Civil War Veteran. Enlisted on 8/25/1864 at Jackson, Michigan as a Private. On 8/25/1864 he mustered into "A" Co. 9th Michigan Infantry. He was discharged on 6/20/1865 at Nashville, TN.
In the 1870 census, Jonathan Culler was living in Milford, Vanburen Twp., Kosciusko County, Indiana with his mother and stepfather, he was listed as a Daily Laborer, age 23, and born in Ohio.
In the 1880 census, Jonathan and his family were living in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana He was listed as, Jonathan Cullars, with a "S", a keeper in a Billiard Hall, his wife, Elmira, age 23 born in Indiana, their children listed were; Thomas, age 3, Harry, age 2, and Bessie, age 3 months, all born in Indiana.
Jonathan's father died one month before he was born. His mother remarried a man named George Domer. In the 1860 census the family were living in Noble County, Indiana. In the 1870 census they were in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
In 1864 Jonathan ran off with his friend, neighbor and future brother-in-law Asa Donaldson to Michigan to fight in the Civil War. They joined Company A 9th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. In March 1865, Jonathan and Asa were in Chattanooga, Tennessee where Jonathan got badly sick. His lungs never recovered and this ultimately lead to his early death. After the Civil War ended Jonathan returned to Indiana. Between 1877-1879 he had operated a small dray, when he grew too sick to do hard labor he sold the dray and got a job tending bar. According to pension records, in 1889 Jonathan was 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall and being very sick weighed only 115 pounds.
In the cemetery records they have Jonathan's last name spelled Cullar and his birth year 1847, and death date Feb. 5, 1890.
This is a letter that Jonathan wrote for a claim to draw a pension:
State of Indiana, Kosciusko County, SS.
In the matter of claim for pension number 676,424 of Jonathan Culler:- -
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Jonathan Culler, the claimant in the above entitled claim, a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled credit, whose age is 42 years, whose post office address is Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I was discharged from the 9th regiment Mich. Inf. Volunteers. in June, 1865. From this time until the fall of 1866 I resided at Lima, LaGrange County, Indiana, and my occupation was farming. From the fall of 1866 until the fall of 1871 I resided at Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and worked at various outdoor employments, principally farming. During the following six months I was at various points in Iowa and Nebraska, but for a very short time at any one place, and had no settled place of residence. I then went to Chillicothe, Livingstone County, Missouri, where I was employed at farming and where I resided during the following 18 months, returning to Syracuse, Indiana, in the fall of 1873. Since this latter time I have resided continuously at Syracuse, Indiana, and my occupations have been various.
The disease of the lungs for which he claims pension originated from the contraction of a severe cold contracted (about March 6, 1865) on a boat, from exposure while going from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama and return, and during which trip he was employed at guarding the boat. From this cold resulted a fever that left his lungs in a weakened and diseased condition from which they have never recovered. He did not go to a hospital, but was treated in his tent by the regimental surgeon for about a month before he was able to do any further duty. After his return home he was treated by Dr. Woolley, who resided at Milford, Kosciusko, County, Indiana, and who is now dead. With this exception he has never been treated for this trouble by physicians, but has treated himself with such remedies as have been recommended to him.
About 1869 during a period of two months he was unable to do any work on account of this trouble, and thereafter, on an average of perhaps once a year, he has been unable to work on account of it, these periods constantly growing more frequent until the last three or four years it has totally disabled him from performing manual labor. From 1877 to 1879 he owned and operated a small dray at Syracuse, Indiana, when, unable to work at this Know longer on account of this weakness of lungs, he was compelled to sell it. Thereafter, up to the last 18 months he was enabled to earn a living for his family at bar-tending.
Jonathan Culler
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of June, 1889; and I certify that I read over to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters set out in the foregoing affidavit before he executed the same.
George W. Miles, Notary Public, Certificate on file.
This is a letter that Asa Donaldson wrote to help Jonathan Culler, his brother-in-law, to get his pension.
