Pensions for Fall River County
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
CARL J. NELSON
S.2197. Carl J. Nelson, of Hot Springs, S. Dak., served as a private in Company D, First Regiment South Dakota
Volunteer Infantry, in the War with Spain. The official records show that he enlisted April 25, 1898, and was discharged
October 5, 1899; also that he was treated while in the service for diarrhea.
He was, up to February 4, 1903, a pensioner under the general law by certificate No. 1075251 at the rate of $6
per month on account of disease of stomach admitted as of service origin. At the date last given he was dropped
from the rolls on the ground that the pensioned disability had ceased to exist. He has been refused restoration
because it is not shown that since the dropping he has been disabled by the pensionable disease or other disability
incurred in the service. Clain for renewal or restoration was rejected May 10, 1910.
Soldier in his original application, filed February 5, 1900, alleged also diarrhea or dysentery and partial deafness
as due to service in the Philippine Islands. The claim for diarrhea or dysentery was Rejected on the ground that
a ratable degree of disability from such complaint was not shown to exist and the claim for partial deafness was
rejected on the ground that service origin and continuance were not proved.
Soldier, now 43 years of age, was first medically examined October 17, 1900 by the Hot Springs (S.Dak.), board
of surgeons, who rated him 4/18 on disease of stomach: 0/18 on diarrhea and dysentery, and 0/18 on deafness. He
was next examined February 4, 1903, and no rating for any cause recommended. He was last examined March 16, 1910,
by a full board of surgeons who reported as follows:
Dysentery: Patient not weak or emaciated. Most of molar teeth missing and balance of teeth badly decayed and pyorrhea
alveolaris present. Bowels are constipated most of the time except when claimant has an attack of dysentery which
he alleges occurs about once in three months. Alleges nausea at times with vertigo. Hemorrhoidal vessels engorged
and two small internal piles size of navy beans present. No fissure, fistula, or prolapse of rectum present. Liver
dullness reaches from the eighth rib to a point 1 inch below costal margin in the anterior axillar line. Splenic
area of dullness normal. The heart, lungs, and kidneys are normal in all respects. No evidence of vicious habits
or venereal disease.
This board is not able to discover any physical findings on which to base a recommendation for pension on dysentery
or its sequela.
Accompanying the bill is the affidavit of soldier, in which he says that he is unable to earn a living by manual
labor because of blindness in left eye, chronic diarrhea, and at times severe constipation, and other afflictions;
that he has no property and has a wife and four children to support. Also testimony of two neighbors to the effect
that soldier is unable to earn a living by manual labor; that he has no property and has a wife and family to support;
and affidavit of Dr. H. H. Wilcox, as follows:
The soldier is 43 years old, 5 feet 8 ½ inches high, and weights 142 pounds. Pulse, sitting is 80: while
standing it is about 90. Vision left eye has been failing for two years or more, so that to-day he is entirely
blind in that eye, the cause being due to atrophic changes in the optic nerve. Suffers frequently with duo-gastro-enteritis
and chronic diarrhea. About half the time he suffers with constipation, both of which appear to have existed since
1898. Became a member of the State home in 1899, remaining six years; was out four years, rejoined, and has been
a member up to this time. Much of the time soldier is troubled with vertigo, often being unable to maintain the
upright posture.
Soldier has more recently, namely, on December 5, 1916, made claim for pension on account of total blindness, which
claim, however, has been rejected on the ground that such disability is neither alleged nor shown to have been
chargeable to the military service.
The following evidence is filed with the bill:
In the matter of the pension of Carl J. Nelson, Hot Springs, S. Dak., Carl J. Nelson being first duly sworn deposes
and says: That he is the identical Carl J. Nelson who was a member of the First South Dakota Volunteer Infantry,
Company D. That since the 21st day of August, 1916, he has been totally blind. That he has no property either real
or personal of any kind whatsoever, except household furniture not exceeding in value $75. That since the said
21st day of August, 1916, he has been unable to do any labor of any character, and that he has no income from any
source. That he is a married man having a wife and four children, the ages of said children being as follows: The
oldest, a girl of 12 years old in October, 1916, and the youngest a boy 6 years old in November, 1916. That prior
to the time he was stricken totally blind he was employed as chef at the State Soldiers Home at Hot Springs, S.
