Pension Papers

MILITARY
PENSION
PAPERS

HOPKINS, George W. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
#756498 Geo. W. HOPKINS
A. 126 Ill. Inf.
Washington, D. C., Aug 26 1890

George W. HOPKINS enlisted Aug 7, 1862 and served as Corp in Co A, 126 Reg't Ill. Inf., and was discharged at Pine Bluff Ark Aug 12, 1865. He contracted disease of the lungs and catarrh on or about July or Aug 1865 while on duty at Pine Bluff. He was not treated at a hospital.
Signed
(?)Givens B. RAUM.

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
Oct 17, 1890
Filed by STEVENS & Co, Attorneys, War Claim

State of Illinois
County of Moultrie

In the matter of the claim for "Orig. Inv. Pension of Geo. W. HOPKINS, Co A. 126 Ills. Inf." Personally came before me, a "Clerk of the Circuit Court" in and for the County and State aforesaid, "Geo. W. HOPKINS, the claimant of Sullivan, Ills." A person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: "I am unable to furnish the testimony of a Regimental Surgeon showing treatment for lung disease and catarrh while in the army for the reason that I was not treated while in the service. I am unable to furnish any medical evidence other than that of of Dr KELLAR, whose testimony is now on file, and Dr MARSHALL whose testimony is furnished herewith, owing to the fact that these are the only two physicians now living, who have treated me for my disabilities. I respectfully request that the evidence of comrades and those acquainted with my condition since my discharge, be accepted in lieu of such evidence as I am unable to obtain." "I" further declare that "I have" interest in the said claim, and "am" conerned in its prosecution.

Signature "Geo. W. HOPKINS"
Stamped US PENSION OFFICE Oct 31, 1890

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
(This one isn't stamped although I received it with George W. HOPKINS pension papers and is like others.)
State of "Illinois"
County of "Moultrie"

In the matter of the claim for "Orig. Inv. Pension Geo. W. HOPKINS - Corpl 'A' 126' Ill Ingt."

Personally came before me, a "Clerk of the Circuit Court" in and for the County and State aforesaid, "Geo. W. Silvers - aged 50 yrs. of Sullivan, Moultrie Co. Ill" person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: "I saw claimant immediately after his discharge and return from the army in Aug 1865, he was then suffering with catarrh and lung disease - had severe cough complained of pain in chest and intense headaches, was weak and emaciated. - I have lived near him and seen him at least twice a month since and know that he has suffered continuously with said disabilities and has been under medical treatment for same a great deal of the time. He has not been able to do any hard work, since his discharge and is now totally disabled for labor of any kind. I have been intimately acquainted with claimant and know facts from hearing him complain and observing his condition." "I" further declare that "I have" no interest in said claim, and "am" not concerned in its prosecution.
Signature
George W Silvers

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
State of Illinois
County of Moultrie
(Stamped Aug 22 1890 Pension Office)

In the matter of the claim for Orig Inv. Pension Geo. W. HOPKINS Corpl "A" 126" Ill Inft. Personally came before me, a Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County and State aforesaid, W.A. SHORT - aged 40 yrs of Sullivan, Moultrie Co. Ill, a person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: I was well acquainted with claimant and saw him when he returned from the army in Aug 1865 - he was then suffering with cough, pain in chest, intense headaches - breathed with difficulty - through his nose, was weak and emaciated - I have lived in his immediate neighborhood and seen him frequently since and know that he has suffered constantly with catarrh and lung disease and has been under medical treatment for same all of the time. Since his discharge he has been unable to perform hard work and is now totally disabled for labor of any kind. My knowledge of claimant's physical condition is derived from intimate acquaintance and association with him. I further declare that I have no interest in said claim and am not concerned in its prosecution.

(Signed) W. A. SHORT

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
State of Illinois
County of Moultrie
(No date stamped)

In the matter of the claim for Orig. Inv. Pension Geo. W. HOPKINS - Corpl "A" 126 Ill Inft.
Personally came before me, a Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County and State aforesaid, Moses H. KILKWOOD (signature at bottom looks more like Kirkwood) - aged 52 yrs. of Sullivan, Moultrie Co Ill - a person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: I saw the claimant when he returned from the army in Aug 1865 - he was then suffering with lung disease and catarrh - complained of pain in chest and intense headaches - had a severe cough, could not breathe easily through his nose - was weak and emaciated. I have lived near and seen him frequently since and know that he has suffered all the time with said disabilities. He has been under medical treatment ever since his discharge for lung disease and - in my opinion - has been totally disabled thereby for manual labor. I make this statement from intimate acquaintance and association with claimant. I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution.

(Signed) M. H. KIRKWOOD

DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENSION -A
State of Illinois
County of Moultrie

On the hereinafter mentioned, personally appeared before me a clerk of the Circuit Court a court of record, within and for the County and State aforesaid George W. HOPKINS resident of the town of Sullivan County of Moultrie State of Ills, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical George W. HOPKINS who was enrolled on the 7 day of Aug 1862, and served in Company A of the 126 Regiment of Ills Infty and was discharged at Pine Bluff Ark on 12 Aug 1865; that his personal description is as follows: Age 48 years; height 5 feet 10 inches; complexion light; hair light; eyes blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty, at Pine Bluff in the State of Ark, on or about the months of July or Aug 1865, he contracted lung disease by reason of exposure and the malarial condition of the country, and also catarrh at the same time and place, which has afflicted him since his discharge continuously.
That he was treated in hospitals as follows: none.
That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above.
That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in Moultrie County Ills.
That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound physical health, being, when enrolled, a farmer. That he is now materially (?) disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of the injury or disability, above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.
He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution, Milo B. STEVENS & Co., of Chicago, Ills, their successors or legal representatives, his true and lawful Attorneys to prosecute his claim. That he has not received nor applied for pension. That his Post-office address is Sullivan County of Moultrie State of Ills

