Civil War Pension File of Charles W. Clearwaters

WC 627.633
Unit: Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Regiment
Enlisted: 6 Sep 1861 – Mt.Pleasant, DeWitt Co, Illinois
Discharged: 20 Nov 1863 – Folly Island, South Carolina
Physical Description: 5 feet 11-1/2 inches, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair

Documents:

(1) Certificate Of Disability For Discharge – 20 Nov 1863 – Folly Island, S. C.
Corporal Charles W. Clearwaters of Captain Hiram M. Phillips Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was enlisted by E. T. Waller at Santa Anna, Illinois on 6 Sep 1861 to serve three years.   He was born in Franklin Co, Indiana, and is 28 years of age, 5 feet 11 & one half inches high, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair, and by occupation a farmer when enlisted.  During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty 60 days.  Said soldier has had the diarrheoa and also a weakness of the eyes.
Station: Folly Island, S.C.
Signed Hiram M. Phillips Date: 5 Nov 1863
Commanding Company I
39th Regiment Illinois Volunteers

Charles W. Clearwaters of Captain Phillips Company is incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of "partial blindness the result of a long six months continued chronic conjunctivitis.  At the present time there are ulcers on the cornea of each eye and vision is very imperfect.  The case has resisted all treatment.  Is unfit for the Invalid Corps.  (Degree of Disability 1/2)">br /> Discharged 20 Nov 1863 at Folly Island, S.C.
Signed Colonel Thomas O. Osborn, Commanding the Regiment

(2) Declaration for Invalid Pension – 23 Jul 1864 – McLean Co, Illinois
Charles W. Clearwaters, aged 30, resident of McLean Co, Illinois, states he was a Corporal in Company I, Captain H. M. Phillips, the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Thomas O. Osborn, "during the present war with Rebels."
He enlisted 6 Sep 1861 at Mt. Pleasant, DeWitt Co, Illinois, and was honorably discharged at Folly Island, South Carolina.  Since that time he has resided in DeWitt and McLean Counties, Illinois.  His P. O. is LeRoy, McLean Co, Illinois.  His occupation since discharge has been "doing nothing."   He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the Invalid Pension Laws of the United States.  He is totally unable to gain a support by manual labor.
Signed: Charles W. Clearwaters
Witnesses: John T. Brittin, aged 40, & Samuel Gilmore, aged 25, Residents of McLean Co, Illinois

(3) General Affidavit – 18 Aug 1881 – Phillips Co, Kansas
James D. Manges, aged 34, and Mary J. Manges, aged 19, both residents of Arcadia twp, Phillips Co, Kansas, Post Office Kirwin, Phillips Co, Kansas, declare that they have been intimately acquainted with Charles W. Clearwater for the last 18 months and 12 years respectively.  That during that time they know that he has suffered a good deal with his eyes causing a partial loss of sight.  He has and is using different washes and medicines for his eyes as he is not able to employ a physician or oculist.  Affected by dust and heat.  That he is not fully able to follow his usual occupation.  The affiants gain their knowledge of the above facts from having been near neighbors.  Mary J. Manges has lived in his family for several years.
Signed: James D. Manges & Mary J. Manges

(4) Declaration for Invalid Pension – 10 Mar 1891 – Phillips Co, Kansas
Charles W. Clearwater, aged 59, resident of Dana, Phillips Co, Kansas, declares he was enrolled in Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a Corporal and honorably discharged 20 Nov 1863 at Folly Island, S. C.  He is partially unable to earn a support by reason of weak eyes, diarrhea, rheumatism, piles and an unnatural growth on left arm or shoulder.  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 27 Jun 1890.
Signed: Charles W. Clearwater
Witnesses: W. A. Burns & Geo. H. Dengler

(5) [Affidavit] – 21 May 1891 – Phillips Co, Kansas
"In the matter of my own Pension Claim, I Charles W. Clearwater do upon oath state that He had no Doctor employed to treat his eyes since 1877.  I consulted an oculist in Leroy, Ills., in 1866 or 7 and He advised me to go to New York City & be treated.  I had no money and could not go.  I used a wash on my eyes that seemed to help that at the time, in 1877 and 1878.  I was in Iowa & Nebraska breaking prairie and doing other work trying to make a living for my family.  I did not remain long in any place and it will be impossible for me to furnish evidence as to the condition of my eyes during that time.  And I ask ----- my claim adjusted on the evidence already furnished."
Charles W. Clearwater

(6) [Affidavit] – 13 Nov 1893 – Phillips Co, Kansas
Charles W. Clearwater, aged 62, Post Office Dana, Phillips Co, Kansas, states he made application No. 35.235 for Invalid pension under Act of 27 Jun 1890.  That he served as a Private in Co. I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  That at the time of filing his application No. 35.235 he was suffering with disease of the heart, disease of the stomach and lumbago.  That he was under the impression when he made said application that it contained the mention of the above named diseases.  He herewith makes application to have this statement included in his application and become a part of said application.  That said disease of heart, stomach and lumbago were contracted prior to filing said claim and that they still exist and are "growing more violent in their nature as time pass by."
Signed Charles W. Clearwater
Witnesses: C. A. Lewis and E. F. Kornis, who state they both have known the affiant for 14 years.  Post Office Phillipsburg, Kansas

