MISC. WAR RECORDS
Pensioners currently listed: David C. Altom, William Altom, Zarah S. Altom and John M. Altom. This is a quite lengthy page. If you wish to go to one of them directly click on their name above.
David C. Altom was the son of James and Rebecca(Hensley)Altom and grandson
of Spencer and Christina(Shipman)Altom. His military records reflect
that he enlisted in the Union Army in Carroll County, Tennessee on August
5, 1862 for a one year period and was mustered into service August 28 of
the same year. He was 23 years old. He was captured at Ripley,
Tennessee in June of 1863 and confined at Richmond, Virginia for a short
time. He was recaptured at Mefflin or Misten, Tennessee on August 22,
1863 and confined to Richmond, Virginia again before being sent to Andersonville,
Georgia in February of 1864. He was paroled in Charleston, South Carolina
December 11, 1864 and six days later admitted to a hospital at Annapolis,
Maryland. He was released from the hospital in January of 1865. His
actual term of service was up August 5, 1863, but because he was imprisoned
, he was listed as being AWOL, because officers within the regiment were
unaware that part of their enlisted men were being held prisoners. Since
they were not there when the morning reports were filed they thought them
to be deserters. The charge of absent without leave(AWOL) was removed
from his files by Special Orders #60 Paragraph#2 Headquarters Dept. of the
South on March 22, 1872, and he was honorably discharged by the Commanding
General, Dept. of the South on March 23, 1872-from August 5, 1863(Original
date of expiration). Because of poor record keeping at war time, his
ability to prove claim for discharge to cover his period of imprisonment
was abandioned January 27, 1880 because of his inability to furnish proper
evidence(Hospital or Morning Report Records). He, however, was hospitalized
in Jackson, Tennessee in 1863 for a injuries sustained from being thrown
from his horse while carrying the morning report and thus able to file and
obtain pension benefits based on those reports. He, in later years,
left a will(1898) with a codicil attached in 1899. He died in 1902
in Henderson County, TN., and is buried beside his wife Sarah in Altom-Lewis
Cemetary.
DECLARATION FOR INVALID PENSION
State of Tennesse, County of Henderson
On the 20th day of March, A.D one thousand eight hundred and ninety nine, personally appeared before me , ASA DAVIS, County Court Clerk, within and for the County and State aforesaid, D.C. ALTOM, aged 60 years, a resident of the State of Tennessee, County of Henderson, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical D.C. Altom who was enrolled on the 5th day of August, 1862 in Co. G. 7th Tennessee Calvary in the service of the United Sates in the war of rebellion, and served at least ninety days, and was honorably discharged . That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above. That he is unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of "Injury of right hip caused by a fall from a horse, rheumatism, Heart Trouble, Colorah (?)of head and stomach trouble and chonic bowel trouble." That said disabilities are not due to his vicious habits, and are to the best of his knowledge and belief permanent. That he has applied for pension at the rate of $6 per month. 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 June 27, 1890. He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, T.W. Tallamdge, of Washington, D.C., his true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim, the fee to be $10 as prescribed by law. That his post office address is Lexington, County of Henderson, State of Tennessee.
DC Altom
(Claimant's Signature)
1. Jackson Anderson
2. J.C. Peterson
(Two witnesses who can write)
This was filed with the Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions(Written by David C. Altom)
No 1. Are you a married Man? If so, please state your wife's full name, and her maiden name
ANSWER: Sarah Altom, formally Sarah Shipman
No. 2. When, where, and by whom were you married?
ANSWER: Metropolis City, Illinois by Elder Scott
No 3. What record of marriage exists?
ANSWER: Dont know of any except the record of the clerk
No. 4. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date of her death or divorce.
ANSWER: NO
No. 5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
ANSWER:
S.J. Altom Borned September 29, 1866
L. M. Altom Borned May 5, 1869
Oscer Altom Borned September 22, 1871
M. V. Altom Borned November 27, 1875
Eudorah A. Altom Borned July 12, 1880
David G. Altom Borned July 10, 1883
William O. Altom Borned July 21, 1886
James R. Altom Borned February 27, 1890
date of reply, Dec. 19, 1898.