Claimant's Signature: George W. HOPKINS
Attest: Jno. P. LILLY

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
State of Illinois
County of Moultrie
(stamped) Dec 23 1895 Milo B. STEVENS & Co. Chicago Illinois

In the matter of the claim for ("additional" is stamped here) pension (stamped "ACT. JUNE 27, 1890") George W. HOPKINS. A. 126th Ill Inf.
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid James P. JEWELL aged 50 years (stamped "whose address is") Sullivan Moultrie County Illinois & B. F. THOMPSON aged 37 years person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: that we have been personally and well acquainted with the above named soldier for the past 5 years and personally know that he is in destitute circumstances, that he is an invalid and unable to do any manual labor, that he is suffering from catahhr of the head and is in very critical condition and that he was at my first acqaintance a man in very bad health and at no time during my acquaintance with him able to do manual labor, that I consider his case a very severe and dangerous one liable at any moment to take him away - that he is without means and his support is the work of charity - that I a poor man have assisted what I could in the way of hauling wood etc. That the above statements were written by B. B. HAYDON at Sullivan Illinois on the 21st day of December 1895, and are our oral statements to him thus made - and that we were not prompted by any written or printed statement of any other person.
(This page ws not signed nor marks made.)

(At the top of this page it has an hand with a finger pointing to the message "Return to J. MERRIAM US Pension Agent, Chicago, Ill.")
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Pensions
Certificate No. 545900
Name George W. HOPKINS
Washington, D. C. January 15,1898

Sir:
In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the enumerated below.

Very respectfully,
H CLAY EVANS
Commissioner of Pensions
- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -

First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer Nancy J. her maiden name was STEVENS
Second. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer. Sullivan, Moultrie Ills. B. S. EVERMAN Aug 19th 1880.
Third. What record of marriage exists? Answer. marriage certificate.
Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of you fomer wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer. Lucreacea E. died at Sullivan April the 9th 1876.
Fifth. Have you any living children? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer. Nancy J. Born June 22nd 1882 Hester L Born Aug 21st 1883 Clara E. Born Oct 22nd 1886, George B. H. born Sept 15th 1889 and two by my first wife.
Date of reply, July 4th, 1898
(Signed) George W. HOPKINS

West. Div., AP,Ex'r
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C. Sept 14, 1898

Respectfully referred to the Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department, requesting an additional military and medical history of the soldier if any on file.
(stamped Western Division Received Sep 1898)
No other report on file.
Inc. (illegible) No. 545900
Name, George W. HOPKINS
Co A 126 Reg't Ill Inf
J. L. DAVENPORT
Acting Commissioner

RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE
War Department
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.

George W. HOPKINS, Co A 126 Reg't Ill Inf was enrolled August 7, 1862 and M.O. with Co July 12, 1865. From end 1862 to M.O. 1865 he held rank of Private & Corpl, and that during that period the rolls show him present except as follows: Dec 31,1863, Absent on det. Serv as escort on Steamer Rose Hambleton Jackson (illegible).
The medical records show him treated as follows
No record found.
(stamped U. S. Pension Office Sep 17 1898
By authority of the Secretary of War:
F. C. Amsworth
Colonel, U.S.Army, Chief of Office
Washington D. C. Sep 16, 1898

ACT OF FEBRUARY 6, 1907
DECLARATION FOR PENSION
State of Illinois
County of Moultrie

On this 25 day of March A. D. one thousand nine hundred and 12, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and state aforesaid, George W. HOPKINS who, being duly sworn according to the law, declares that he is 70 years of age, a resident of Sullivan county of Moultrie, state of Illinois; and that he is the identical person who was enrolled at Sullivan Illinois under the name of George W. HOPKINS, on the 7th day of August, 1862 as a Privat (sic), in Company A 126th Reg Illinois Infantry Vol in the service of the United States, in the Civil war, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Pine Bluff Ark on the 12th day of July, 1865.

That he was not employed in the military or naval services of the United States otherwise than as stated above. That his personal desciption at enlistment was as follows: Height 5 feet 10 inches; complexion light; color of eyes Blue; color of hair light; that his occupation was farmer; that he was born March third, 1842 at Fayett (sic) Illinois. That his several places of residence since leaving the service as follows: In year eighteen ninty five Clay Co Lived there 7 or 8 years returned to Moultrie County Ills. That he is a pensioner. That he has heretofore applied for pension 545900. That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of February 6, 1907. That his post-office address is Sullivan county of Moultrie State of Illinois.

(signed) George W. HOPKINS
Attest (1) J. E. PLANK
(2) J. R. JEWELL

Also personally appeared before me, residing in Kirksville and these witnesses, residing in Kirksville, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw George W. HOPKINS, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the claimant and their acqaintance with him of 15 years and 20 years, respectively, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.

(signed) J. E. PLANK
(signed) J. P. JEWELL
(stamped "Validity accepted as to execution. S. A. CUDDY, Chief Law Division")
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25 day of March, A.D. 1912, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, etc, were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words letter u in Aug x 6 in 126, erased, and the words Clay Co Illinois, added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
(signed) Aaron M. CALLAHAN
Notary Public
(stamped U.S. Pension Office Mar 27, 1912)