203 West 3rd Street, died July 7, 1922 at home. Also appeared Christina Mets and Edith Smith say they saw Mrs. May Booten sign her mark to this application. " We knew pensioner 14 - 24 years respectively and has lived in Yankton for about 10 years. Christina Mets 108 Douglas Ave, Yankton, SD and Edith Smith 113 Capital Yankton, SD sworn on 5 August 1922.
Statement of Attending Physician: Death July 7, 1922, date of last sickness commencement June 19, 1922 died arteriosclerosis, person rendering as nurse - Mrs. May Booten by E Morehouse.
Here ends the facts taken from Pension File of George W Barker. A total of 167 pages were copied. Peg Huffman
Children - documented: Daniel Barker; David Jefferson Barker; Sarah A Barker; Pearl May Barker
George was a soldier in the Civil War, Company M, 12th Indiana Cavalry, He enlisted on Nov 24, 1863, and was discharged on June 27, 1865.
Per George's Civil War Military file, he died in Bath, Mason County, Illinois on June 20 1878 at home, with his wife and children present. He was buried at the Bath Cemetery on June 21, 1878. He is in an unmarked grave. This has not been confirmed by cemetery records as of Oct 2016.
Excerpts:
Military Pension File Baker, George W: Widow Barker, Elizabeth: Application Numbers 108780 and 253989 and under Certificate column 970604 and 314568. General index to pension files roll 21 1861-1934 but #'s are unreadable. Thanks to great staff they were able to find the correct numbers thru other means, thus locating the file.
Copied from National Archives April 1999 by Peg Huffman. The original documents were very fascinating. The first sheet was of a cloth type material.
PAGE 15 Albert Spencer, Oct 2nd 1887 "...he was wounded by the accidental discharge of a carbine the ball entered the center of his hand inside ? through after which he was discharged....we went to Alabama in the spring of 1864 in March 1865 we went to Vicksburg where we were mounted and armed with sabers, carbines and this place Vicksburg is where the applicant was wounded and discharged"
PAGE 39 Affidavit -- May Metz,25 and Sarah Mosburger, 34 both residents of Tekamah, Burt Co, NE, " were present when father George W Barker died on 20 June 1878 at home in Bath, Mason Co, IL"
PAGE 40 Affidavit -- J. F. Conner, 46 yrs old, Harpen Co, KS, "brother to Elizabeth J Barker...was at my fathers house at the time that she was married to Geo. W Barker, Warren Co, IA on the 27 Aug 1852 and seen them stand up with joined hands and heard Squire Sheckel pronounce the ceremony, who lived near Greenbush, Waren Co, IA. And I have the old family bible in my possession that my father had at that time and in it with all the rest of the marriages of the family I find the marriage of my sister Elizabeth J Conner and Geo. W Barkers marriage duly recorded in my fathers hand write...."
PAGE 41 Affidavit-- Wilson W Conner, aged 49,Cedar Vale, Chantangua Co, KS, "that Elizabeth J Barker the claimant was married to the said George Barker Aug 27, 1852 in the county of Warren State of Iowa. The marriage Ceremony was performed by Squire Sheckell, a Justice of the Peace, in the county of Warren, IA at the Bride's home in said county. and that she remained the lawful wife of the said Geroge W Barker during his natural life....he was well and intimately acquainted with the claimant and George W Barker and was present at the time and witnessed the marriage ceremony stated above between the two parties aforesaid."
PAGES 65 - 67-- "...The claimant (Elizabeth Barker) bears a good reputation in the community in which she lives and her manner of testifying impressed me with the fact that she aimed to tell the whole truth. She is a feeble old lady, is crippled in one arm, lives in a little shanty, consisting of one room through the crevices of which the winter wind was whistling while I took her statement. She has no other means of support except the pension which she receives....The other witnesses that testified before me bear a good reputation for truth and veracity in the community. They are the children of claimant....Pearly M Barker was born Aug 11, 1866.......The soldier was moving from place to place continually from discharge to date of death....." WV Ruppert, Special Examiner
PAGES 66-67 summary of places lived:
before war Jasper Co, IN
to 1869 Kouts, Porter Co, IN
1869 - 1871 Aroma, IL
1871 - 1873 Goodland, IN
1873 - 1875 Commersville, Dunn Co, WI
1876 to death Bath, Mason Co, IL
PAGES 68 - 73 -- Deposition of Elizabeth J Barker on 16 Dec 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE:
" I am 62 years of age...I am living here with my daughter I am too old and too badly crippled to do any work. I am the claimant in this case and am the widow of George W Barker who served in the Com. "M" 12th Ind Cav, he enlisted Nov 24, 1863, was discharged June 27, 1865, he served as a private, he was not in any other service except as I have stated.