(7) Circular, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions – 15 Jan 1898 filled out by Charles W. Clearwater 7 Jul 1898
   ·  Married: Eliza Ellen Clearwater.  Maiden name was Crotts – married 1 Jan 1868 at Bloomington, Illinois, by Justice Swan
   ·  Was not previously married
   ·  Living Children: Sarah Ellen Clearwater, born 25 Dec 1868; Charles Oscar Clearwater, born 13 Jul 1871; Minnie May Clearwater, born 1 Feb 1875

(8) General Affidavit – 18 Mar 1898 – Phillips Co, Kansas
Claim for increase of pension #35.235 for Charles W. Clearwater, aged 66, resident of Deer Creek twp, Phillips Co, Kansas, Post Office Phillipsburg.  The applicant states that "some time in spring of 1892, he ruptured himself in roping some cows.  That at the time he did not know that he had ruptured himself, but at that time he had a severe pain in the region where he now has the rupture."   He did not know it was a hernia until the last time he was examined by the U. S. Examining Board.   He would notice a lump protrude in the place where the hernia is but did not know what caused it.   He knows of no one who could testify to the time, place or circumstances of receiving the injury.   There was no one present at that time who witnessed it.
Signed: Charles W. Clearwater

(9) Circular, Department of the interior, Bureau of Pensions – 20 Jul 1898 filled out by Charles W. Clearwater 28 Jul 1898
   ·  Married: Eliza Ellen Crotts – married 1 Jan 1868 at Bloomington, Illinois by Justice Swan
   ·  Record of Marriage: Recorded in Probate Court, Bloomington, Illinois
   ·  Was not previously married
   ·  Living children: Sarah E. Clearwater, born 25 Dec 1868; Charles O. Clearwater, born 13 Jul 1871; Minnie M. Clearwater, born 1 Feb 1875

(10) [Affidavit] – 3 Aug 1898 – Phillips Co, Kansas
Charles W. Clearwater, aged 67, resident of Deer Creek twp, Phillips Co, Kansas, Post Office Phillipsburg, Kansas, makes this affidavit "to cure certain defects" in the affidavit received by the Pension Department on 21 Mar 1898 – namely that he incurred the injury that caused the left inguinal hernia about 6 May 1892.  He continues to be a sober man, of good moral habits, and is not and has not been addicted to immoral or vicious habits.  That the said injury was not brought about or caused by any vicious habits.  He cannot furnish medical testimony of the existence of the diseases of heart disease, disease of the rectum or chronic diarrhea for the reason that he did not have the attendance of a doctor for said diseases during the period from 17 Mar 1891 to 20 May 1896, as called for by the Hon. Commissioners letter.
Signed: Charles W. Clearwater

(11) General Affidavit – 29 Oct 1898 – Phillips Co, Kansas
Charles W. Clearwater, aged 67, resident of Deer Creek twp, Phillips Co, Kansas, Post Office Phillipsburg, Kansas, declares that he was never in the military or naval service of the United States prior to 6 Sep 1861, nor did he ever serve in any other military or naval service except in said Co. I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Signed: Charles W. Clearwater

(12) Declaration for Original Pension of a Widow – 4 Oct 1905 – Phillips Co, Kansas
Eliza E. Clearwater, aged 65, resident of Deer Creek twp, Phillips Co, Kansas, Post Office Phillipsburg, declares that she is the widow of Charles W. Clearwater who served as Corporal in Co. I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and who died of Bright’s Disease and heart trouble on 30 Sep 1905 at Deer [Creek] twp, Phillips Co, Kansas.
"that she is without other means of support than her daily labor, and an actual net income not exceeding $250 per anum." She was married under the name Eliza E. Crotts to Charles W. Clearwater on 1 Jan 1868 by Mr. Swan, Justice of the Peace at Bloomington, Illinois.  The applicant was married to one Andrew Riley before she married Charles W. Clearwater.  She divorced Riley about 1866.  There are no children under the age of sixteen.  She has never applied for a pension before.
Signed: Eliza E. Clearwater

(13) Certificate of Marriage – 21 Oct 1905 – McLean Co, Illinois
Richard L. Carlock, Clerk of McLean Co, Illinois, certifies that Charles W. Clearwaters and Eliza Crotts were married 1 January 1868 by Mr. Swan, Justice of the Peace.
Signed: R. L. Carlock, Clerk, by W. S. Rodman, Deputy

(14) [Form Letter] – 19 Sep 1916 – Gretna, Phillips Co, Kansas
Widow’s Certificate: 627633
Soldier: Charles W. Clearwater
Service: Corporal, Co. I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Eliza E. Clearwaters, Post Office Gretna, Kansas, states that she is 76 years of age, born 29 Feb 1840 at Clinton Co, Indiana.

(15) Drop Notice – 22 May 1920
Eliza E. Clearwater, certificate 627633, Act of 19 Apr 1908, was last paid at $25 to 4 Feb 1920.  She is dropped from the rolls because of death, 29 Mar 1920.

Compiled Service Record, Charles W. Clearwater, Corporal, Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, WC 627.633, National Archives, Washington D.C.