QUOTE FROM JOSHUA FRYE PERKINS TAKEN FROM A
LETTER HE WROTE
TO HIS DAUGHTER, HANNAH, DATED APRIL 5,
1917
At 73 years of age Joshua wrote the following:
"Well Hannah I think pretty strong about going to the War. If
I was a few years younger they would not have to call twist for
me. Where ever mortal man would dare to carry my county's flag
I would dare to follow. I have followed it on many a hard
fought field and while I live and able to stand up it shall never
lack for a defender---"
JOSHUA FRYE PERKINS AND HIGHLY
PERKINS
JOSHUA FRYE PERKINS
Joshua Frye Perkins
was born July 18, 1844 in Monroe County, Tennessee to Amos Perkins
and Nancy (Graves) Perkins. By 1850 his family is found in Lee
County, Virginia. At the onset of the Civil War the Amos Perkins
family is living in Kentucky and a young Joshua Frye Perkins signs
up with the 4th Kentucky Infantry,Vol., Co. C as a private
on the 7th day of August, 1861.
Below is a chronological
record of all of the documents that were in Joshua Frye Perkins
military records.
1891
On January 10, 1891 we find that
Joshua Perkins applies for Declaration for Invalid Pension from
Custer County, Nebraska. He states that he is 46
years of age and a resident of P.O. of Round Valley, County of
Custer, State of Nebraska. He list his reasons for application
as: Rheumatism, heart disease, kidney and liver trouble, lame back
and general disability and crippled right hand. This
application is signed by Joshua Perkins and witnessed by Lawrence S.
Wood and William Mundy. Sworn statement before J.J. Douglas,
Clerk of the District Court. At the bottom of the applications
is the following:
The act of June 27, 1890 requires, in case
of a soldier:
1. An honorable discharge (but the certificate need
not be filed unless called for.)
2. A minimum service of
ninety days.
3. A permanent physical disability not due to
vicious habits. (It need not have origianted in the
service.)
4. The rates under the act are graded from $6.to
$12., proportioned to the degree of inability to earn a support, and
are not affected by the rank held.
5. A pensioner under
prior laws may apply under this one, or a pensioner under this one
may apply under other laws, but he cannot draw more than one pension
for the same period.
Filed by: L.J. Gandy, Attorney at Law,
Broken Bow, Neb.
In support of Joshua's application there
was also two affidavits filed attesting to his
disabilities:
Affidavit #1:
Sworn statement in front
of J.G. Painter by William H. Piggott, age listed as 52 years, a
resident of Round Valley, that he is a neighbor of Joshua Perkins
that said Joshua Perkins is afflicted with Rheumatism, heart
disease, liver and kidney trouble, general disability and crippled
right hand. Mr. Painter swears that William H. Piggott is a
credible person and is personally known by Mr.
Painter.
Affidavit #2:
Sworn statement in front of
J.G. Painter by Hans J. Swenson, age listed as 42 years, a resident
of Round Valley, Custer Co. Ne, that he is well acquainted with
Joshua Perkins for two years past and that during that time that
Joshua Perkins has been afflicted with Rheumatism, heart disease,
liver and kidney trouble and crippled right hand. Mr. Swenson is
declared a credible person.
Finally we have a sworn affidavit
from Joshua Perkins:
STATE OF NEBRASKA
COUNTY OF
CUSTER
Joshua Perkins Co. E, 53rd
Reg't.
On this 1st day of July, 1891, personally
appears before me, J.G. Painter, a County Clerk, in and for the
aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths: Joshua
Perkins, aged 46 years, a resident of Round Valley in the County of
Custer, State of Nebraska well known to me to be reputable and
entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation
to the aforesaid case as follows: That he is the claimant in
the above named application. That in answer to Call No. 3, he
states that he has not been in any Military or Naval Services since:
Sept. 15, 1865. That he also served in Co. C. 4th Reg Kentucky
vol draft, prior to his service in Co. E, 53rd Kentucky Infant.
Vo.
That the claimant further states that his crippled
right hand was caused by accidently falling from a step ladder up
near the ceiling, in said fall his hand was pushed through the
window, cutting the cords in his wrist, which crippled his
hand.
Joshua Perkins
1898
The next document in this file is a
letter from the Des Moines Agency. This document is of great
value to researchers for the amount of personal
information.