He died at Bath, Mason Co, IL on June 20, 1978. The doctors said that chronic diarrhea was the cause of his death, the physicians that attended him during his last sickness were Dr. John Curoz, Dr. Willings, and Dr. Fullerton do not know their first names.....
I was married to Geo. W barker at Des Moines, IA on the 27th day of August 1862 by Esq. Shuckle, I do not think they kept any record of marriages then. Willson W Conner of Cedar Vale, KS was present when I was married. No, neither Geor W nor myself had been married prior to our marriage to each other. My maiden name was Elizabeth J Conner....I had 1 child that was under sixteen years of age when soldier died, her name was Pearly M barker, she was born Aug 11, 1866, near Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN....old Mrs. Couch was there but she is dead, old Mrs. Price was there she must be dead now, I had no physician.
Rachel Pearcey of Craig, NE knows about the date of my daughters birth, Sarah Mosburger here in Tekamah knows about the date of Pearls birth here is my family record, the date was set down there when it was fresh in my mind. I know that the date is Aug 11, 1866.....There is no record of Pearlys birth that I know of except the family record kept by me.
George had good health before he enlisted, he was not sick in bed at any time before he enlisted, no, he did not have the diarrhea before he enlisted. For several years before soldier enlistment, we lived near Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN, some of our neighbors there were George Childers, Joseph Childers, and Albert Spencer of Kouts. Albert Spencer could probably give the names of other neighbors that are there now. We had no family physician before the war. George was farming before the war, he was farming Truman Stoddardard farm.
My husband had a claim for pension on file, he never got anything before he died, I want to complete that claim. I am now drawing a pension under the act of June 27, 1896. ...He got shot through his left wrist in the service, he came home on Furlough later he was short, his writs was still sore when he cam home and his arm was never of any more account to him as long as he lived, he had no strength in that arm after he was shot, when he would use it, it would swell up and get sore....
He said it was an accident, that his gun was behind the bunk, that he reached for it, it caught in the cover of the bunk, and the ball ball went through this wrist, he said he was going to clean up the fun for a general muster, he said that Randolph Trinkle was with him when he was shot. I do not know where Randolph is, he was his bunkmate.....
When soldier was discharged, he located at Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN. We lived there about 3 years, he farmed Mr. Prieces place one year. That was just after the war he had the diarrhea and failes so bad that he could not do much good farming, he hauled some for various parties part of the time that he was at Kouts, IN, he worked for W Stoddard, Joe and Geo Childers and Jno Gibson. Dr. Shultz of Logansport treated him a few times....soldier took a good deal of patent medicine.
About 1869 we went to Aroma, IL on the Kankakee river, we lived there 2 years, soldier hauled wood and worked by the month there, he worked for W and Aee Beebe, he had no Doctor there he used patent medicine.
In 1871 we went to Goodland, IN and lived there 2 years, soldier was breaking prairie and farming some there. Elizabeth Conner of Commersville, WI knew soldiers condition while at Goodland, IN...
We went to Commersville, Dunn Co, WI in 1873 and stayed there a year. Soldier was engaged in clearing land there he did the hauling and the boys did the cutting. W Riller, Lewelle Sutcliffe, Wesley Roberts, Joe Roberts and W Noonleith knew him. He also lived at Commersville, WI during the year 1875....he had several bad spells...
In 1874 we lived at Sandwich, IL, he was hauling wood there, I don't remember any names of my people there.
In 1876 we went to St. Louis, MO and lived there a year....he was burning and hauling charcoal for a living there, some of our neighbors there were Richard Grors, Thos Mayberry and Pleus Coffe and Geolfrey Loner.
In 1877 we went to Bath, Mason Co, IL and lived there until the soldier died....Dr. Fullerton treated soldier during his last sickness he told me that he would not make a affidavit unless I gave him a hundred dollars which he claimed that my husband owed him for some mules two mules.
Soldier worked some at Bath, he plowed some, we got to Bath in the fall of 1877, my husband took to his bed the 25 of May and did not get out of it until he died June 20, 1878.....I have always thought that this diarrhea was the cause of this death...No, soldier had no other disease at any time except as I have stated."
