This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Copeland, Bailey Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ikJ.2ACIB/1253 Message Board Post: Eli Copeland, son of Warner & Elizabeth (Bailey) Copeland Hancock, Shelby & Morgan Co. areas of Indiana Page 1 (out of 15) - Eli Copeland's Civil War Pension Records The National Archives Dependant's Original No. 423,110 Applicant: Elizabeth Copeland mother of Veteran: Eli Copeland CAN NO: 1417 BUNDLE NO: 35 page 2 DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C., August 19, 18?90? Sir: It is alleged that Eli Copeland enlisted Nov. 8, 1862 and served as a Pvt. In Co "H", 54th Reg't Ind. Vols. It is also alleged that while on duty he was disabled by diarrhea, "Dies on board boat between Cairo and Mound City, Ill., Oct. 21, 1863. Very respectfully, G.B. Raum Commissioner Page 3 DECLARATION for an ORIGINAL PENSION of a FATHER or MOTHER This must be Executed before a Court of Record some Officer thereof having Custody of the Seal. State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: On this 22nd day of May, A.D., 1890, personally appeared before me MB Fritz, Clerk of the District Court a COURT of RECORD within and for the county and State aforesaid Elizabeth Copeland aged 80 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the Pension provided by Acts of Congress granting Pensions to dependant relatives: That she is the mother of Eli Copeland who served and enlisted under the name of Eli Copeland on the 8th day of November, A.D. 1862, in Co "H", 54th Regiment Indiana Infantry in the war of the Rebellion who died on the 21st day of October A.D. 1863 cause of death being camp diarrhea; that he died on (unreadable..possible army) boat between the city of Cairo Illinois and Mound City, Illinois, that as above stated he the said Eli Copeland died on the 21st day of October A.D., 1863, who bore at the time of his death the rank of Private, in said Co. "H", 54th Reg't, Ind Vols that the said son Eli Copeland left neither widow nor children under 16 years of age surviving; that the said claimant was married to the father of said son at Monroe, Virginia on the **21st day of October A.D. 1863** by James Christy that she was wholly dependant upon said son for support; that the father of said son died at Monrovia, Morgan Co., Indiana on the 7th day of March A.D. 1868. That prior to the enlistment of said soldier, and since his death, no person has been legally bound to support this applicant. That she has not heretofore received or applied for Pension that she has not aided or abetted the rebellion; and that she has not again married: W.S. O'Dell & Co. Of Washington D.C. true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim; that her Post Office address is Akron, Plymouth Co., Iowa her X Elizabeth Copland mark W.W. Lucky Emma Lucky witnesses Dixie Note: ** This is not, of course Warner and Elizabeth Copeland's wedding date..... page 4 (continuation of dicument on page 3) Also personally appeared W.W. Luckey residing at (left blank) in (blank) street, in Akron, Iowa, and Emma Luckey residing at (blank) in (blank) street, in Akron, Iowa persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me dult sworn, say they were present and saw Elizabeth Copeland the claimant sign her name or make her mark, to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. W.W. Luckey Emma Lucky (*NOTE: this is how the names were signed on the document - different spellings) sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of May 1890 M.B. ?Tritz? Clerk of the District Court by P.K. Edwards Eli Copeland's Civil War Pension papers page 5 out of 15 GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: In the matter of claim #423-110 Elizabeth M. Copeland for pensions as mother Eli Copeland. Pvt Co. "H" 54 Regt.. Indiana Vols On this 19th day of May A.D. 1891, personally appeared before me, A E Robertson, Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths John Shearer aged 76 years, a resident of Akron, in the County of Plymouth, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is Akron, Iowa and Elizabeth M. Shearer, aged 54, a resident of Akron, in the county of Plymouth, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is same, well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: That they knew Eli Copeland late of Co "H" 54th Reg. Ind. Volunteers father during his lifetime. His name was Warner M. Copeland. We knew him during the period of time between 1852 to 1863. We knew he was unable to work and we always understood that he had the consumption from about 1854 to 1863. He was physically weak. Elizabeth M. Shearer above mentioned knew that said father of Eli Copeland had no property at the time of Eli Copeland's death. That pensions to enlistment he had been the main support of claimant and that after his enlistment he sent money to claimant said money being a part of the soldiers wages. That claimants husband had no income, no property in 1863 nor since that time. That he had owned a small farm previous to 1856 but owned none since that date. That the father of Eli Copeland died in 1867. They further declare that they have no interest in said case and they are not concerned in its prosecution. John Shearer Elizabeth M. Shearer page 6 (continuation of document on page 5) State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiants, and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, including the words John Shearer erased, and the words (blank space not filled in) added, and aquainted them with its contents before they executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiants are personally known to me and that they are credible people. A. E. Robertson Notary Public page 7 GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: In the matter of claim #423-110 Elizabeth M. Copeland for pensions as mother Eli Copeland. Pvt Co. "H" 54 Regt.. Indiana Vols On this 22nd day of December, A.D., 1890, personally appeared before me, A E Robertson, Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Mary Shearer aged 53 years, a resident of Akron, in the County of Plymouth, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is Akron, Iowa, well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: Elizabeth Copeland above mentioned is my mother. She has not married since 1863. Her husband died March 7, 1867. His physical condition was very poor in 1863 and had been since 1854 being afflicted with what we thought was consumption. He was unable to preform