Civil War Pension File of George Meliza (aka George W. Lyons)
SO 998.570
Unit: Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry – George W. Meliza
Enlisted: 2 Aug 1862 – Santa Anna, DeWitt Co, Illinois
Deserted: 1 Jan 1863 – Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Description: Height, 5 feet, 10 inches; Complexion, fair; Eyes, blue; Hair, dark
Unit: Private, Company A, 155th Indiana Volunteer Infantry – George W. Lyons
Enrolled: 19 Jan 1865 – New Albany, Indiana - "Entitled to bounty"
Discharged: 5 Aug 1865 – Stevenson Station, Virginia
Description:
Documents:
(1) Declaration for Invalid Pension – 16 Feb 1891– Arkansas Co, Arkansas
George W. Meliza, aged 52, resident of Stuttgart, Arkansas Co, Arkansas, declares he is the identical George W.
Meliza who was enrolled on 19 Jan 1865 in Company A, 144th Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a Private. He was
Honorably Discharged at Stevenson Station, Virginia, on 5 Aug 1865. He is partially unable to earn a support
by reason of Catarrh in nose and rheumatism in arms and shoulders contracted during the months of February and
March 1865 while in the service. 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. He appoints J. B. Cralle & Co.,
U.S. Pension Attorneys, Cralle Building, 108C Street NW, Washington, D.C. his true and lawful attorneys to
prosecute his claim and he hereby agrees to allow said attorneys the lawful fee of ten dollars when his pension
is allowed.
Signed: Geo. W. Meliza
Witnesses: W. C. Bowen, S. Hawes
(2) Claimant's Affidavit – 6 Sep 1891 – Arkansas Co, Arkansas
George W. Meliza, Post Office Stuttgart, Arkansas, late Private in Company A, 144th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
He claims a pension under the NEW LAW for the following disabilities: rheumatism contracted at or near
Stevenson Station, Virginia, on or about 1 March 1865 due to doing a great deal of privates duty; nasal catarrh,
contracted at or near Winchester, Virginia, on or about 3 Apr 1865 when he was in camp, "the catarrh came
on me."; palpitation of heart contracted at or near "Opekin" (i.e. Opequon) River, Virginia, on
or about 15 Jul 1865; sore eyes and eyes [unreadable] contracted at or near Stevenson Station, Virginia on or
about 15 Mar 1865 as he was doing camp and picket duty. The date of his final discharge was 5 Aug 1865.
Signed: Geo. W. Meliza
(3) Declaration for Original Invalid Pension – 2 Nov 1891 – Arkansas Co, Arkansas
George W. Meliza, resident of Stuttgart, Arkansas Co, Arkansas, states he enrolled on 19 Jun 1865 in Company A,
144th Indiana Volunteer Infantry commanded by Captain Frank Hopper and Honorably Discharged 5 Aug 1865 at
Stevenson, Virginia. His disabilities were incurred while doing picket duty and camp duty. He also
served in Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry from August 1862 to December 1863. Since leaving
the service he has resided at the following places: Jeffersonville, Indiana; New Albany, Indiana; Louisville,
Kentucky; Wynonia (i.e. Winona), Minnesota; Farmer City, Illinois; Mississippi and Arkansas. His occupation
has been raising mules?, working in timber, and farming.
(4) Claimant's Affidavit – 29 Feb 1892 – Arkansas Co, Arkansas
George W. Meliza, alias Lyons, aged 53, resident of Stuttgart, Arkansas Co, Arkansas, of Company A, 144th Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, an applicant for an original pension, declares he is the claimant in this case and makes this
affidavit for the purpose of stating that he enlisted in and rendered service in Company A, 144th Indiana Volunteer
infantry under the name of George W. Lyons.
Signed: Geo. W. Meliza
(5) Neighbors' Affidavit – 29 Feb 1892 – n.p.
C. Cones, aged 63, resident of Fairmount, Prairie Co, Arkansas, and J. S. McClish, aged 81, resident of Stuttgart,
Arkansas Co, Arkansas, state they have been well and personally acquainted with George Meliza for 35 years and 1
year respectively.