David C. Altom
(Signature)
AFTER DAVID C'S DEATH HIS WIDOW, SARAH ,DREW A PENSION FROM HER HUSBAND'S TIME IN THE SERVICE.
STATEMENT FROM SARAH(SHIPMAN)ALTOM:
State of Tennessee-Henderson County.
In re#767,431 Sarah Altom widow of David C. Altom.
I, Sarah Altom, hereby swear that I am the widow of David C. Altom who died July 6, 1902. That were were married on Aug. 16, 1865 at Metropolis, Illinois. That neither he or I had been previously married and that we lived together as husband and wife until his death, July 6, 1902, and that I have not since remarried. That I have but one child under the age of 16 years, to wit, James R. Altom, now 12 years old, who was born 2/27/1890. That the property left by my dec'd husband is in value $1475.00 and that I have no other property than that left by my said dec'd, husband.
Sarah Altom
State of Tennessee, Henderson County.
Personally appeared before me a Notary Public for said county and state, Mrs. Sarah Altom, personally known to me who made oath that the above statements are true. This Sept. 21, 1902
Witness Report
In the pension claim of Sarah Altom, widow of David C. Altom, deceased.
Came before me Asa Davis, Clerk of the County Court of Henderson County Tennessee, E. W. Lewis, aged 61 year of age, whose Post Office address is Alberton, Tennessee, known to be the identical person he representss himself to be, and who makes oath to the statements below.
That he has known Mrs. Sarah Altom and David C. Altom for a period of forty years, knew them prior to their marriage to each other, and know that they lived together as man and wife from their marriage up to the death of David C. Altom, that neither of them were ever married until their marriage to each other, and that the said David C. Altom is now dead, and that the said Sarah Altom has not re-married since the death of her said husband.
E.W. Lewis
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this the 17th day of April, 1903
Asa Davis, County Court Clerk.
AFTER SARAH DIED, HER SON FILED AN APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT
On this the 10th day of March, 1914, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, within and for the county and State of Henderson,Tennessee, James H. Altom, aged 24 years, a resident of Lexington, County of Henderson, State of Tennessee, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain reimbursement from the secured pension for expenses paid in the last sickness and burial of Sarah Altom, who was a pensioner of the Untied States by certificate No. 553990, on accont of the service of David C. Altom in Private Co. G. 7th Regiment, Tennessee Vol. Cavalry. That pension was last paid to Nov. 4th, 1913.
1. What was the full name of the deceased pensioner? Sarah Altom
2. In what capacity was decedent pensioned? Widow
4. Did pensioner leave a child under 16 year of age? No
6. Were any sick or death benefits paid on pensioner's account? No
7. Was there insurance? No
15. Is there an executor or administrator, or will application been made for appointment of any person as administrator? There is none and will be none unless required by the department.
14. Did the deceased pensioner leave any money, real estate, or personal property? None
18. Did pensioner leave an unindorsed pension check? No.
19. What was your relation to the deceased pensioner? Son
20. Are you married? Yes
21. What was the cause of pensioner's death? Inflamation of the brain causing paralysis, I am informed.
22. When did the pensioner's last sickness begin? January 13, 1914.
23. From what date did the pensioner become so ill as to require the regular and daily attendance of another person constantly until death? from January 13, 1914.
24. Give the name and post-office address of each physician who attended the pensioner during last sickness. Dr. H.C. Johnson, Lexington, Tennessee.
25. State the names of the person by whom the pensioner was nursed during the last sickness.
By me and my wife, and other children living around Lexington, TN and neighbors.