manual labor after 1854. Now of the doctor who treated him when he was alive, the family physician, Jesse Regan of Monrovia, Indiana died about Jan. 1, 1868 and at her husbands death no property was left to claimant and I know that no property has been held by her since 1863. That previous to the entry of Eli Copeland into the Army he had supported his father and mother for four years or more and that in 1863 said Eli Copeland was the only support of both claimant and invalid husband. I further declare that I have no interest in said case and I am not concerned in its prosecution Mary Shearer State of Iowa County of Plymouth page 8 (continuation of document on page 7) State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiants, and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, including the words (blank space not filled in), and the words (blank space not filled in) added, and aquainted her with its contents before she executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiant is personally known to me and that she is a credible people. A. E. Robertson Notary Public page 9 GENERAL AFFIDAVIT State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: In the matter of claim #423-110 Elizabeth M. Copeland for pensions as mother Eli Copeland. Pvt Co. "H" 54 Regt.. Indiana Vols On this19th day of May, A. D., 1891, personally appeared before me, A E Robertson, Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Elizabeth Copeland aged 87 years, a resident of Akron, in the County of Plymouth, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is Akron, Iowa, well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: That she is the above claimant. The father of Eli Copeland was alive at the time said Eli Copeland died, was an invalid at and prior to the Enlistment of said Eli Copeland, and in 4 years prior to 1863 said father of Eli Copeland was not able to support herein claimant. In 1854 the father of Eli Copeland had a severe attack of lung disease and this was followed continuously with consumption until 1867 when he died. He was unable to work at manual labor after A.D. 1854 and died at the age of 65 years and 9 months. He was a farmer and in 1863 had no income from his own labor or property and had no property in 1863 nor since that time. Eli Copeland before enlistment worked out by the month to support both father and claimant and after Enlistment sent claimant money for her support. Eli Copeland was the only unmarried son in 1863 and he was her main support. They made their home together. She declares she is claimant in above claim. her X Elizabeth Copeland mark State of Iowa County of Plymouth page 10 (continuation of the document on page 9) State of Iowa, County of Plymouth, SS: Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiant, and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, including the words (blank space not filled in), and the words (blank space not filled in) added, and aquainted her with its contents before she executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiant is personally known to me and that she is a credible people. A. E. Robertson Notary Public page 11, 12 with no page 13 Official Stamp at the top of the page looks like J S Pension Office June 8, 1891 District of Columbia In Re Elizabeth Copeland Mother of Eli Copeland late a } claimant on pension member of Co. "H" 54th Regiment } No. 423.110 of Indiana Volunteers Before me the undersigned a Notary Public within and for said District personally came Jesse M. Ellmore a resident and citizen of Nevada, Iowa temporarily residing in Washington D.C. (Address 1114 G. St N.W.) Who being duly sworn on his oath says; that he personally knew Eli Copeland son of above named claimant when in life, that he knew him in Shelby County Indiana where deceased then lived, that at said date the claimant with her husband the father of deceased lived in Morgan County Indiana; that at said date ____ in 1861, its claimant and her husband were very poor, and the deceased their son at that time furnished them with supplies and gave them money out of his monthly wages that the deceased was a common laborer as was the father the claimant's husband; that he knows that from 1861 until 1862 the deceased continued to furnish the claimant and her husband with money and generally provided for them; that the affiant enlisted in June 1862, and that deceased was there at home that he is informed and verily believe that deceased enlisted in the army sometime in 1863, the precise date he cannot now remember, that affiant is informed and verily believes that the deceased sent his earnings to his parents and contribute! d to their support from the time he enlisted in the army until he died, that the deceased as affiant is informed, and verily believes died on the 21st of October, 1863, from the effects of a wound received in the Military Service and was buried at Cairo, Illinois; that the affiant does not know the amount of money deceased soldier sent to his father and mother in 1863, as he affiant was s member of another regiment ___ the 70th Indiana; Affiant further says that he does not know the _____ income of the father of deceased in 1863, 1864, and 1865 verily absent from home in the service, but he knows that prior to 1860 his income from his earnings and not amount to more than fifty dollars per year, that the father was a feeble old man, broken down in health in 1861, a common laborer and incapable of earning a full ?suppent? for himself or claimant; that he affiant returned home and found the husband and father still more feeble and broken in health in 1865 and found the claimant and her husband living in Morgan County Indiana in no better circumstances than they were in 1862 when he left home to enter the service, that they were both frail; that in 1862, the father of deceased soldier....... Dixie Note: the people at the National Archives xeroxed the same page twice and did not get the correct page xeroxed and sent that would have ended this document. pages 14 & 15 see Elizabeth M. Bailey Copeland Notes ################# What his pension papers said abt his death: ".....verily believes Eli Copeland died on the 21st of October, 1863, from the effects of a wound received in the Military Service and was buried at Cairo, Illinois...." It is later mentioned that Eli "Dies on board boat between Cairo and Mound City, Ill., Oct. 21, 1863. Mound City National Cemetery Mound City, Pulaski County, Illinois Coplin, E F, d. 10/21/1863, Plot: E 0 3548, bur. 10/21/1863