Certificate No. 703308
Name: Joshua
Perkins DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR
BUREAU OF
PENSIONS,
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 questions 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:
yes Highly Perkins
Perkins
Second: When, where, and by whom were you
married?
answer: December 1867 Fayette County,
Ill Tennessee Nave
Third: What
record of marriage exists?
answer: I don't
know
Fourth: Were you previously married? If
so please stae the name of your former wife and the date and place
of her death or divorce.
answer: No
Fifth: Do you have any children living? If so, please
state their names and the dates of their birh.
answer: Claud S.: Oct. 5,
1877
Hanah: Jan. 1st,
1879
Laura: June 1st,
1884
Clara: March 29th,
1886
Sidney:
July 24,
1891
Perry: Sept.
1894
Joshua
Perkins
signature
Date of Reply:
July 5,
1898
DECLARATION FOR PENSION
ACT OF MAY 11,
1912
STATE OF NEBRASKA
)
)ss
COUNTY OF
LOUP )
On this 27th day of May, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and twelve
personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the
county and State aforesaid, Joshua Perkins, who, being duly sworn
according to law, declares that he is 67 years of age, and a
resident of Taylor, county of Loup, State of Nebraska; and that he
is the identical person who was enrolled at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
under the name of Joshua Perkins, on the 7th day of August, 1861 as
a private, in Co. C, 4th Ky.. Infantry, vol in the service of the
United States, in the civil war, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at
Camp Deschard, Tenn, on the 8th day of August, 1862.
That he also served: enrolled at
Covington, Ky, September 29th, 1864, as a private, Co. E. 53rd Ky
Voll Infantry and was discharged at Louisville, Ky. September 15,
1865.
That he was not employed in the
military or naval service of the United States otherwise than is
stated above. That his personal descripton at enlistment was
as follows: Height, five feet ten inches; complexion, dark; color of
eyes, gray; color of hair, dark; that his occupation was farming;
that he was born July 18, 1844, Monroe Co.
Tenn.
That his several places of residence
since leaving the service have been as follows: from discharge to
1866 at Lewis Co. Ky, then to 1867 in Clarke Co. Ky, then to 1868 at
Fayette Co. Ky, then to 1874 to Putnam Co. Ind., then to 1875 in
Edgar Co. Ill, then to 1889 in Hall Co. Nebr. then to 1900 in Custer
Co. Nebr, then to present time in Loup
Co. Nebr.
That he is a pensioner
under certificate No. 703.308.
That he
has-------applied for pension under original
No.--------
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 May 11,
1912.
That his post-office address is
Taylor, Nebraska, county of Loup, State of
Nebraska.
Joshua
Perkins_____
( Claimants signature in full.)
Attest: (1) O.W.
Moon
(2)
Geo.Emig (?)
Subscribed and sworn to
before me this 27th day of May, 1912 and I hereby certify that the
contents of the above declaration, etc. are fully made known and
explained to the applicant before swearing, including the
words-------------, erased, and the words--------,added; and that I
have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this
claim.
O.W.Moon_____
signature
NOTARY
PUBLIC
(Official character)
my
commission expires: Dec. 7th 191(?)
1913 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU
OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON, D.C.: JANUARY 24,
1913
RESPECTFULLY REFERRED TO THE ADJUANT GENERAL, WAR DEPART FOR
FULL MILITARY AND MEDICAL HISTORY, PERSONAL DESCRIPTION, AGE AT
ENLISTMENT AND OTHER AGE OF RECORD ALSO DATE THE ORGANIZATIONS
DISBANDED OF THE BELOW NAMED COMPANIES:
1 ENCLOSURE
CERT.
NO. 703308
JOSHUA PERKINS
CO. E 53 KY INF
AND CO. C 4 KY
INF. (1861 TO 1862)
COMMISSIONER
WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S
OFFICE
Respectfully returned to the
COMMISSIONER OF
PENSIONS
Joshua Perkins, Co. C, 4 reg't Ky (mt'd)
Inf. age 18, height__feet,___inches,___complexion,____, eyes,____,
hair,___place of birth____occupation____was enrolled August 7, 1861
and discharged August 8, 1862 on s.c.pd. because of pulmonary
tuberculosis, age 18 years at discharge. From m/in 18____to
disch.18____ he held the rank of pvt. wagoneer and pvt. and the
rolls on file for that period do not show him absent.