Dak., and was able to earn a sufficient income to support his said wife and family, but that since said time the
said family has been supported by the labor of his wife and by public subscription.
Carl J. Nelson
Witnesses to signature:
Chas. S. Eastman,
H. H. Wilcox
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Carl J. Nelson, this 27th day of January, A. D. 1917.
[Seal.] Leroy C. Eastman,
Notary Public
_____________
State of South Dakota,
County of Fall River, ss:
Carl J. Nelson, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that he enlisted in Company D, First South Dakota Volunteer
Infantry, on or about the 25th day of April, 1898, and was discharged and mustered out of service on the 5th day
of October, 1899, at San Francisco, Cal.
That on the 9th day of January, 1900, he became blind in both of his eyes and remained in that condition for a
period of two weeks, when he again regained his sight of the right eye, and that the sight of the left eye was
never fully regained; that he is now totally blind in both eyes.
Carl J. Nelson
Witnesses to signature:
Chas S. Eastman.
H. H. Wilcox.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1917.
[Seal.] Leroy C. Eastman,
Notary Public
_____________
State of South Dakota,
County of Fall River, ss:
Carl J. Nelson, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That I am the Carl J. Nelson who was a
private in Company D, First Regiment South Dakota Infantry, United States Volunteers, in the Spanish-American War,
and that I served in the Philippine insurrection in the years 1898 and 1899, being engaged in and participating
in many engagements therein; that in the month of April, in the year 1899, at Malolos, or Santa Isabel, P.I., I
do not now recall which, I was taken sick, while on duty, with dysentery, stomach trouble, and extreme nervous
disorder, and on account thereof was compelled to remain in the field hospital for a period of about two weeks,
or possibly longer; that as a result of said illness I was extremely weak and nervous and never fully recovered
my former strength and physical condition, and when I was mustered out of the Army, in October,1899, I was fully
25 pounds lighter in weight than when I entered the service; that during said sickness I was attended by Dr. R.
C. Warne, who was the regimental or company doctor and who was with the troops in the field at that time, and who
is now a practicing physician of, and a resident of Mitchell, Davidson County, S. Dak; that I was mustered out
of the service at Presidio, Cal., October 5, 1899, and went direct from there to Canton, S. Dak., where., as stated
in my former affidavit filed herein, I was, on the 9th day of January, 1900, stricken blind; that I was attended
at that time by Dr. Holmgrem, than a practicing physician at Canton, S. Dak., but who is now deceased, having died
about ten years ago; that I remained blind at that time for a period of about two weeks, when the sight of one
eye was restored and the other partially so; that I was advised by my said doctor that in his judgment my sight
would be fully restored; that while I was there and had been partially restored to my eyesight, as aforesaid, I
was visited by a pension attorney by the name of Jerome Hawn, who was then a resident of Canton, S. Dak., and who
prepared and sent in to the Pension Department my former application for pension, upon which a pension was granted
me, and subsequent thereto I was dropped from the pension rolls. That the reason why I made no claim in that application
for a pension on account of blindness was because my said attorney, Jerome Hawn, advised me not to do so, stating
to me that inasmuch as my doctor had advised me that I would recover from said attack of blindness that I should
not base my application for pension thereon; that if I should make a claim on account of blindness and my sight
thereafter be fully restored that the Pension Department would discontinue and cancel my pension, and for that
reason, and that reason alone, I made no statement in my former application concerning my eye trouble, and that
I fully believed at that time the advice of my said doctor and that my eyesight would be fully restored; that I
am reliably informed that the said Jerome Hawn is now deceased.
And further affiant saith not.
Carl J. Nelson
Witnesses:
Mrs. B. E. Lewis
Chas. S. Eastman.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of February, 1917.
[SEAL] Henry Marty
Notary Public.
_________________
State of South Dakota,
Fall River County, ss:
Hamilton H. Wilcox being duly sworn says that he is a resident of Hot Springs, S. Dak., is a regular practicing
physician and surgeon and that he is well acquainted with Carl H. Nelson, having known him for about eight years.