C. Cones, occupation farmer, states the occupation of George W. Meliza has been a tile maker and contractor for a
number of years past. C. Cones lived within one-half mile from George W. Meliza and saw him then every day
and sometimes it might be a day or two that he didn’t see him. He now lives about 13 miles from the claimant.
They were even together then. The claimant suffered a great deal then with catarrh, rheumatism and weak
eyes. From what he knows of the claimant he is not able to work more than 1/3 of the time. The claimant's
disabilities are not due to vicious habits. He is a temperate man.
J. S. McClish, whose occupation is the Hotel business, has known the claimant a year or more since he boards with
him. The affiant knows that the claimant suffers a good deal with catarrh, rheumatism and weak eyes.
About half of his time he is unable to do any manual labor on account of his catarrh, rheumatism and weak eyes.
He has no vicious habits, he is a moral and a temperate man.
(6) Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions – 4 May 1892 – Washington, D.C.
It is alleged that George W. Meliza, alias George W. Lyons enlisted in August, 1862, and served as a Private in
Company I, 107th Illinois Voluntary Infantry, to 7 Dec 1862 and also was a private in Company A, 144th Indiana
Volunteer Infantry and was discharged 5 Aug 1865. It is also alleged that he was disabled by rheumatism,
nasal catarrh and disabled by palpitations of the heart, also sore eyes. In the above case the War Department
is requested to furnish an official statement of the enrollment, discharge and record of service, together with a
full medical history.
Signed: Green B. Raum, Officer in Charge of the Record and Pension Division, War Department
(7) Claimant's Affidavit – 8 Aug 1892 – Arkansas Co, Arkansas
George W. Meliza, aged 52, resident of Stuttgart, Arkansas Co, Arkansas, late Private, Company A, 144th Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, an applicant for Original Pension, No 998,570, declares that he never applied for or received
a pension prior to 24 Feb 1891 and he is receiving no pension now.
Signed: Geo. W. Meliza
(8) General Affidavit – 24 Aug 1892 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Randolph Riggs, aged 60, resident of Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, Post Office Farmer City,
declares that he was a member of Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and that he was well acquainted
with George W. Meliza of said Company – that he enlisted on 2 Aug 1862 and was with the Company until November
1862 when he was sent to the Hospital at Elizabethtown, Kentucky and that is the last the affiant saw of him
until the close of the War.
Signed: Randolph Riggs
(9) Letter to George W. Meliza, Stuttgart, Arkansas – 26 Sep 1898 – Washington, D.C.
From the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions. "Sir: Your above cited claim for pension under
the general law is rejected, on the ground that you have no title as it is shown by the records of the War Department
that you deserted from a prior service in Co. I 107th Ill. Inf. and have never been discharged therefrom."
(10) Declaration for Soldier's Pension – 2 Nov 1898 – Craighead Co, Arkansas
George W. Meliza, aged 60, resident of Bay Spur, Cross Co, Arkansas, declares he is the identical George W. Lyon who
enrolled 19 Jan 1865 in Company A, 144th Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volunteers and was honorably discharged at
Stevensons Station, Virginia, on 5 Aug "1886" (that is obviously an error). He is partially unable
to earn a support by reason of rheumatism and catarrh. He was also employed in the military as a teamster for
5 1/2 months in the Quartermaster"s Department at Johnsonville, Tenn. in 1864. He is not a pensioner but
has applied for a pension under application No.998570.
Signed: George W. Meliza
Witnesses: Gaines his X mark Howell, H. H. his X mark Hamilton
(11) Power of Attorney – 21 Nov 1898 – Bay Spur, Arkansas
George W. Meliza alias Geo. W. Lyons, residing at Bay Spur, Arkansas, constitutes and appoints Jas. H. Vermilya
& Co., of Washington, D. C., his true and lawful Attorneys, irrevocable, for and in his name, place and stead,
to prosecute any and all claims for pension.
Signed: Geo. W. Meliza
Witnesses: [unreadable], A. Chasteen
(12) Letter – 4 Nov 1899 – Washington, D.C.