Elizabeth could not sign her name, there is her mark and signatures of May Metz and DL Barker as witnesses.
PAGE 74, Deposition "B" of Mrs. P. M. Metz 16 Dec 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE
"I am 29 years of age, I was 29 years years old the 11th of last August....I am keeping house for my mother who is the claimant in this case. There has never been any question or doubt in my mind in regard to my age. I have always understood that I was born on the 11th of Aug, 1866...My maiden name was Pearly M Barker I was almost 12 years old when my father died. Yes I remember my fathers last sickness. I have a clear recollection of it, I was at home during the whole time he was sick in bed about a month.....I understood them and have always since believed that it was the diarrhea that caused his death. No, my mother has not remarried...Yes, she took care and provided for me until I was sixteen years of age and I have been with her most of the time since then, no, my mother is not able to do any work, her left arm is crippled and she has poor health in general. She has no other means of support except her pension. I understand the questions, my answers are correctly recorded. Pearly May Metz"
PAGES 76-77, Deposition C of David J Barker on 16 Dec 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE
"I am 36 years of age..I am a laboring man. I am the son of the claimant. I know that I am six years older than my sister Pearly M and that her birthday does come in August and mine in November. Yes, I worked with my father and worked right along with him from the time that I was big enough to work until he died. I was at home most all the time.....He was bothered with that chronic diarrhea and the piles a great deal, he did not have good use of his left arm, it would get lame often and he could not do hard work to amount to anything on account of that arm....he was a thin man and got poorer every year until he died. I was at home during my fathers last sickness, I was about the sick room every day...I helped to take care of him and ...I have known him to have to quit his work several times on account of his sickness.
No, my mother has never remarried...she has no other means of support except her pension. She is not able to do any work, her health is not good and she is crippled in her left arm. Yes, my mother took care of and provided for Pearly M Barker until she was 16 years of age and they are still living together. David Jefferson Barker"
PAGE 78 Deposition C of Mrs. Sarah Mosburger Dec 16, 1895 at Tekamah, Burt Co, NE
"I am 39 years of age...I am a housekeeper. The claimant is my mother. I know that I am 10 years older than my sister Peary M and that her birthday comes in Aug and mine in Nov. Yes I was at home during my fathers last sickness, had never been away from home yet, I was 22 years old that fall. I was right in the room waiting on him most of the time while he was sick, I was with him day and night, he was sick in bed about 4 weeks...Dr. Fullerton, Dr. Curry and Dr. Wellings waited on him...His left arm would get quite lame at times..the two fingers on the left hand next to the thumb were so stiff that he could not use them.....Sarah Mosburger"
PAGES 90-93 - Deposition B from Matthew Jones on July 8, 1896, Valparaiso, Porter Co, IN, details the gun shot wound -
" 52 yrs old I served as a private, corporal, and quarter master sergeant of Co. M 12th Ind Cav and enlisted Dec 7 1863 and was discharged about the 10th Nov 1865.........We were at Vicksburg, Miss in cau____ I think it was in Feb 1865. I remember very distinctly the circumstances under which he received this would of the left wrist. Our tents were little pup tents and right on each side of the tent we had stakes d_______ to b_______ a fork to lay the gun in and keep them off the ground, and he wanted the gun out and had it laying between the two stakes with the hammer down and in reaching out and catching his _____ near the end of the barrel so that the end touched his wrist he pulled at it to get it ut and the hammer was drawn back coming in contact with the stake and the gun went off and shot him in the wrist. He was on his knees outside. I was ten feet away from him at the time but did not see him reach for the gun. I first heard the gun go off and then he hollard and then i went to the tent and saw the wound I was the first man I think who saw it. I think there was no one in the tent with him at the time.....My opinion is that it was an accident for he was cheerful and did not seem to be homesick and I don't know of any reason why he would want to get out of the service....the result of his carelessness. It might have been foolish but it was natural for him to take hold of his gun that way but he should have lifted it higher. I don't recall any other trouble of any kind that he had in the service...."