Joshua Perkins, Co. E, 53 Ky Inf. enrolled Sept. 29, 1864 and m/out
Sept. 15, 1865 with Co. From m/in to m/out he held the rank of
private and the rolls on file for that period do not show him
absent. Age 21; height 5 ft. 10; complexion, dark; eyes, grey;
hair, dark; born in Monroe Co. Tenn; a farmer. Age at m/out:
21 years
Date of disbandment of 4th Ky Inf. (1861 organ.) not
found
The 53rd Ky Infty. was disbanded Sept 27,
1865.
Signed: Geo. Andrews, the Adjutant
General,
Washington, D.C. Feb. __, 1913
(Commissioner of
Pensions)
1915 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU
OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON, D.C. JANUARY 2, 1915
SIR: Please
answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated
below. The information is requested for future use, and it may
be of great value to your widow or children. Use the inclosed
envelope, which requires no stamp.
Very
Respectfully,
G.N.___________(?)
No. 1. Date
and place of birth? Answer: July 18th, 1844 Monroe
Co. Tennissee.
No. 2. The name of organizations in
which you served? Answer: Company (C) 4 Ky Infantry Vol.
Comapny (E) 53 Ky Infantry Vol.
No. 3. Your wife's full
name and her maiden name. Answer: Highly Perkins
No.
4. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer:
December 27th, 1867 Fayett Co. Ill, Tennessee Nave.
No.
5. Is there any official or church record of your
marriage: Answer: I don't know.
No. 6. Were you
previously married? Answer: Blank
No. 7. If
your present wife was married before her marriage to you, etc.
Answer: Blank
No. 8. Are you living with your wife or
has there been a separation? Answer: Yes (Joshua draws a
line through: or has there been a separation)
No. 9.
State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or
dead. Answer: Born: Claud Oct. 5, 1877, Hannah E. born Jan.
1st, 1879, Laura B. born June 1st, 1884, Clara born March 29, 1886,
Sidney born July 21, 1890, Perry born Sept. 11, 1893
Date:
April 21,
1915
Signature: Joshua Perkins
1918 REISSUE OF ACT OF MAY 11, 1912 AS
AMMENDED BY ACT OF MARCH 4, 1913 CERT. NO. 7033 CLAIMANT: JOSHUA PERKINS
P.O.: TAYLOR
COUNTY:
LOUP
STATE: NEBRASKA
RANK: PRIVATE
SERVICE: CO E 53 KY
INF.
RATE: $16.50 PER MONTH, COMMENCING JUNE 1, 1912, $21.50
FROM JULY 18, 1914, $27.00 FROM JULY 18, 1919.
APPROVAL
SUBMITTED TO ADM. FEB. 13, 1913, A. ARUNDELL,
EXAMINER.
APPROVED FOR ADMISSION RATE $16.50 PER
MONTH; AGE 67 YEARS. REISSUE FROM ACT OF JUNE 27, 1890.
DATE OF BIRTH JULY 18, 1844.
LENGTH OF PENSIONABLE
SERVICE: 1 YEAR 11 MONTHS 19 DAYS.
DEDUCTIONS IN SERVICE FROM ANY
CAUSE: NONE
DATED: MARCH 8, 1913, F. TYERS, LEGALE
REVIEWER.
MARCH 11, 1913. W.B. PETTUS,
RE-REVIEWER
ENLISTED: AUGUST 7, 1861
HONORABLY DISCHARGED: AUG. 8, 1862
ENLISTED: SEPT. 29,
1864 HONORABLY DISCHARGED: SEPT.
15,1865
LENGTH OF PENSIONABLE SERVICE:1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS, 19
DAYS. PENSIONED AT $12.00 PER MONTH, UNDER ACT OF JUNE 27,
1890.
PRESENT CLAIM, ACT OF MAY 11,
1912
DECLARATION FILED JUNE 1, 1912
AGE SHOWN BY EVIDENCE
67 YEARS; DATE OF BIRTH JULY 18, 1844, CLAIMANT DOES
WRITE.