State of Kansas, Ford County, SS.
In the matter of original invalid pension claim of Jonathan Culler, late a private in Co. A, 9th Reg't Mich. Volunteer Infantry.
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Asa Donaldson, age 42 years, who is a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, whose post-office address is Fonda, Ford County, Kansas, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I have been well and personally acquainted with the claimant since 1862. He and myself went to school together in LaGrange County, Indiana, before we enlisted together in Co. A, of the 9th Reg't Michigan Infantry Volunteers. Before his enlistment he was a sound and able-bodied young man in every respect so far as I knew. Our home was in LaGrange County at the time of our enlistment, but our parents objecting to our enlistment, we ran away from them and enlisted together at Jackson, Michigan, in the aforesaid company and regiment. I was with him during the whole time of his service and came home with him. Except for two short periods when he was on detached duty we were bunk and mess mates during the entire time of our service. At Chattanooga, Tennessee, sometime about the first of March, 1865, claimant, after his return from about twenty days at guarding a boat during a trip from Chattanooga, Tenn to Decatur, Alabama, and return, during which service he had caught a violent cold, was on the same night of his return, taken with a fever. Our regiment left Chattanooga the following morning for Nashville, Tenn. I took care of him during the trip in a box car, in which we rode alone, with some baggage belonging to the regiment, on which I made him a bed. His cold seemed to have settled on his lungs, which were sore and badly affected at this time. At Nashville he was excused from duty, but did not go to the hospital. He remained in our tent, where he was treated by our regimental surgeon, and where I took care of him until about the first of the following April, before he was able to do further duty I am not sure what kind of fever it was he had, but it affected his lungs most severely, and left them in a very bad condition on his recovery. His hair all came out from the effects of the fever. Our duty from this time until our discharge was light, and he never reported sick any more, but remained in a very weak and enfeebled condition, with weak lungs and a cough. Since his return home I have known him well, and have seen him and been with him frequently. He has always complained of trouble with his lungs and has always had a cough, and has always claimed to me that he never recovered from the effects of the fever he had during his service, as above described. In my judgment he has been, during each year since his discharge. Disabled from performing manual labor by reason of this trouble with his lungs. I am a brother-in-law to the claimant, but have no pecuniary interest whatever in the prosecution of his claim for pension. I make this affidavit truthfully at the claimant's request, because, having taken care of him during his sickness in the service I know of his condition and of the incurrence of his aforesaid disability better than any other comrade whose testimony he can secure.
Asa Donaldson
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of Feb. 1889; and I certify that I read over the foregoing affidavit to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters therein set forth before he executed the same.
H. Sillett Notary Public Cert. on file.
This next is a receipt from the Estate Will for Jonathan's grandfather John Culler, who passed away at the age of 92 in Stark County, Ohio, in 1876.
Received from John Culler administrator of the Estate of John Culler deceased, ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY dollars in full of my share of said estate as one of the heirs as law of said decedent. $120.00 JONATHAN CULLER
In the 1870 census, Jonathan Culler was living in Milford, Vanburen Twp., Kosciusko County, Indiana with his mother and stepfather, he was listed as a Daily Laborer, age 23, and born in Ohio.
In the 1880 census, Jonathan and his family were living in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana He was listed as, Jonathan Cullars, with a "S", a keeper in a Billiard Hall, his wife, Elmira, age 23 born in Indiana, their children listed were; Thomas, age 3, Harry, age 2, and Bessie, age 3 months, all born in Indiana.
Jonathan's father died one month before he was born. His mother remarried a man named George Domer. In the 1860 census the family were living in Noble County, Indiana. In the 1870 census they were in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
In 1864 Jonathan ran off with his friend, neighbor and future brother-in-law Asa Donaldson to Michigan to fight in the Civil War. They joined Company A 9th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. In March 1865, Jonathan and Asa were in Chattanooga, Tennessee where Jonathan got badly sick. His lungs never recovered and this ultimately lead to his early death. After the Civil War ended Jonathan returned to Indiana. Between 1877-1879 he had operated a small dray, when he grew too sick to do hard labor he sold the dray and got a job tending bar. According to pension records, in 1889 Jonathan was 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall and being very sick weighed only 115 pounds.
