Wiley Johnson was in the 39th Iowa Infantry, Co. C. He enlisted Aug 9, 1862 and died of Smallpox in the Post Hospital at Cairo, Illinois. Wiley's wife Sarah, did receive his pension ($12. a month) to help with the raising of their two sons.
The following was hand written on the outside of Widow's Claim for Increase Pension:
Dept. of the Interior Pension Office May 18, 1865
WIDOW'S CLAIM
For Sarah C. Johnson
Widow of Wiley Johnson
Mary Stroup [S-I-L]
Sallie Ann Golden [Sister]
Mary Stump [Sister]
Dallas Co. Adel, IA. P.O.
John Johnson
No. 17.886
Indiana
Sarah C. Johnson
Widow of Wiley Johnson
Rank- Private
Company- "E"
Regiment- 39 Iowa Volunteers
Indianapolis Agency
Rate per month, $8.
Commencing- 22 January 1863
Certificate dated- 11 Aug 1864
and sent to Jno. J. Morrison
Salem, IN
Act 14th Jul, 1862
Book- B, Vol. 1, Page 251
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WIDOW'S CLAIM FOR INCREASE OF PENSION
State of Indiana
County of Washington
On this 12 day of November A.D., 1866, personally appeared before me. Clerk of the Washington Circuit Court, in and for the county and State aforesaid Sarah C. Johnson a resident of Monroe township in the County of Washington and the State of Indiana aged 26 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the second section of the act of Congress increasing the pensions of widows and orphans, approved July 25, 1866. That she is the widow of Wiley Johnson who was Private in Company "E" commanded by ----------in the 39th Regiment of Iowa Vol. Infantry Volunteers, in the war of 1861; and that by reason of his death in the service aforesaid, she has been granted a pension of eight dollars per month, in accordance with a certificate numbered 27.886 bearing date 11 August 1864. She further swears that she has the following named children of her deceased husband and herself, under sixteen years of age, who are now living, the dates of whose births were as given below, to wit:
John Freeland Johnson was born in Dallas County, Iowa on the 19th day of June 1856.
Eli Emanuel Johnson was born in Dallas County, Iowa on April 16th, 1860.
She further declares that she has not remarried since the death of her said husband, nor has she abandoned the support of any one of the children above named, nor permitted any one of the same to be adopted by any other person or persons, as his, her, or their child. And she hereby appoints D.W. C. Humas? Salem, Indiana her attorney to prosecute her claim, and receive her pension certificate when issued. My post office address is Kossuth in Washington County Indiana.
Sarah C. Johnson
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ATTEST:
Townsend Cutshaw
Joshua Crow
Also personally appeared before me Harriett B. Dillino and Eliza Ann Spears residents of Washington County and state of Indiana persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, who being duly sworn, declare that they were present and saw said Sarah C. Johnson make her mark to the foregoing declaration, and that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said applicant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they further swear that they know, from personal knowledge that the above named child was the child sons of said applicant and her said deceased husband, and that they are of the age above stated, and that they are still living, and that our knowledge of the age of said children and that they are still living, is derived from the following source, to-wit: by seeing them when they came from Iowa and seeing them every day or two. And that they have no interest in this claim, and that they are not concerned directly or indirectly in its prosecution, and reside in the locality above stated.
ATTEST:
Townsend Cutshaw Belle Dillino Wit.
Joshua Crow Eliza Anne Spears
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 12 day of November 1866 and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. And that the contents of the above was made known and explained to applicant and witnesses before signing.
Official signature: J.L. Cutshaw CR
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State of Indiana
County of Washington
Sarah C. Johnson being upon her oath deposition says that she is the widow of Wiley Johnson who was a private in Co. "E" 39th Regt. Iowa Vols. that he died while in the service that they had two children under 16 years of age at the time of his death to wit:
John Freelan born 19th day of Jun 1856
Eli Emanuel born April 16th 1860
That the children were born in Dallas County, Iowa. That she has made every effort to obtain the proof of their birth but the parties that were present at the births have removed to parts unknown that the above dates were taken from the record kept by her husband Wiley Johnson and is the only evidence that can be obtained in this matter, or further deposition saith not. Sarah C. Johnson
Witnesses; J.W. B. Rutter?