THIS DOCUMENT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO
UNDERSTAND. IT APPEARS THAT ANY TIME THAT JOSHUA WAS TO GET A
RAISE IT WAS NOTED ON THIS DOCUMENT. AS BEST THAT I CAN MAKE
OUT JOSHUA'S PENSION WAS AS FOLLOWS:
FROM THE JUNE 27, 1890
ACT HE RECEIVED $12.00 PER MONTH
FROM THE MAY 11, 1912 ACT HE
RECEIVED $16.50 PER MONTH
FROM JULY 18, 1914 HE RECEIVED $21.50
PER MONTH
FROM JULY 18, 1919 HE RECEIVED $27.00 PER
MONTH
APPARENTLY HE RECEIVED ANOTHER INCREASE TO $38.00 SOMETIME
IN 1919.
1920
PENSIONER DROPPED
DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Mar 19, 1920
Certificate No. 703308
Class
Act of May 11, 1912
Pensioner: Joshua
Perkins
Soldier:
Service: Co. E 53rd Ky Inf.
THE
COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS
Sir:
I have the honor to report
that the name of the above described pensioner who was last paid at
$38.00 to Jan. 4, 1920 has this day been dropped from the roll
because of death, March 3, 1920, Joshua Perkins, Taylor Nebraska,
703308.
Very Respectfully,
Chief, Finance
Division.
1920
After the death of Joshua Perkins
his wife, Highly Perkins, applied for Widow's
Pension.
DECLARATION FOR WIDOW'S PENSION
ACT OF APRIL 19, 1908
AMENDED BY ACT OF SEPTEMBER 8,
1916.
STATE OF NEBRASKA, COUNTY OF LOUP..ss
On this 26th day of March, 1920, personally appeared before
me, A.S. Moon, Notary Public within and for the County and
State aforesaid, Highly Perkins, who, being duly sworn by me
according to law, declares that she is 69 years of age and that she
was born July 17, 1850 at Letcher Co. Kentucky.
That
she is the widow of Joshua Perkins, who enlisted September, 29, 1864
and on the 7th day of August, 1861 under the name of Joshua Perkins
as a private in Co. E., 53rd Reg. Kentucky Inft. and Co. C. 4th
Regiment Ky. Vol. Infantry and was honorably discharged Aug. 8th,
1862 and Sept. 15, 1865 having served ninety days or more during the
Civil War. That he also served no other time or
places.
That otherwise than as herein stated said
soldier (or sailor) was not employed in the United States
service.
That she was married to said soldier (or
sailor) December 20th, 1858 (?), under the name of Highly Perkins,
at Fayette County, Ill, by Tenesee Knave; that she had not been
previously married; that he had not been previously
married.
That said soldier (or sailor) died March 3,
1920 at his home in Loup Co. Nebraska that she was not divorced from
him; and that she has not remarried since his death.
That the following are the only children of the soldier (or sailor)
who are now living and under sixteen years of age, namely: (If he
left no children under the age of sixteen years of age, the claimant
should so state.)
Claude Perkins, born October 4, 1877 at
Hall Co. Nebraska
Hannah Perkins, born Jany, 1st, 1879 at Hall
Co. Nebraska
Laura Perkins, born June 1st, 1884 at Hall Co.
Nebraska
Clara Perkins, born March 29, 1887 at Hall Co.
Nebraska
Sidney Perkins, born July 21st, 1892 at Custer Co.
Nebraska
Perry Perkins, bron Sept, 11, 1894 at Custer Co.
Nebraska
That the above named children of the soldier
(or sailor) are not now receiving a pension, and that such children
are not member of her family and not cared for by her.
That she has not heretofore applied for pension, the number of her
former claim being none; that said soldier (or sailor) was a
pensioner, the number of his pension certificate being
703308.
That she makes this declaration for the
purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States
under the provisions of the ACT OF APRIL 19, 1908, as amended by the
ACT OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1916.
1st witness: George Emig
2nd
witness: Sidney
Perkins
Highly
Perkins
Taylor Nebraska
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th
day of March, 1920 and I hereby certify that the contents of the
above declaration were fully made known and explained to the
applicant before swearing, including the words----- erased, and the
words-----added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in
the prosecution of this claim.
O.M. Moon, Notary
Public
One affidavit was filed along with the
Application for Widow's Pension. The affiants were: Robert
Rusho, age 43 and George P. Emig, age 70. Said affiants stated
that they had known Joshua and Highly Perkins for more than 20 years
and that said Highly and Joshua had never been divorced and were
living together as husband and wife at the time of Joshua's death on
March 3, 1920.