26. Where did the pensioner live during last sickness? At my home in Lexington, TN
27. Where did the pensioner die? Same place
28. When did the pensioner die? January 19, 1914.
29. Where was the pensioner buried? Old family graveyard 12 miles east of Lexington, TN.
SERVICES RENDERED DURING LAST SICKNESS AND BURIAL:
Name: H.C. Johnson --Nature of Expense: Physician Visits-- Paid:NO Amount: 7.50
Name: Stewart Drug Co.--Nature of Expense: Medicine-- Paid:NO Amount: .60
Name: Family and Neighbors-- Nature of Expense: Nursing and care--Paid: No Charge
Name: D.D. Pafford-- Nature of Expense: Undertaker(CASKET)-- Paid: NO Amount: 20.00
Name: Petty & Buck --Nature of Expense: Livery/Cemetary--Paid: No Charge
Name: W. F. Hancock-- Nature of Expense: Burial Clothing-- Paid: No Charge made
total: 28.10
32. Is the above a complete list of all the expenses of the last sickness and burial of the deceased pensioner? Yes
James. R. Altom
Claimant's Signature
PVT. H COMPANY 1ST INFANTRY-TENNESSEE
William was the son of William and Nancy of Anderson County, Tennessee. William(1840-12/2/1920) was married to Eliza A.(Bolton)(12/6/1837-5/31/1930) on the 29th day of December 1864 in Anderson County, Tennessee by J. H. Hicks, J.P. They continued to live in Anderson County until around 1884, when they moved to Bull Run in Knox Co., Tennessee. They had ten children who were: Annie(Cox)born 10/28/1865, S. J. (Taylor) born 10/18/1876, William(7/26/1878), Joseph(1/7/1880), D. P. (8/7/1884), Rosette(2/7/1886), Nora Alice(9/13/1888). There was also Charley, Mary, and Ella. The last three died prior to 1898. William drew a pension from the service up until his death in 1920. His widow, Eliza, applied for Widows Pension and received it till her death in 1930.
(Declaration for Invalid Pension) State of TN and county of Knox:
On this fourth day of October, 1867, personally appeared before me, clerk of the court of record within and for the county and state aforesaid, William Altom, age 27 years, a resident of the County of Anderson, in the State of Tennessee who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical William Altom who volunteered in the service of the United States at Sommerset in the State of Kentucky, on or about the 13th day of January in the year 1862 as a private in Company 'H' commanded by Captain Childs in the 1st Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers commanded by Col. Byrd in the war of 1861, and was honorably discharged at Annapolis in the state of Maryland, on or about the 9th day of January, 1863; that while in the service aforesaid, and in the line of his duty, at Cumberland Ford in the State of Kentucky during the month of March 1862, he was taken with the side pleurisy which drew his head very near down to his knees. After he was attacked with the pleurisy as aforesaid he was sent to the hospital at Barbersville Kentucky, at which place he was captured by the rebels, in the month of August 1862, and taken to Knoxville, thence to Richmond and then was sent to parole camp at Annapolis Maryland were he arrived Oct. 28, 1862, where he remained until discharged, where he was treated by Dr. Novel up to the date of his discharge. That since leaving the said service, this applicant has resided in the county of Anderson in the State of Tennessee, and his occupation has been farming when able to work. That prior to his entry into the service above named, he was a man of good, sound physical health, being when enrolled a very stout and healthy man. That now he is more than half disabled from obtaining his subsistence from manual labor in consequence of his above named injuries, received in the service of the United States.
William Altom
Witnessess to his signature:
John Childs
Jackson Altom
COMPANY I , 1ST ARKANSAS MOUNTED REGIMENT
AND
COMPANY F, 25TH REGT. ARKANSAS INFANTRY
There were two seemingly conflicting records on Zarah. The first account is disability for discharge from Company I. The second is the Widows Application for pension that was approved in 1901. It appears that after his first discharge he reinlisted in a different county, or else these are two independantly different people, which appears very unlikely.