In the cemetery records they have Jonathan's last name spelled Cullar and his birth year 1847, and death date Feb. 5, 1890.
This is a letter that Jonathan wrote for a claim to draw a pension:
State of Indiana, Kosciusko County, SS.
In the matter of claim for pension number 676,424 of Jonathan Culler:- -
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Jonathan Culler, the claimant in the above entitled claim, a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled credit, whose age is 42 years, whose post office address is Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I was discharged from the 9th regiment Mich. Inf. Volunteers. in June, 1865. From this time until the fall of 1866 I resided at Lima, LaGrange County, Indiana, and my occupation was farming. From the fall of 1866 until the fall of 1871 I resided at Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and worked at various outdoor employments, principally farming. During the following six months I was at various points in Iowa and Nebraska, but for a very short time at any one place, and had no settled place of residence. I then went to Chillicothe, Livingstone County, Missouri, where I was employed at farming and where I resided during the following 18 months, returning to Syracuse, Indiana, in the fall of 1873. Since this latter time I have resided continuously at Syracuse, Indiana, and my occupations have been various.
The disease of the lungs for which he claims pension originated from the contraction of a severe cold contracted (about March 6, 1865) on a boat, from exposure while going from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama and return, and during which trip he was employed at guarding the boat. From this cold resulted a fever that left his lungs in a weakened and diseased condition from which they have never recovered. He did not go to a hospital, but was treated in his tent by the regimental surgeon for about a month before he was able to do any further duty. After his return home he was treated by Dr. Woolley, who resided at Milford, Kosciusko, County, Indiana, and who is now dead. With this exception he has never been treated for this trouble by physicians, but has treated himself with such remedies as have been recommended to him.
About 1869 during a period of two months he was unable to do any work on account of this trouble, and thereafter, on an average of perhaps once a year, he has been unable to work on account of it, these periods constantly growing more frequent until the last three or four years it has totally disabled him from performing manual labor. From 1877 to 1879 he owned and operated a small dray at Syracuse, Indiana, when, unable to work at this Know longer on account of this weakness of lungs, he was compelled to sell it. Thereafter, up to the last 18 months he was enabled to earn a living for his family at bar-tending.
Jonathan Culler
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of June, 1889; and I certify that I read over to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters set out in the foregoing affidavit before he executed the same.
George W. Miles, Notary Public, Certificate on file.
This is a letter that Asa Donaldson wrote to help Jonathan Culler, his brother-in-law, to get his pension.
State of Kansas, Ford County, SS.
In the matter of original invalid pension claim of Jonathan Culler, late a private in Co. A, 9th Reg't Mich. Volunteer Infantry.
