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S. 4465.  Meda Mathey is the widow of Edward G. Mathey, late captain, Seventh Regiment United States Calvary, and lieutenant colonel, United States Army, retired.

Edward G. Mathey was born in France October 27, 1837.  He enlisted in the Union Army June 12, 1861, early in the war, as first sergeant with Company C. Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was promoted to second lieutenant May 1, 1862, and honorably resigned August 10, 1862.  He was mustered in September 1, 1862, as second lieutenant with Company E. Eighty-first Indiana Infantry; promoted to first lieutenant January 12, 1863, to captain October 8, 1863, and to major, same regiment September 12, 1864, and was honorably mustered out at the close of the war, June 13, 1865.

After the war he entered the Regular Army September 24, 1867, by appointment on that date as second lieutenant in the Seventh United States Cavalry.  He was promoted to first lieutenant May 10, 1870, to captain September 30, 1877, and was retired with rank of Major December 11, 1896.  He was advanced to the grade of lieutenant colonel on the retired list under act of Congress approved April 23, 1904.  He was a brave and efficient officer and served his country honorably and faithfully in the Volunteer and Regular Armies for over 33 years.

Col. Mathey died July 17, 1913, of disease incident to service and line of duty.  His widow, the beneficiary under this bill, is now receiving pension by certificate No. 800119 under the general law at the rate of $20 per month, it having been determined that his fatal disease originated while holding the rank of captain in the Regular Army.  She married the deceased officer November 8, 1871, and is 76 years of age

Evidence filed with the bill shows that Mrs. Mathey is a helpless invalid, confined to her bed, and also in very necessitous circumstances financially.  She also has a daughter who is unable to do anything in the way of self-support or even to care for her mother, and they have but very small means aside from the pension for their support.  The following letters addressed to Senator Thomas, who introduced the bill in the widow’s behalf, show the facts in the case:

Denver, Colo., January 20, 1916

Hon. Charles S. Thomas

United States Senator, Washington, D. C.

Sir:  Referring to a proposed bill for an increased pension to Mrs. Meda Mathey, widow of the late Lieut. Col. Edward C. Mathey, United States Army, retired, I beg leave to say that I have attended Mrs. Mathey since February, 1910, and also attended Col. Mathey from that date until the time of his death.  During that period Col. Mathey was unable to attend to any active business, owing to a serious malady, which grew worse gradually until a serious operation was demanded for his relief, some time following which he died.

For more than a year Mrs. Mathey has been paralyzed in one-half of her body, accompanied by a brain lesion which has robbed her of the power of speech.  Mrs. Matahey has been during this time and is at present entirely unable to care for herself.  It is absolutely necessary that she have the constant attendance of a nurse to look after her physical needs.  Under the present conditions her income is absolutely inadequate to supply these demands.  I therefore regard her as an exceptionally worthy case for your consideration, and earnestly trust that you may be instrumental in securing this much-needed financial assistance.

Respectfully.

L. M. Van Mete                                                                                                                         
555 York Street,
Denver, Colo., January 17, 1916.

Hon. Charles S. Thomas.

United States Senator, Washington. D. C.

Dear Sir:  In support of the bill providing for an increase of the pension of $20 per month now allowed Mrs. Meda Mathey, widow of the late Lieut. Col. Edward G. Mathey, United States Army, retired, to $40 a month.  I have the honor to submit the following:

Col. Mathey served during the Civil War as a volunteer from the 31st of May, 1861, to the 1st of May 1862, as a noncommissioned officer, from which date he served as an officer of Volunteers, until honorably mustered out of service June 13, 1865.

September 2, 1867, he was appointed a second lieutenant of Seventh United States Cavalry, promoted to lieutenant the 10th of May, 1870, and to captain the 30th of September, 1877.  Retired with rank of major the 11th of December, 1896, and as lieutenant colonel the 23rd of April, 1904.

I have known Col. Mathey from the time of his entering the regular service, and from my own knowledge and his general reputation among his brother officers, his service was of the highest order.

From the date of his retirement he was an invalid, unable to perform any kind of labor.  The last two or three years of his life he was almost helpless, requiring the almost daily attention of a doctor.

Added to the helplessness of Col. Mathey, his wife, Meda Mathey, has been an invalid; for the past three years, unable, in a great degree, to move about without help, and for months past has been bedridden, unable to help herself in the least, requiring the daily attention of a professional nurse.

Added to all this, the daughter is non compos, unable to properly care for her invalid mother, and totally unfit to attend to any business or domestic affairs, which necessitated the appointing of an administrator.

This is a pitiful case, one that impels us to urge that an increase of pension in case of Mrs. Meda Matahey, from $20 a month, be authorized by Congress this session.  The entire revenue outside of the pension is less than $240 a year.

Mrs. Mathey’s pension number is 80119.

With highest regards, I remain,
Very sincerely.
Frank D. Baldwin,

Brigadier General, United States Army, retired.

In view of the long-continued and valuable services of Col. Mathey and the widow’s necessitous circumstances, advanced age, and helplessness, your committee feel justified in reporting the bill favorably with recommendation for increase of pension to $40 per month.

 Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc.
February 22, 1917.
Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session Vol. No.B
64th Congress, 2nd Session
H.Rpt. 1532
[Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Terry Wages]

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S. 7745.  William F. Core served as sergeant and first sergeant in Company A, One hundred and fifty eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the War with Spain.  The official records show that he enlisted April 26, 1898, and was honorably discharged November 4, 1898; also that he was at home on furlough with his company for 29 days from September 17, 1898.

He filed claim for pension March 16, 1901 (No. 1264030), alleging in his declaration that at Camp Thomas, Ga., in the summer of 1898, he contracted a severe cold which caused an affection of the eyes and health generally and affected his mouth, requiring the extraction of three of his back teeth; that he also claims pension for malaria and results incurred at same time and place.  The claim was rejected March 21, 1902, on the ground that a ratable degree of disability had not been shown from date of filing from severe cold, disease of eyes, disease of mouth, loss of teeth, and malaria.

The medical records on file in the War Department furnish no evidence of disability or treatment of the soldier while in the service.  On his examination preliminary to discharge soldier declared that he was then suffering from no disability or impairment of health, whether incurred in the military service or otherwise.  His captain certified that he knew of no disability from which soldier was then suffering and the Army surgeon reported that he found none after physical examination.

On file in the claim is testimony as follows:

Capt. James Little, testifying Jan. 15, 1902; said that soldier during the time he was in service suffered more or less trouble with his eyes while in Camp George H. Thomas and at Camp Poland, Knoxville, Tenn.

William F. Kiley, testifying October 19, 1901, said that soldier’s physical condition prior to service was undoubtedly as perfect as could be found; that after being mustered out his physical condition was not like it used to be; that soldier’s eyes looked sore and inflamed and his sight was impaired to such an extent as to necessitate the use of glasses; that he complained constantly of pains in his back and stomach, had no appetite and attributed his ailments to the result of malaria contracted in the Army service; that his condition became so serious that he was obliged to give up his position after a very short time.

Soldier, now 42 years of age, was first medically examined September 23, 1901, by the Marshall, Mich., board of surgeons, who rated him 6/18 on results of cold affecting eyes, five teeth, and throat and 4/18 on effects of malaria.  He was again medically examined January 29, 1902, by the Jackson, Mich., board of surgeons and rated 2/18 on disease of eyes and 2/18 on impaired nutrition.

Accompanying the bill is affidavit of Dr. G. A. Gamble, dated December 29, 1916, who says that upon examination of soldier about a week previous he found a slight affection of left lung and he was also suffering with a backache and a slight lameness due to a posterior displacement or an upward and backward displacement of the innominate on the sacrum, producing an apparent shortness of the right leg, one-half inch; that this displacement of the innominate is the primary cause of the pain experienced at times in the right side in the region of the appendix; that soldier, having lost all his teeth during service, is unable to properly masticate solid food; that soldier’s general health is impaired to such an extent that he is not capable of performing ordinary manual labor.

Also evidence of two witnesses that soldier is not a strong able-bodied man and is compelled by reason of his health to engage in employment not requiring much physical strength; that he is engaged in the selling of real estate on commission, which has enabled him by the practice of rigid economy to get along.

This committee report the bill favorably and recommend that he be granted a pension at the rate of $17 per month.

Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc.
February 22, 1917.
Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session Vol. No.B
64th Congress, 2nd Session
H.Rpt. 1532
[Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Terry Wages]

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Pensions Granted

[As reported 28 Jul 1888 in the Daily Inter Ocean newspaper]

 

Washington, July 27 --- Special Telegram.

The following pensions have been granted:

 

INDIANA

 

ORIGINAL INVALID

Wm. Lowes, Sharptown

Samuel Pendergast, Springdale

 

RESTORATION

Philip Stineman, Peru

Thos Parker, Spurgeon

 

INCREASE

S. Barber, Silver Lake

W. Adams, Bloomington

A. Parham, Elmore

F.M. Terry, Lilly Dale

J.J. Lewis, Greencastle

A. Antibus, Lyons

J. Durham, Lebanon

C.C. Jenkins, Leavenworth

M. Mickler, French Lick

J. Laughlin, Saline City

A.O. Mitchell, Richmond

J.J. Crouch, Gosport

J.H. Dowling, Sparksville

A.J. Hunter, Newbern

A.C. Merrick, Russiaville

W.A. Fisher, Noblesville

S. Foy, Fowler

J. Dalgran (dec'd) Coffee

W. Iford, Pendleton

Theo Benz, Alias Barnes, Evansville

R.J. Craig, Clinton

J. Harman, Brookston

P. Eherle, Marion

J.H. Park, Marysville

E. Sanerwein, Ft Wayne

Wm. Clark, Glendale

J. Douglass, Logansport

M. Henry, Shelbyville

P. Howell, Derby

T. Haley, Lafayette

M.J. Cooper, Greencastle

I. Harris, Keystone

E. H. Baker, Washington

A.J. Hawkins, Petersburg

J.F. Ferguson, Riley

J.J. Garver, Indianapolis

A. McKinley, Muncie

B.N. Rowe, Terre Haute

W.H Buton, Wirt

 

REISSUE

J.F. Dickey, Terre Haute

G.W. Moreland, Ellettsville

F. Emerson, Brownstown

E.M. Watson, Terre Haute

M.H. Ragsdale, Glendale

J.H. Roberson, Fontaine

G.W. Tarry, Bloomington

J.T. Osborn, Stip's Hill

G. Hays, Lakeside

(Submitted by Kim Torp)