The soldier Nelson is totally blind and makes the following statement in regard to his blindness: Early in October
1899, he returned from the Army - having been a soldier in the Spanish-American War. About the 9th of the following
January, 1900, he became suddenly blind in both eyes. After a lapse of about two weeks the sight of the right eye
was restored so that after several months he was able to engage in light work and in the course of time he was
employed as cook in the State Soldiers Home, which position he held until August, 1916, when he became totally
blind and was led home at noon by an attendant. Now then, since the soldier entered the service with two good eyes
and became blind within three months after his discharge, I am of the opinion that the cause leading up to his
blindness in all probability originated while in the service of the Spanish-American War.
I have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
H.H. Wilcox.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public, this the 27th day of January, 1917
[Seal.] James W. Divelbiss
Notary Public.
_______________________
State of South Dakota.
County of Fall River, ss:
Charles S. Eastman, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That at the present time he is postmaster
at Hot Springs, Fall River County, S. Dak.; that he has been a resident of said county and State for the past 30
years; that he is well and personally acquainted with Carl J. Nelson, who makes application , for special pension
and has been well acquainted with him for the past 15 years; that he knows, of his own knowledge, that the said
Carl J. Nelson has been blind in one eye for a period of about five years, and that same time in the summer of
1916 he became blind in the other eye, since which time he has been totally blind; that this affiant was this day
present at the office of Dr. H. H. Wilcox, at the State Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs, Fall River County, S. Dak.,
where the said Dr. Wilcox made an examination of the said Carl J. Nelson, and that the said Carl J. Nelson was
pronounced totally blind by the said doctor. Affiant says that he knows of his own knowledge that the said Carl
J. Nelson is totally blind. Affiant further says that the said Carl J. Nelson has a family consisting of a wife
and four small children, ranging in age from 6 to 12 years, and that he is unable to do any manual labor or to
in any way contribute to the support of the said family; that since the said Nelson became totally blind the said
family has been supported partially by public subscription and public benefits given on their behalf. Affiant further
says that to his best knowledge the said Carl J. Nelson has no property of any kind, either real or personal, and
no income with which to support his said family. And further affiant sayeth not.
Charles S. Eastman
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, A. D. 1917.
[Seal] Leroy C. Eastman
Notary Public
_____________________________
State of South Dakota,
County of Fall River, ss:
J. W. Divelbiss, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is well and personally acquainted
with Carl J. Nelson, who makes application for special Pension, and that he knows him to be the identical person
who makes such application; that he has been acquainted with the said Nelson for about 12 years last past; that
affiant well knows that said Carl J. Nelson is totally unable to earn a living by manual labor, by reason of being
totally blind and by reason of other disabilities; and to the best of the affiant's knowledge and belief he has
no property, either real or personal, and no income with which to support himself. Affiant further says that the
said Nelson is a married man and has a family consisting of a wife and four small children, and that said family
is entirely dependent on him. Further affiant sayeth not.
J. W. Divelbiss.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, A. D. 1917.
[Seal] Leroy C. Eastman
Notary Public.
The committee report, the bill favorably with recommendation for pension at $12 per month.
HARRY F. RODDY
S. 5290. Harry F. Roddy was a private in Company E, Seventeenth United States Infantry, War with Spain; he was
enlisted June 19, 1900, and honorably discharged June 18, 1903, having served three years.
He made claim for pension October 8, 1906 (No. 1353035), alleging in his declaration that about November, 1901,
while doing duty in the Philippine Islands he contracted kidney trouble, also heart trouble and throat trouble.
The claim was rejected on the ground of no record, nor medical or other satisfactory evidence of origin in service,
existence at discharge or continuance since, and claimant's evident inability to furnish such evidence, and on
the further ground of no ratable degree of disability from disease of throat and kidneys since date of filing application.
The medical records on file in the War Department show that soldier was treated in service for acute diarrhea,
dental caries, acute coryza, and acute muscular rheumatism, right and left lumbar regions. The board of surgeons
at Denver, Colo., November 23, 1906, reported no disability from disease of kidneys and rated him $10 on disease
of heart and $2 on nasopharyngenl catarrh. The examining surgeons further report as follows:
Claimant looks older than his years. Nutrition very poor. Claimant is unable to work steady. Can only work a few
days when he is compelled to quit work. Can not do any work of a sedentary nature.