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Asa Donaldson, age 42 years, who is a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, whose post-office address is Fonda, Ford County, Kansas, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I have been well and personally acquainted with the claimant since 1862. He and myself went to school together in LaGrange County, Indiana, before we enlisted together in Co. A, of the 9th Reg't Michigan Infantry Volunteers. Before his enlistment he was a sound and able-bodied young man in every respect so far as I knew. Our home was in LaGrange County at the time of our enlistment, but our parents objecting to our enlistment, we ran away from them and enlisted together at Jackson, Michigan, in the aforesaid company and regiment. I was with him during the whole time of his service and came home with him. Except for two short periods when he was on detached duty we were bunk and mess mates during the entire time of our service. At Chattanooga, Tennessee, sometime about the first of March, 1865, claimant, after his return from about twenty days at guarding a boat during a trip from Chattanooga, Tenn to Decatur, Alabama, and return, during which service he had caught a violent cold, was on the same night of his return, taken with a fever. Our regiment left Chattanooga the following morning for Nashville, Tenn. I took care of him during the trip in a box car, in which we rode alone, with some baggage belonging to the regiment, on which I made him a bed. His cold seemed to have settled on his lungs, which were sore and badly affected at this time. At Nashville he was excused from duty, but did not go to the hospital. He remained in our tent, where he was treated by our regimental surgeon, and where I took care of him until about the first of the following April, before he was able to do further duty I am not sure what kind of fever it was he had, but it affected his lungs most severely, and left them in a very bad condition on his recovery. His hair all came out from the effects of the fever. Our duty from this time until our discharge was light, and he never reported sick any more, but remained in a very weak and enfeebled condition, with weak lungs and a cough. Since his return home I have known him well, and have seen him and been with him frequently. He has always complained of trouble with his lungs and has always had a cough, and has always claimed to me that he never recovered from the effects of the fever he had during his service, as above described. In my judgment he has been, during each year since his discharge. Disabled from performing manual labor by reason of this trouble with his lungs. I am a brother-in-law to the claimant, but have no pecuniary interest whatever in the prosecution of his claim for pension. I make this affidavit truthfully at the claimant's request, because, having taken care of him during his sickness in the service I know of his condition and of the incurrence of his aforesaid disability better than any other comrade whose testimony he can secure.
Asa Donaldson
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of Feb. 1889; and I certify that I read over the foregoing affidavit to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters therein set forth before he executed the same.
H. Sillett Notary Public Cert. on file.
This next is a receipt from the Estate Will for Jonathan's grandfather John Culler, who passed away at the age of 92 in Stark County, Ohio, in 1876.
Received from John Culler administrator of the Estate of John Culler deceased, ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY dollars in full of my share of said estate as one of the heirs as law of said decedent. $120.00 JONATHAN CULLER
Civil War Veteran. Enlisted on 8/25/1864 at Jackson, Michigan as a Private. On 8/25/1864 he mustered into "A" Co. 9th Michigan Infantry. He was discharged on 6/20/1865 at Nashville, TN.
In the 1870 census, Jonathan Culler was living in Milford, Vanburen Twp., Kosciusko County, Indiana with his mother and stepfather, he was listed as a Daily Laborer, age 23, and born in Ohio.
In the 1880 census, Jonathan and his family were living in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana He was listed as, Jonathan Cullars, with a "S", a keeper in a Billiard Hall, his wife, Elmira, age 23 born in Indiana, their children listed were; Thomas, age 3, Harry, age 2, and Bessie, age 3 months, all born in Indiana.
Jonathan's father died one month before he was born. His mother remarried a man named George Domer. In the 1860 census the family were living in Noble County, Indiana. In the 1870 census they were in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
In 1864 Jonathan ran off with his friend, neighbor and future brother-in-law Asa Donaldson to Michigan to fight in the Civil War. They joined Company A 9th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. In March 1865, Jonathan and Asa were in Chattanooga, Tennessee where Jonathan got badly sick. His lungs never recovered and this ultimately lead to his early death. After the Civil War ended Jonathan returned to Indiana. Between 1877-1879 he had operated a small dray, when he grew too sick to do hard labor he sold the dray and got a job tending bar. According to pension records, in 1889 Jonathan was 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall and being very sick weighed only 115 pounds.
In the cemetery records they have Jonathan's last name spelled Cullar and his birth year 1847, and death date Feb. 5, 1890.
This is a letter that Jonathan wrote for a claim to draw a pension:
State of Indiana, Kosciusko County, SS.