ARMY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES
CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY FOR DISCHARGE
Zerah S. Altom, a private of Captain George S. Laswell Company I, of the 1st AR. Mounted Regiment of the Confederate States Army was enlisted by Capt. Laswell of the 1st Regt. of AR. Mounted Rifles at Fort Smith, AR. on the 6th day of June 1862, to serve one year; he was born in Greenville in the State of South Carolina, is 34 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, and by occupation when enlisted a merchant. During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty 60 days.(Dated Sept. 14th, 1862).
I certify, that I have carefully examined the said Z. S. Altom of Captain Laswell's Company, and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of chronic inflammation of the liver and general unhealthy from the effects of Alcoholic(?). I do not think he will ever be fit for duty, signed by J.H. Carroll, Surgeon. Discharged this 14th day of September, 1862, at Walton, KY.
WIDOWS APPLICATION FOR PENSION
State of Arkansas, County of Pulaski
I, Mrs. Z . Street Alton do solemnly swear that I am the widow of Z. Street Alton who served as a soldier in the army of the Confederate States, being a member of Co. F, 25th Regiment of Infantry from the State of Arkansas; that he was honorably discharged(paroled or released) from such service on or about 1865 and did not desert the same; that I am now, and for the past twelve months have been, a bonafide resident of this State; that I do not own property, real or personal, or both, or money or choses in action in excess of the value of $400.00(exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel), nor have I conveyed title to any property to enable me to draw a pension, and that I am not in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any services, the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150.00 per year; that my said husband died April 1, 1885, and that I have not since re-married, so help me God.
Mrs. Z Street Alton
Signature
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 11th day of January, 1901
COMPANY F&C(Hardy's Regiment)
later renamed
24th Regiment Arkansas Infantry
John M. Altom was a son of William and Esther Altom and born in Lawrence County, Tennessee July 12, 1833. He married Casandra Ann Wallace(b.1833) in October of 1858.
APPLICATION FOR PENSION
State of Arkansas, County of Lafayette
I, J. M. Altom do solemnly swear that I served as a soldier in the army of the Confederate States being a member of Portlock in Co. C, 24th Regiment of Infantry from the State of Arkansas; that I was honorably discharged (paroled or released) from such service on or about the 30th day of April, 1864 and did not desert the same; that I am now and for the past twelve months have been a bona fide resident of this State; that I do not myself, nor does my wife, nor do we both together, own property, real or personal, or both, or money or choses in action in excess of the value of $400.00(exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel), nor has either of us conveyed title to any property to enable me to draw a pension, and that neither I nor my wife is in receipt of any income, annuity, pension of wages for any services, the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150.00 per year; That I am incapacitated to perform manual labor in any of the ordinary avocations of life, and that such incapacity is the result of wound received in the service, being or of age, accident or disease, and that such disability is not the result of my own vicious habits still persisted in: Seventy Years of Age bothered by heart trouble and hearnia.
John M. Altom
his mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29th day of June 1903.
DECEASED PENSIONER'S WIDOW'S APPLICATION
State of Arkansas and County of Lafayette
I, Ann Altom, do solemnly swear that I am the widow of John M. Altom, who served as a soldier in the Army of the Confederate States, his proof of service being now on file in the Auditor's office, at Little Rock, he having been allowed a pension under Act of the General Assembly, approved March 11, 1901; that I am now, and for the past twelve months have been a bona fide resident of this state; that I do not own property, real or personal, or both, or money or choses in action, in excess of the value of $400.00(exclusive of household goods and wearing apparel), nor have I conveyed title to any property to enable me to draw a pension, and that I am not in receipt of any income, annuity, pension, or wages for any services, the emoluments of an office, in excess of $150.00 per year; that my said husband died on the Fourth day of February, 1906 and that I have not since remarried.
Ann Altom
Signature
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 19th day of June, 1906
John A. Cook
I, William L. Wallace, do solemnly swear that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Ann Altom, and that she is the widow of John M. Altom, deceased.
William L. Wallace
Signature