Townsend Cutshaw
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State of Indiana
County of Washington
Comes also David Johnson who being upon his oath says that he was well acquainted with Wiley Johnson and Sarah C. Johnson his wife that I have been at their residence in Dallas County, Iowa and have seen the children often that I was at their residence in Dallas County, Iowa when John Freelan was born, he was born on the 19th Jan 1856, that he saw the next child Eli Emanuel about three months after it was born. Judge that was the age three months and I saw it in 1860. That I have examined the record kept by Wiley Johnson and find it corresponds with the time I was at his home when John Freelan was born, that he is acquainted with the handwriting of Wiley Johnson and presumes that the record is in his handwriting and further________ saith not that he has no interest in this claim. David Johnson
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of May 1868, I certify that affidavits and credible persons that I have no interest in this claim, that the affidavits were read over and understood by them before signing.
Witness my name and the seal of the Washington Circuit Court J.L. Cruckshaw CK
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Western Division Nov 5, 1902
State of Indiana and County of Washington, on this 1st day of November 1902, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and state aforesaid, William M. Peugh age 57 years and John F. Johnson age 47 years and both residents of Monroe township, Washington County, State of Indiana who after being duly sworn according to law say in reference to Claim of Sarah C. Spears widow of Wiley C. Johnson Co. "E" 39th Regt. Iowa Infty. Vols. was of 1861.
Affiants each have been personally acquainted with the claimant Sarah C. Spears for at least forty years last part residing for that period as neighbors. That they remember about the time claimant was married to William W. Spears but can not give the exact date of such marriage and have known her intimately ever since such marriage and being neighbors they know of their own personal knowledge that William Spears never received a dime? from his wife Sarah C.. That they have no interest in the prosecution of said Claim for Pension direct or indirect, that their post office address is Salem Washington County State of Indiana.
William M. Peugh
John F. Johnson
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LETTERS STATE OF INDIANA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, SS:
In Vacation the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Indiana A.D., June 15th, 1869. J.F. Cruckshaw, clerk of said Court, do certify that on this 15th day of June A.D., 1869 on motion of Eli Lumley he was appointed by the Clerk appointed Guardian of the persons and Estates of John F. Johnson and Eli Johnson Minor Heirs of Wiley Johnson and Heirs at law of said decedent and the said Eli Lumley having qualified and given Bond approved by the Clerk as such Guardian, according to law is hereby duly authorized to take upon himself the Guardianship aforesaid.
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DECLARATION--WIDOW'S ARMY PENSION
State of Indiana
Washington County
On this second day of May A.D. 1863, before me, Clerk of the Washington Circuit Court a Court of Record in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Sarah C. Johnson a resident of Washington County in the State of Indiana aged twenty-four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, approved July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of Wiley Johnson who was a private in Company E commanded by Captain Marsh in the 39th Regiment Iowa Volunteers, in the war of 1861, and who died in Post Hospital, Cairo, Illinois, of Smallpox at Cairo, Illinois on or about the 22nd day of January A.D. 1863, while in the service of the United States. She further declares that she was married to the said Wiley Johnson on the 22nd day of October A.D. 1854, at her mother's home by one Clarence Elliott a minister of the gospel; that her name before her said marriage was Sarah C. Beck and that she has remained a widow since the death of her said husband, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed; and that the following are the names, ages, and residence of the surviving children of said soldier, who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his decease, to-wit:
John F. Johnson, born June 13th 1856
Eli E. Johnson born Feb 13th 1860
Clary I. Johnson born April 13th 1863
Her children all reside in Washington Co., Indiana. Her post office address is Mill Port, Indiana. She also declares that she has not in any manner been engaged in or aided or abetted the Rebellion in the United States. She hereby constitutes and appoints John Morrison of Salem, Indiana her attorney, with full power of substitution, to prosecute this claim, and authorize him to receive from the Dept. her Pension Certificate when issued.
