Civil War Pension File of Hardy H. Shumaker

WC 268.558
Unit: Private, 41st Regiment of Illinois Volunteers; Companies G & H, 1st Regiment Mississippi Marine Brigade Volunteers
Enlisted: 4 Feb 1864, Clinton, Illinois Discharged: 23 Jan 1865, Vicksburg, Mississippi Physical Description: blue eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, 5 feet 9 inches

Documents:

(1) Volunteer Enlistment – 4 Feb1864 – Clinton, Illinois
Hardy H. Shumaker, born in Jackson Co, Tennessee, aged 30 years and by occupation a farmer, volunteered on 4 February 1864 to serve as a soldier for the period of three years unless sooner discharged by proper authority.  Sworn before Capt. M. Davison.  "This soldier has Blue eyes, Dark hair, Dark complexion, is 5 feet 9 inches high."

(2) Widow's Claim For Pension – 8 Mar 1887 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
America Shumaker, resident of Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, aged 46, makes this declaration in order to obtain the Pension provided by Act of Congress approved July 14, 1862.  She is the widow of Hardy H. Shumaker who was a Private in Company H, commanded by Capt. Ezra S. Havens, of the Marine U.S. Infantry.  Her maiden name was America Clearwaters and she was married to Hardy H. Shumaker on 5 October 1855 at Mt. Pleasant, now Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, by Samuel Martin.  Hardy H. Shumaker died at Farmer City, formerly Mt. Pleasant, Illinois, on 22 Feb 1874 of Consumption.  She has remained a widow since his death.  Children under the age of sixteen years at the time of his death:
· Nathan, was born Feby 22nd 1859, lives now in Bloomington, Illinois
· Simpson, was born July 29, 1861, now dead
· Hattie, born October 22, 1863, lives in Bloomington
· Ina, born Sept 1st, 1868
· Andrew, born December 26, 1870, Farmer City, Illinois
· Harry, born May 3rd 1873, lives in Farmer City
· Franklin, born October 5th 1874, now dead
Signed: America Shumaker
Witnesses: J. S. Wilson & R. N. Hawkins

(3) Adjutant General's Office – 1 Mar 1888 – Washington D.C.
Hardy "Shoemaker," Private of Company G, 1st Regiment Mississippi Marine Brigade Volunteers, was enrolled 4 Feb 1864 at Clinton, Illinois.  Muster rolls showed him present to 30 June 1864 when he was transferred to Company H.  He was mustered out with the company 23 Jan 1865 at Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Named also as Hardy "Shumaker."  The records of this office furnish no evidence of disability.

(4) General Affidavit – 27 Jul 1888 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Mary J. Weedman, aged 59, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.
She states that she has been acquainted with America Shumaker, widow of Hardy H. Shumaker, deceased, ever since she was born, and knows their children.  The following are the names and dates of birth of the same as taken from the family Bible.
· William Shumaker, born April 12th 1857
· Nathan Shumaker, born February 22nd 1859
· Hattie Shumaker, born October 22, 1863
· Ina Shumaker, born September 1st 1866
· Andrew Shumaker, born December 26th 1869
· Harry Shumaker, born May 3rd 1871
Also, that there are two children dead besides those named.

(5) Certificate of Record of Marriage – 10 Sep 1888 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Certificate signed by Stephen K. Carter, Clerk of the County, states that Hardy H. Shumaker and America Clearwater were married 11 October 1855 by S. H. Martin, Justice of the Peace.

(6) General Affidavit – 16 May 1889 - DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Joseph Grable, aged 81, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.  " That he lived near neighbor to Dr. Norris who treated Hardy H. Shumaker for disease of the lungs after he Shumaker came home from the U.S. Service.  Saw Shumaker frequently after he came home from U.S. Service & it was the understanding all over town that he had disease of the lungs contracted in the said U.S. Service.  Also that Dr. Norris is now dead.  Also that said Hardy H. Shumaker suffered with disease of the lungs each year from his discharge from the U.S. service to death."
Joseph Grable

(7) General Affidavit – 16 May 1889 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of J. H. Staley, aged 53, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.  "That he formerly resided on Dr. N. S. Norris Farm, who was his ‘Fatherinlaw,’ he frequently heard the Doctor say on leaving the house, ‘I am going to see Hardy H. Shumaker who is sick.’  Also that the Dr. N. S. Norris is now dead."