PAGES 94-96 - Deposition C -- knowledge of George before war Township of Pleasant, Porter Co, IN Lewis Stoddard " 66 years old Kouts, IN and occupation farmer. I was acquainted with Geo W Barker before his enlistment in the army and knew him for probably 8 or 10 years. He never worked for me but we worked together some, probably once or twice a year. His health was good during that time...I was captain of Co M 12th Ind Vol Cav - I enlisted about July 1862 in the 73rd Ind Inf ...as a private and was mustered out of that organization and received a commission in the 12th Ind Ca. I was commissioned captain of the 12th Ind Cav July 9 1864, but was wounded in August 1864 and never went back to the regiment. I was with my company........I used to see Barker often in the service, pretty nearly every day but i don't think we ever messed together or bunked in the same tent....."
PAGES 97-98 Deposition E William Stoddard..."79 farming Valparaisa, Porter Co, IN... I became acquainted with Geo W Barker before the war and used to see him frequently. I should say it was several years before the war. I don't know that he worked for me then, but he was a neighbor and lived within a few miles of me. I think he was a healthy man at least I never saw anything to indicate that he was sickly. After he came home from the army he went into Jasper Co about 7 or 8 miles from me and I did not see him very often but about 4 or 5 times a year. He only stayed in that locality about 3 or 4 years to the best of my knowledge...."
PAGES 99-100 Deposition F --G.W. Childers..."58 stock buyer and post office address at Kouts Station, Porter Co, IN. I first became acquainted with Geo W Barker shortly after the war, but I could not say positively that I knew him before he went into the army. I knew him directly after he came out of the war. He lived in this township about 4 miles from the town and remained in the vicinity I think about 4 years. I used to see him every day or two after he came back and he worked for me now and then. His health was bad when he first came back and he complained, but I don't know what it was....I remember that he looked pale and thin but I cannot recall any specific disease...I know that he was sick but that is all...."
PAGES 101-103 Deposition taken 11 Nov 1897 at Fredick, Ri__ Co, Kansas ----- Sheldon Stoddard."51 yrs old living in Frederic, KS farming...I served as a private in Co M from Nov 1863 until July 1865. I was with the company all the time until about the 1st of April, 1865. I was _____ sent to the hospital from which I was discharged. I knew the soldier Geo W barker, before we enlisted, but I was quite young and did not know much about him. We enlisted at the same time but I do not know when he was discharged. He was wounded when we were in camp at Vicksburg, Miss in the spring of 1865, and I do not recollect to have seen him since that time. I was not in his tent when he was wounded, but was right there and think I was the first person in the tent after he shot himself. He was getting his gun out for some purpose, to clean it, i was dis______ and it caught in some was and went off and shot him through one wrist. I do not know which wrist it was and....but I know the opinion at the time was that it was an accident.....No sir, I do not know of any thing else that ______ him in the service, except that i did not think he was a real sound man and if i remember correctly, I think he had a cough a great deal of the time while we were in the army....."
PAGES 121-122 Deposition A taken on 24 Feb 1898 at Elkhart, Polk Co, IA ----Henry Ault "61 yrs old...knew Geoge W Barker, he was a member of my company, he was one of the original members of the Company he joined the company about the same time I did. We were all stripped and H____________ at Michigan City, IN before we were mustered into the service, at time of Barkers enlistment and mustered into the service was a hale and hearty young man free from any disease, as far as I could see. I can't tell you when or where Barker was discharged...I do remember that while we were in camps at Paint Rock Ala. in July or August 1864 Barker had an attack of fever and a____, and was sent to the hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, on account of fever and a_____. I can't say how long he was in the hospital at this time but my best impression now is that he was away from the company at this time about 2 weeks before reporting back to the company for duty....until we moved ______ to Mar___boro or Nashville, Tn in the spring of 1865, when I was taken over with rheumatism and was sent to the hospital in Nashville where I remained for 3 months.....rejoined my company at Columbus, MS about May 1865. Barker was not with the company and I never seen anything more of Barker until after I was discharged and came back to my house at Loassanoug, IND."
PAGES 133-134 Deposition of James Fullerton, MD taken 20 Jan 1897 in Bath, Mason Co, IL "67 yrs old retired from practice of medicine. I never graduated but practiced under certificate issued by the state board of health. I practiced medicine ___ 1852. I have not ____ ____ practice for some 15 years. I remember the soldier Geo W Barker and that they lived out at Moscow. I remember ___ ___ his family but have no recollection of having treated him was his family physician for some time. Yes i knew his death. It is my __ that he died at Moscow but I was not his attending physician at his death....looked over my records, both ledger and journal, but fail to find any treatment for the soldier. I find that you have some charges against heirs, but I was for treatment for other members of his family + I find some treatment for members of his family in 1878 in Feb of that year."