In the matter of claim for pension number 676,424 of Jonathan Culler:- -
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Jonathan Culler, the claimant in the above entitled claim, a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled credit, whose age is 42 years, whose post office address is Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I was discharged from the 9th regiment Mich. Inf. Volunteers. in June, 1865. From this time until the fall of 1866 I resided at Lima, LaGrange County, Indiana, and my occupation was farming. From the fall of 1866 until the fall of 1871 I resided at Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and worked at various outdoor employments, principally farming. During the following six months I was at various points in Iowa and Nebraska, but for a very short time at any one place, and had no settled place of residence. I then went to Chillicothe, Livingstone County, Missouri, where I was employed at farming and where I resided during the following 18 months, returning to Syracuse, Indiana, in the fall of 1873. Since this latter time I have resided continuously at Syracuse, Indiana, and my occupations have been various.
The disease of the lungs for which he claims pension originated from the contraction of a severe cold contracted (about March 6, 1865) on a boat, from exposure while going from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama and return, and during which trip he was employed at guarding the boat. From this cold resulted a fever that left his lungs in a weakened and diseased condition from which they have never recovered. He did not go to a hospital, but was treated in his tent by the regimental surgeon for about a month before he was able to do any further duty. After his return home he was treated by Dr. Woolley, who resided at Milford, Kosciusko, County, Indiana, and who is now dead. With this exception he has never been treated for this trouble by physicians, but has treated himself with such remedies as have been recommended to him.
About 1869 during a period of two months he was unable to do any work on account of this trouble, and thereafter, on an average of perhaps once a year, he has been unable to work on account of it, these periods constantly growing more frequent until the last three or four years it has totally disabled him from performing manual labor. From 1877 to 1879 he owned and operated a small dray at Syracuse, Indiana, when, unable to work at this Know longer on account of this weakness of lungs, he was compelled to sell it. Thereafter, up to the last 18 months he was enabled to earn a living for his family at bar-tending.
Jonathan Culler
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of June, 1889; and I certify that I read over to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters set out in the foregoing affidavit before he executed the same.
George W. Miles, Notary Public, Certificate on file.
This is a letter that Asa Donaldson wrote to help Jonathan Culler, his brother-in-law, to get his pension.
State of Kansas, Ford County, SS.
In the matter of original invalid pension claim of Jonathan Culler, late a private in Co. A, 9th Reg't Mich. Volunteer Infantry.
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Asa Donaldson, age 42 years, who is a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, whose post-office address is Fonda, Ford County, Kansas, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I have been well and personally acquainted with the claimant since 1862. He and myself went to school together in LaGrange County, Indiana, before we enlisted together in Co. A, of the 9th Reg't Michigan Infantry Volunteers. Before his enlistment he was a sound and able-bodied young man in every respect so far as I knew. Our home was in LaGrange County at the time of our enlistment, but our parents objecting to our enlistment, we ran away from them and enlisted together at Jackson, Michigan, in the aforesaid company and regiment. I was with him during the whole time of his service and came home with him. Except for two short periods when he was on detached duty we were bunk and mess mates during the entire time of our service. At Chattanooga, Tennessee, sometime about the first of March, 1865, claimant, after his return from about twenty days at guarding a boat during a trip from Chattanooga, Tenn to Decatur, Alabama, and return, during which service he had caught a violent cold, was on the same night of his return, taken with a fever. Our regiment left Chattanooga the following morning for Nashville, Tenn. I took care of him during the trip in a box car, in which we rode alone, with some baggage belonging to the regiment, on which I made him a bed. His cold seemed to have settled on his lungs, which were sore and badly affected at this time. At Nashville he was excused from duty, but did not go to the hospital. He remained in our tent, where he was treated by our regimental surgeon, and where I took care of him until about the first of the following April, before he was able to do further duty I am not sure what kind of fever it was he had, but it affected his lungs most severely, and left them in a very bad condition on his recovery. His hair all came out from the effects of the fever. Our duty from this time until our discharge was light, and he never reported sick any more, but remained in a very weak and enfeebled condition, with weak lungs and a cough. Since his return home I have known him well, and have seen him and been with him frequently. He has always complained of trouble with his lungs and has always had a cough, and has always claimed to me that he never recovered from the effects of the fever he had during his service, as above described. In my judgment he has been, during each year since his discharge. Disabled from performing manual labor by reason of this trouble with his lungs. I am a brother-in-law to the claimant, but have no pecuniary interest whatever in the prosecution of his claim for pension. I make this affidavit truthfully at the claimant's request, because, having taken care of him during his sickness in the service I know of his condition and of the incurrence of his aforesaid disability better than any other comrade whose testimony he can secure.