One affidavit was filed by Dr. J.F. McNulty,
physician, stating that he was the attending physican for Joshua
Perkins during his last illness and death.
Two affidavits
were filed by Highly Perkins, one pertained to the fact that her son
Claude served in the army and that she did not now nor had ever
received any type of pension from his service to the
country.
The last affidavit filed by Highly Perkins pertains
to her marriage to Joshua Perkins and I will transcribe it here in
its entirety. It is of interest because of the discrepancies
between it and other documents from Highly and Joshua concerning the
date and place of their marriage:
STATE OF NEBRASKA
COUNTY
OF LOUP
CIVIL WAR DIVISION
HIGHLY PERKINS
JOSHUA
PERKINS
HIGHLY PERKINS BEING FIRST DULY SWORN
UPON HER OATH SAYS THAT SHE IS THE WIDOW OF JOSHUA PERKINS AVOVED
MENTIONED AND THAT THERE IS NO PUBLIC RECORD OF THE DEATH OF SAID
JOSHUA PERKINS WHO DIED AT HIS RESIDENCE IN LOUP COUNTY, NEBRASKA,
UPON THE THIRD DAY OF MARCH, 1920, AT EIGHT O'CLOCK A.M. THAT
SHE WAS MARRIED TO SAID JOSHUA PERKINS IN PRAIRIE COUNTY, ILLINOIS,
ON THE 20TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 1868, AND THAT SHE HAS LIVED AND
RESIDED WITH SAID JOSHUA PERKINS AS HIS WIFE EVER SINCE SAID
MARRIAGE AND WAS SO LIVING WITH HIM AT HIS DEATH. THAT THERE
IS NO CHURCH RECORD OF SAID MARRIAGE, NOR IS THE PERSON WHO
PERFORMED THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY NOW ALIVE, AND THAT THERE IS NO
PERSON LIVING WHO WITNESSED SUCH CEREMONY.
HIGHLY
PERKINS
SUBSCRIBED IN MY PRESENCE AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME THIS
8TH DAY OF MAY, 1920.
A.M.MOON, NOTARY PUBLIC
WIDOW'S PENSION
Claimant: Highly Perkins
P.O. Taylor
Nebraska
County: Loup
State: Nebraska
Soldier: Joshua
Perkins
Rank: Private
Co. E
Regiment: 53 Kentucky
Inf.
Rate: $25.00 per month, commencing March 30, 1920 and $30.00
commencing May 1, 1920
and $2. additional for each child listed
below:
None
APPROVALS
Submitted for Admissions July 19, 1920 T.F. Wilson,
examiner.
Approved for admission under Act of April 19, 1908 and
amended Act of September 8, 1916.
July 21, 1920. H.R. Anderson,
reviewer:
The soldier was pensioned at $38.00 per month under Act
of May 11, 1912.
Enlisted: August 7, 1861 was honorably
discharged August 8, 1862 and reenlisted September 29, 1864 and was
honorably discharged September 15, 1865 Filed his application
January 15, 1891, died March 3, 1920, Declaration filed March 30,
1920.Clts. app'n under other laws, none, Former marriage of
applicant, none, former marriage of soldier, none, Clt's marriage to
soldier, Dec. 27, 1867, clt's remarried, none, Claimant does
write.
also stamped on this document is the following:
increased to $40.00 per month from June 4, 1928-ACt of May 23,
1928.
1934 Next in this file is a letter from
Laura Clemens informing the Veteran's Administration that Highly
Perkins had died at 8:10 p.m. on July 21, 1934. Dr. D.B.
Kantor, attending physician, from Sargent Nebraska and Mrs. Pearl
Clay, nurse, from Taylor Nebraska. The last document in the
file is the following: DROP REPORT HIGHLY
PERKINS TAYLOR, NEBRASKA #890752 JULY 31,
1934 CANCELED (PAYEE DECEASED) ACCOUNTING
DIVISION The name of the above described pensioner who
was last paid at the rate of $36.00 per month to 6/30/1934 has been
dropped from the roll because of death July 21, 1934
signed:
Wm. H. Holmes
Chief Accounting Division
SOURCE: COPIES OF THE MILITARY RECORDS OF JOSHUA FRYE PERKINS
IN THE POSSESSION OF MELODY BEERY
TRANSCRIBED BY: MELODY
BEERY
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