Contract Surg. Edward E. Lamkin said that soldier's general physical condition while serving at Bongao, P. I.,
was not impaired by his service at that post, though he was at no time there a robust soldier. Cant. Benjamin F.
Hardaway said that claimant was a member of his company in November, 1901; that affiant remembers claimant had
sickness of some sort; that he was remarkably pale and debilitated for awhile; that affiant is inclined to believe
that if soldier had heart disease it must have existed before he entered the service as he had been in the service
but a short time.
Katie M. Napper and Ida May Hennings testified February 27, 1907, that they had been acquainted with soldier for
some time; that soldier is in very poor health and not able to do manual labor sufficient for his temporal wants;
that days at a time he is unable to work at all.
Dr. Henry Van Hummell testified that on examination of soldier December 14, 1906, he was found to have an hypertrophic
rhinitis and pharyngitis: that his pulse was thin and the heart was irregular in its action; tongue coated, appetite
poor, and bowels irregular; some slight consolidation of apex of left lung and some evidences of old pleurisy in
right lower lobe.
Dr. J. E. Johnson testified that on examination of soldier February 7, 1907, he found him to be suffering from
heart disease.
Dr. S. Morgan testified February 11, 1907, that he had then examined soldier and found that he had liver and kidney
trouble, also irregular action of the heart; that soldier was then one-half disabled.
Filed with the bill is affidavit of Maj. B. F. Hardaway, who says that soldier was in his company in the Philippines
for a considerable time; that soldier was sickly most of the time; that he was always a faithful and obedient soldier
and performed duty many times when a less determined man would have placed his name on the sick report.
Walter F. Geren says he was first sergeant of soldier's company in 1900 and 1901; that during most of that time
soldier was in a sickly condition and for much of the time unable to perform regular duty; that he has known soldier
during the last two years and knows him to have been during that time in such a physical condition as to be incapacitated
for work; that soldier's family is destitute and dependent upon the public funds for relief.
J. E. Ballow says he has known soldier for some time; that soldier's health has been poor, he has complained of
stomach trouble and does not appear to be able to do any hard work; that his family are in almost destitute circumstances.
Also affidavit of surgeon of Soldiers Home, Hot Springs, S. Dak., as follows:
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers,
Battle Mountain Sanitarium
Hot Springs, S. Dak., March 17, 1916
From: The Governor and Surgeon.
To: Whom it may concern.
Subject: Physical condition of Harry F. Roddy, member.
This is to certify that Harry F. Roddy, late Company E. Seventeenth, United States Infantry, was admitted to the
Battle Mountain Sanitarium, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, December 9, 1915, for treatment.
He gives a history of good health prior to his Philippine service. Denies any venereal disease, and there is
no evidence of his having had same.
At time of admission to Battle Mountain Sanitarium, he was suffering from marked symptoms of indigestion, such
as distress and bloating after eating, and tenderness in abdomen.
He is anemic, and rather poorly nourished. He has pain and uneasiness in lower dorsal region, which has persisted
since 1901.
Examination reveals increased vocal fremitus and crepitant rales over upper lobe of right lung. Patient complains
of weakness and states that his endurance is impaired. He is incapacitated for any kind of hard manual labor.
Present weight is 123 pounds; former weight, 140 pounds.
Respectfully,
James A Mattison,
Governor and Surgeon.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 17th day of March, A D. 1916, and I hereby certify that the said James
A. Mattison is known to me as a surgeon in actual practice and reputable in his profession.
[Seal] Reuben J. Reals, Notary Public.
My commission expires December 23, 1919.
And soldier's affidavit, as follows:
State of South Dakota,
County of Fall River, ss:
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for the county and State aforesaid, Harry F. Roddy, who,
being first duly sworn, deposes and says I, Harry F. Roddy, enlisted for foreign service at Fort Douglas, Utah,
June 9, 1900, being then 21 ½ years of age. I arrived in Manilla, P. I., on October 9, 1900, and was assigned
to Company E. Seventeenth United States Infantry.