Asa Donaldson
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of Feb. 1889; and I certify that I read over the foregoing affidavit to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters therein set forth before he executed the same.
H. Sillett Notary Public Cert. on file.
This next is a receipt from the Estate Will for Jonathan's grandfather John Culler, who passed away at the age of 92 in Stark County, Ohio, in 1876.
Received from John Culler administrator of the Estate of John Culler deceased, ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY dollars in full of my share of said estate as one of the heirs as law of said decedent. $120.00 JONATHAN CULLER
In the 1870 census, Jonathan Culler was living in Milford, Vanburen Twp., Kosciusko County, Indiana with his mother and stepfather, he was listed as a Daily Laborer, age 23, and born in Ohio.
In the 1880 census, Jonathan and his family were living in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana He was listed as, Jonathan Cullars, with a "S", a keeper in a Billiard Hall, his wife, Elmira, age 23 born in Indiana, their children listed were; Thomas, age 3, Harry, age 2, and Bessie, age 3 months, all born in Indiana.
Jonathan's father died one month before he was born. His mother remarried a man named George Domer. In the 1860 census the family were living in Noble County, Indiana. In the 1870 census they were in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
In 1864 Jonathan ran off with his friend, neighbor and future brother-in-law Asa Donaldson to Michigan to fight in the Civil War. They joined Company A 9th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. In March 1865, Jonathan and Asa were in Chattanooga, Tennessee where Jonathan got badly sick. His lungs never recovered and this ultimately lead to his early death. After the Civil War ended Jonathan returned to Indiana. Between 1877-1879 he had operated a small dray, when he grew too sick to do hard labor he sold the dray and got a job tending bar. According to pension records, in 1889 Jonathan was 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall and being very sick weighed only 115 pounds.
In the cemetery records they have Jonathan's last name spelled Cullar and his birth year 1847, and death date Feb. 5, 1890.
This is a letter that Jonathan wrote for a claim to draw a pension:
State of Indiana, Kosciusko County, SS.
In the matter of claim for pension number 676,424 of Jonathan Culler:- -
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Jonathan Culler, the claimant in the above entitled claim, a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled credit, whose age is 42 years, whose post office address is Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I was discharged from the 9th regiment Mich. Inf. Volunteers. in June, 1865. From this time until the fall of 1866 I resided at Lima, LaGrange County, Indiana, and my occupation was farming. From the fall of 1866 until the fall of 1871 I resided at Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, and worked at various outdoor employments, principally farming. During the following six months I was at various points in Iowa and Nebraska, but for a very short time at any one place, and had no settled place of residence. I then went to Chillicothe, Livingstone County, Missouri, where I was employed at farming and where I resided during the following 18 months, returning to Syracuse, Indiana, in the fall of 1873. Since this latter time I have resided continuously at Syracuse, Indiana, and my occupations have been various.
The disease of the lungs for which he claims pension originated from the contraction of a severe cold contracted (about March 6, 1865) on a boat, from exposure while going from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama and return, and during which trip he was employed at guarding the boat. From this cold resulted a fever that left his lungs in a weakened and diseased condition from which they have never recovered. He did not go to a hospital, but was treated in his tent by the regimental surgeon for about a month before he was able to do any further duty. After his return home he was treated by Dr. Woolley, who resided at Milford, Kosciusko, County, Indiana, and who is now dead. With this exception he has never been treated for this trouble by physicians, but has treated himself with such remedies as have been recommended to him.