Sarah C. Johnson
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year first above written; and on the same day personally appeared Reuben Shields and James C. Fleenor residents of Washington Co., Indiana persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit; who being by me, duly sworn according to law, say that they were present and saw Sarah C. Johnson make her mark to the foregoing declaration. They further swear that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; that they are personally acquainted with said declarant, and were acquainted with her and her said husband before he entered the service, and know that they lived together as man and wife and were so reputed, and that deponents never heard the fact of their marriage disputed or questioned; that she is the widow of the identical Wiley Johnson who performed military service mentioned in said declaration, and who died while in the service of the United States, as therein stated, and that she has remained a widow since his death. They further swear that they verily believe her forgoing statement of the names, ages, and residence of her children under sixteen years of age to be correct; and they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
Reuben Shields
James C. Fleenor
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd day of May A.D. 1863; and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my official seal this second day of May 1863 James Wilson Clerk
Washington Cir. Court
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APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE
State of Indiana, County of Washington, ss. On this twenty-ninth day of March, 1875, before the subscriber, a Notary Public in and for said county, personally appeared William W. Spears, who on oath declares that he is the guardian of the minor children of Wiley Johnson, who belonged to Company "E", in the 39th Regiment of Iowa Vols, in the service of the United States, in the war of 1861 & 1865; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Indiana; that he received a pension certificate numbered 139245 and bearing date the eleventh day of August, 1870; that he was last paid at Madison, Indiana agency, to include the 4th day of December, 1873; that he has not bartered, sold, assigned, or pledged said pension certificate, or any interest therein, but that on or about the first day of August, 1874, at the office of Thomas Baynes in the Town of Salem, County of Washington State of Indiana, where said pension certificate was deposited was burned, together with the contents of said office on the day last above mentioned.
My Post Office address is Salem, Washington County Indiana
(Signature of applicant) William W. Spears
Also, personally appeared James Baynes, who on oath declares that he well knows William W. Spears, who has executed the foregoing affidavit, to be the identical pensioner named therein.
(Signature witness) James Baynes
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year aforesaid, the contents being first made known, and I certify that the affiants are persons of veracity.
John C. Lawler
Notary Public
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ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
Washington D.C., Nov 30, 1863
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your office of application for Pension No. 20994, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this office, that Wiley Johnson was enrolled on the ninth day of August, 1862, at Adel, Iowa in Co. E Thirty-ninth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, to serve three years, and mustered into service as a private on the ninth day of August 1862, at Davenport, Iowa, in Co. E, Thirty-ninth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, to serve three years, on the return of that Regiment, for the month of October 1863, he is reported "Died, date not known Corinth Miss of Disease".
I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
Sam Beck
Assistant Adjutant General
The Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Memoranda.
Name of applicant, Sarah Catherine Johnson
Address, Mill Port, Indiana
PENSIONER DROPPED
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UNITED STATES PENSION AGENCY
Indianapolis, IN
Sep 4, 1909
Certificate No. 27886, Class Widow, Pensioner, Sarah C. Johnson (now) Spears, Soldier, Wiley Johnson, service, Pr- E 39 IN Inf.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the above named pensioner who was last paid $12., to 4 May 1909 has been dropped because of death 6 July 1909
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THE STATE OF INDIANA, WASHINGTON COUNTY.SS.
To any person empowered by law to solemnize marriages, greeting:
You are, by these presents, authorized to join together as husband and wife, Wiley Johnson & Catharine Beck according to law; and for so doing, this shall be your sufficient warrant.
Witness, Washington C. D. Paun, clerk of the circuit court of said county, at Salem, the 21st day of October , eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
W.C.D. Paun, clerk
I, the undersigned, certify that on this 22nd day of October 1854, I solemnized the marriage of Wiley Johnson and Catharine Beck according to law.
Charles Elliott M.G.