Letter to George W. Meliza from the office of Jas. H. Vermilya & Co., Solicitors of Claims, 624 H street, N.W.
"Sir,
"We have your discharge from Co. A. 144th Ind. Inf.
"What we want to know is the date of your enlistment in Co. I, 107 Ills. Inf. and the date, place and circumstances
under which you left said Company and why you never returned to complete your term of enlistment.
"This information is wanted with a view to preparing an application for removal of the charge of desertion and for
an honorable discharge.
Respy, Jas. H. Vermilia Co."
(13) Declaration for Invalid Pension – 30 Nov 1904 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
George W. Meliza alias Lyons, a resident of Mansfield, Piatt Co, Illinois, declares he is "disqualified from
earning a support by manual labor" by reason of rheumatism, nasal catarrh, palpitation of the heart, weak eyes
and debility due to age. He was born 27 Sep 1837. He makes this declaration for the purpose of being
placed on the pension roll under the act of 27 Jun 1890 as amended by the acts of 9 May 1900 and 1 Jul 1902.
He appoints J. B. Cralle & Co, Claim & Pension Attorneys, Cralle Building, 108 C N.W., Washington, D.C. as
his true and lawful attorneys to prosecute his claim and agrees to allow said attorneys the lawful fee of $10 when
his pension is allowed.
Signed: George W.Meliza
Witnesses: [names of the two witnesses unreadable]
(14) Circular, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions - 14 Dec 1904 – n.p.
Filled out by George W. Meliza on 30 Dec 1904:
Never Married and has no children
(15) Circular, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions – 14 Dec 1904 – n.p.
· Date of Birth: 27 Sep 1838 [Note: he previous stated he was born in 1837]
· When Enlisted: 2 Aug 1862
· Where Enlisted: Mount Pleasant, Illinois ∓ New Albany, Indiana
· Residence before Enlistment: Mt. Pleasant, DeWitt Co, Illinois
· Post Office at Time of Enlistment: Mt. Pleasant, DeWitt Co, Illinois
· Occupation at Time of Enlistment: farmer
· When Discharged: Company A, 14 Jul 1865
· Where Discharged: Stephensons Station, Virginia
· Places Lived after Discharge: Minnesota about 1 year 1865 ∓ 1866; Arkansas most of the
time, got hurt there and have been at Mansfield and Farmer City, Illinois this winter
· Present Occupation: Farming
· Description: Height, 5 feet, 10 inches; Weight, 165; Eyes, brown; Hair, dark; Complexion,
fair; no permanent scars
Signed: George W. Meliza
Witnesses: Jerry French, Grant Johnson
(16) Letter, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions – 15 Feb 1905 – Washington, D.C.
To Mr. George W. Meliza, Mansfield, Piatt Co, Illinois
"…..you recently filed an affidavit stating that a bounty of $250.00 was paid to you in January 1865, at
Jeffersonville, Ind, on account of your enlistment in Co. A, 144 Ind. Inf.
You are informed that your affidavit should be furnished setting forth the source from which you received said
bounty. State the name of the person, or the title of the officer, by whom it was paid and if he represented
any State, County, City, Town, Burough (sic.), Ward or District give name of same."
Very respectfully, J.L. Davenport, Acting Commissioner
(17) Letter, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions – 29 Jan 1907 – Washington, D.C.
To Mr. A. I. Krepps, Farmer City, Illinois
"Sir:
"Your attention is invited to the fact that your communication of the 9th instant, received the 11th instant
and Bureau letter in reply thereto of the 15th instant, were received in this Bureau on the 26th instant without
any explanation in the premises.
"If you desire answer to the inquiry propounded by you it will be necessary for you to furnish the information
called for in enclosed Bureau letter above described."
Very Respectfully, J.L. Davenport, Acting Commissioner
Compiled Service Record, George W. Meliza alias George W. Lyons, Private, Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry & Company A, 144th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, File Designation SO 998.570, National Archives, Washington, D.C.