PAGES 135-136 Deposition of Mary E Eerland, of Bath, Mason Co, IL taken on 20 Jan 1897 "56 years old.I remember that I formally knew the claimant and her husband George Barker, and knew that Berker died when a near neighbor of ours. They had moved with our neighborhood about 3 miles east of here, and lived there about 1 year when Barker died. They had 4 children. 3 or ___ about grown, and one a girl____. I do not know her age, but I would judge about 14 years old at the death of the father. I believe he farmed or teamed. After he died, the family left, but some years ago years ago came back here and lived a few years. I never knew the family til the came to my neighborhood....He could not do any work to account to anything and... He was not a drinking man, can't say about his appetite but they were poor, and had scarcely anything to eat...."
PAGES 138-139 Deposition of Albert M Moore, of Mason Co, IL taken on Jan 20, 1897 "56 yrs old I formerly lived in a place called Moscow, IL and knew George Barker and his family. I knew them for about one year. I knew of the death of Geo Barker and i lived about a mile of his....I prepared his body for burial, there was no undertaker and helped bury him. Don't recall who the coffin was purchased from....There is no headstone at his grave....His boys did what work they could..."
PAGES 140-141 Deposition of John C Smith of Moscow, Mason Co, IL taken on Jan 20, 1897 in Bath, IL "72 yrs old farmer...I formerly lived out east of here, at a place called Moscow, and knew George and his family. I lived about a mile of his. And I knew him all the time he lived there from about a year. I was to seem him a few times during his fatal sickness and helped to lay him out for burial and was a the funeral but not burial...."
PAGE 145 letter from Special Examiner and response from Postmaster: "Please inform me by return mail whether Dr. Curry receives mail at your office or if his whereabouts are known. He lived years ago in Bath, and I understood ____ to you city and I also find that he killed himself but have no authentic record of such. Any information relating to the case will be thoughtfully received....Charles Hughes office of Commercial House, Mason City, IL 21 Jan 1897
response: Dr. Curry resided here several years ago and was arrested for making counterfeit money and shortly afterward killed
himself. This occurred ten or twelve years ago."
PAGE 152 - 153, 155 Letter from Pearl May Booten, very hard to read, mailed 20 Jul 1922 from Yankton, SD To US Pension Office, Des Moines, IA "Mrs. Elizabeth J Barker, aged 88 years and 11 months Died July the 7th and I did not have enough to pay all expenses of her doctor bills and all ___ I thought as there should of ____ 2 months of ___ ___ ___ coming to her that year would _____ it - to me to ____ ____ paying up over as I have always taken care of her and was appointed her house keeper then my name was Mrs. May Metz married later to Booten so now it ____" Mrs. May Booten
PAGE 154 Reimbursement for funeral Claimant May Booten 313 West 2nd Yankton, SD RE: Pensioner Elizabeth J Barker widow law May 1, 1920 agency group 1 rate $30 last paid July 4, 1922; last illness commenced June 19, 1920 Date of Death July 7, 1922 accrued pension $4.00 Charges approved: physicians bills $4; undertakers bill $79
PAGE 156 Frick and Lawrence Furniture and Undertaking 205 West 3rd Yankton, SD July 10, 1922 for funeral of Elizabeth J Barker
Casket $75, Hearst $15, Single lot in cemetery $5, Opening grave $7 by discount $23 by cash $79 Total $102.00
PAGE 157-159: Application for reimbursement on 4 Aug 1922 Mrs. May Booten of Yankton, SD; Dr. E.M. Morehouse physician, Last lived and died at 203 West 3rd Street, died July 7, 1922 at home. Also appeared Christina Mets and Edith Smith say they saw Mrs. May Booten sign her mark to this application. " We knew pensioner 14 - 24 years respectively and has lived in Yankton for about 10 years. Christina Mets 108 Douglas Ave, Yankton, SD and Edith Smith 113 Capital Yankton, SD sworn on 5 August 1922.
Statement of Attending Physician: Death July 7, 1922, date of last sickness commencement June 19, 1922 died arteriosclerosis, person rendering as nurse - Mrs. May Booten by E Morehouse.
Here ends the facts taken from Pension File of George W Barker. A total of 167 pages were copied. Peg Huffman
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