During the summer of 1901 and while stationed at Dagupan, northern Luzon, P.I., I contracted a bad cold, which
affected my throat to such an extent that I could sleep but very little for some three or four weeks, owing to
the irritation in my throat, which caused me to cough almost continuously. The result of the loss of sleep and
severe coughing was the loss of considerable weight, leaving me physically very weak.
Later, during the winter of 1901-2, while stationed at Bongao, Sulu Archipelago, P.I., I had severe pains in the
back from just above the hips down to the rectum, the soreness being mostly on the inside and feeling as though
there was something pressing against the spine, causing continuous and severe headache; also I would have to urinate
very frequently, passing a small amount of water and almost an equal amount of blood. I stated the symptoms to
Dr. E. E. Lamkin, the post surgeon, and he concluded that it was inflammation of the bladder and kidneys and treated
me for the same.
I was a this time on special duty as cook for the officers' mess, consisting of Capt. B. F. Hardaway and Dr. E.
E. Lamkin, post surgeon, and as my duties were very light and I was receiving all the treatment at the doctor's
command, I did not go on sick report nor was I carried on sick report at any time while stationed at Bongao.
The Seventeenth Infantry was ordered to embark on the U.S. transport Crook for the United States about the 15th
of February, 1902; also a general order was received at the same time to the effect that all enlisted men (excepting
the noncommissioned officers) who had more than one year to serve of their first enlistment were to be transferred
to the company succeeding in the occupation of the garrison. At that time I was a private and had one year and
four months to serve of my first enlistment, and, of course, I was subject to the above -mentioned order, but,
owing to the state of my health at that time, Capt. Hardaway stated that to leave me in Bongao would possibly be
fatal to me, and he promoted me to lance corporal so that I might be excluded from the above-mentioned general
order. Also, through the kindness of Capt. Hardaway, I received special treatment by the surgeon on board the
transport Kilpatrick, to which boat we were transferred at Manila and came home on.
I was discharged from the service June 18, 1903. I was not examined at the time of my discharge, nor was I examined
at any time after the examination I passed at the time I entered the service, consequently I do not know what my
physical condition was at the time I was discharged from the service, although I had been treated at the post hospital
for heart trouble and other illness a short time before I received my discharge. This was while I was serving
with the Ninety-fourth Company, Coast Artillery, and stationed at Fort Flagler, Wash.
During the fall of 1910 I was examined for reenlistment at Vancouver Barracks, Wash., and was rejected as unfit
for service. I was again examined and rejected at the same post in January, 1911, reason for rejection being that
I was anemic, poor nutrition, under weight, irregular action of the heart, and unfit for service. I appealed to
the Adjutant General, United States Army, through the department commander. He ordered me to be examined by two
surgeons, and they rejected me for the same reasons as stated above.
I have on four other occasions suffered similar symptoms as those of the winter of 1901-2. The last time began
in 1913 and continued to get worse until the 1st of August, 1915, when something ruptured into the rectum and relieved
the pressure on my spine and eased my headache considerably, with which I had been suffering almost continuously
for about two years. On July 27, I was examined by Dr. A. S. Rosenfeld, of Portland, Oreg., and he diagnosed my
trouble as prostatic abscess. He called in his brother, who is also an M.D. and asked him to verify his conclusions,
which he would not do as he had some doubt about it being a prostatic abscess. At this time I weighed about 110
pounds, and now after more than eight months I only weigh about 115 pounds, stripped.
I have never had any venereal disease of any kind, such as syphilis, gonorrhea; have never drank intoxicating
liquors to an excess; I use smoking tobacco moderately.
I am still suffering with frequent headaches and pains in my bowels and stomach. I am at this time and have been
for more than three months receiving treatment at the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, Hot Springs, S. Dak. Am without
funds to care for my family, who are being cared for by the indigent-soldiers fund of Multnomah County, State of
Oregon. I have no income nor property of any kind, and I have a wife and six children - three boys and three girls.
Harry F. Roddy.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 20th day of March, 1916
[Seal] Reuben J. Reals, Notary Public.
My commission expires December 23, 1919.
This committee report the bill favorably and recommend that he be granted a pension at the rate of $20 per month.
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