(8) General Affidavit – 5 Jul 1889 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Hugh Doyle, aged 52, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.  States that he has been acquainted with America Shumaker, widow of Hardy H. Shumaker, for about 29 years and was also acquainted with Hardy H. Shumaker from 1860 until his death.  That neither was ever married to any other person and that America Shumaker has never remarried since the death of her late husband.

(9) General Affidavit – 5 Jul 1889 – DeWitt co, Illinois
Affidavit of O. J. Smith, aged 61, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that neither America Shumaker nor Hardy H. Shumaker were ever married to any other person.

(10) General Affidavit – 13 Jul 1889 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Arrod Knight, aged 52, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.  "That he has been acquainted with Mrs. America Shumaker widow of Hardy H. Shumaker since 1855.  That William Shumaker her oldest son was born April 12th 1857 and Nathan Shumaker her next oldest son was born Feby 22nd 1859.  Hattie Shumaker her oldest daughter was born Oct 22d 1863.  All above named children are of Hardy H. Shumaker & America Shumaker.
"That would make Wm 7 yrs old – Nathan 5 yrs old & Hattie 1 year old at the time Hardy H. Shumaker enlisted in U.S. Service.  "That he obtained the above dates from the family record of the widow, America Shumaker.  Although he is well acquainted with all the children he could not give their ages and birth dates without consulting the said record."
Arrod Knight

(11) General Affidavit – 27 Jul 1889 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Elnora D. Knight, aged 45, P.O. Farmer City, Dewitt Co, Illinois.  She states that she has been acquainted with Mrs. America Shumaker, widow of Hardy H. Shumaker deceased, "all my life." That she is also acquainted with the children of said America & Hardy H. Shumaker and that the following is a list of the names and dates of their children as taken from the family Bible.
· William Shumaker, born April 12th 1857
· Nathan Shumaker, born February 22nd 1859
· Hattie Shumaker, born October 22nd 1863
· Ina Shumaker, born September 1st 1866
· Andrew Shumaker, born December 26th 1869
· Harvey Shumaker, born May 3rd 1871
"Two other children having died than above named."

(12) General Affidavit – 7 Sep 1889 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Affidavit of Nathan Welch, aged 50, P.O. Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.  States he knew Mrs. America Shumaker and her family at the death of her husband, Hardy H. Shumaker, "their" being Nathan Smith Shumaker, Hattie Mary Shumaker, Ina Perlina Shumaker, Andrew Clowser Shumaker, Harry Lee Shumaker, all being under 16 years old at the death of their Father.  "Their" has "bin" no deaths in the family since the death of Husband.

(13) Letter: O. J. Smith to Mrs. A. Knight – 30 Jan 1890 - Farmer City, Illinois
Dear Friend,
Yours received yesterday.  I have just returned from Dr. Norris office, he examined his father's account Books and found the following entries, or rather dates of entries for his services.
1st March 1859 confinement
2nd July 27th 1861 “
3rd Sept 1st 1866 “
4th Dec 26th 1868 “
5th May 1 1871 Not stated for what service
6th 1873 “ “ “ “ “
The above are all we could find on the Doctors Books
Yours Truly
O. J. Smith

(14) Written Statement – 9 Feb 1890 – Farmer City, Illinois
"Mary Shumaker – born Oct 22, 1863 – baptized Feb 12 1865 by S. Shinn.
This is the only person named Shumaker who is recorded as baptized in the Methodist Church Record.  The Record only extends back to 1863."
W. F. Gillmore, Pastor M.E. Ch. Farmer City Ill. Feb 9, 1890

(15) Written Certificate – 3 Apr 1890 – Farmer City, Illinois
"This certifies that the Church Record of the Methodist Episcopal Church for this place shows that on the 12th day of Feb. 1865, Mary, daughter of Hardy and America Shumaker, born Oct 22, 1863, was baptized by Rev. S. Shinn."
W. F. Gillmore, Pastor M. E. Church

(16) Drop Notice – 20 Feb 19—
America Knight, Farmer City, Illinois, #268558, was last paid at the rate of $50 per month to 4 Jan 1928.  Dropped because of death, 14 Jan 1928.

Compiled Service Record, Hardy Shumaker, Private, Company G & H, 1st Volunteer Regiment, Mississippi Marine Brigade, File Designation WC 268.558, National Archives, Washington D.C.