About 1869 during a period of two months he was unable to do any work on account of this trouble, and thereafter, on an average of perhaps once a year, he has been unable to work on account of it, these periods constantly growing more frequent until the last three or four years it has totally disabled him from performing manual labor. From 1877 to 1879 he owned and operated a small dray at Syracuse, Indiana, when, unable to work at this Know longer on account of this weakness of lungs, he was compelled to sell it. Thereafter, up to the last 18 months he was enabled to earn a living for his family at bar-tending.
Jonathan Culler
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of June, 1889; and I certify that I read over to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters set out in the foregoing affidavit before he executed the same.
George W. Miles, Notary Public, Certificate on file.
This is a letter that Asa Donaldson wrote to help Jonathan Culler, his brother-in-law, to get his pension.
State of Kansas, Ford County, SS.
In the matter of original invalid pension claim of Jonathan Culler, late a private in Co. A, 9th Reg't Mich. Volunteer Infantry.
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for aforesaid county and state, duly authorized to administer oaths, Asa Donaldson, age 42 years, who is a person well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, whose post-office address is Fonda, Ford County, Kansas, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim as follows:- -
I have been well and personally acquainted with the claimant since 1862. He and myself went to school together in LaGrange County, Indiana, before we enlisted together in Co. A, of the 9th Reg't Michigan Infantry Volunteers. Before his enlistment he was a sound and able-bodied young man in every respect so far as I knew. Our home was in LaGrange County at the time of our enlistment, but our parents objecting to our enlistment, we ran away from them and enlisted together at Jackson, Michigan, in the aforesaid company and regiment. I was with him during the whole time of his service and came home with him. Except for two short periods when he was on detached duty we were bunk and mess mates during the entire time of our service. At Chattanooga, Tennessee, sometime about the first of March, 1865, claimant, after his return from about twenty days at guarding a boat during a trip from Chattanooga, Tenn to Decatur, Alabama, and return, during which service he had caught a violent cold, was on the same night of his return, taken with a fever. Our regiment left Chattanooga the following morning for Nashville, Tenn. I took care of him during the trip in a box car, in which we rode alone, with some baggage belonging to the regiment, on which I made him a bed. His cold seemed to have settled on his lungs, which were sore and badly affected at this time. At Nashville he was excused from duty, but did not go to the hospital. He remained in our tent, where he was treated by our regimental surgeon, and where I took care of him until about the first of the following April, before he was able to do further duty I am not sure what kind of fever it was he had, but it affected his lungs most severely, and left them in a very bad condition on his recovery. His hair all came out from the effects of the fever. Our duty from this time until our discharge was light, and he never reported sick any more, but remained in a very weak and enfeebled condition, with weak lungs and a cough. Since his return home I have known him well, and have seen him and been with him frequently. He has always complained of trouble with his lungs and has always had a cough, and has always claimed to me that he never recovered from the effects of the fever he had during his service, as above described. In my judgment he has been, during each year since his discharge. Disabled from performing manual labor by reason of this trouble with his lungs. I am a brother-in-law to the claimant, but have no pecuniary interest whatever in the prosecution of his claim for pension. I make this affidavit truthfully at the claimant's request, because, having taken care of him during his sickness in the service I know of his condition and of the incurrence of his aforesaid disability better than any other comrade whose testimony he can secure.
Asa Donaldson
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of Feb. 1889; and I certify that I read over the foregoing affidavit to affiant and fully acquainted him with all the matters therein set forth before he executed the same.
H. Sillett Notary Public Cert. on file.
This next is a receipt from the Estate Will for Jonathan's grandfather John Culler, who passed away at the age of 92 in Stark County, Ohio, in 1876.
Received from John Culler administrator of the Estate of John Culler deceased, ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY dollars in full of my share of said estate as one of the heirs as law of said decedent. $120.00 JONATHAN CULLER
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