Civil War Pension File of Henry Farmer
SC 990.257
Unit: Private and Wagoner, Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted: 2 Aug 1862
Mustered in: 4 Sep 1862 – Camp Butler, Illinois
Discharged: 21 Jun 1865 – Camp Butler, Illinois
Documents:
(1) Declaration For Invalid Pension – 17 Sep 1892 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Henry Farmer, aged 50, resident of Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, declares he enlisted 2 Aug
1862 in Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was discharged at Camp Butler on
21 June 1865. He is now unable to earn his support by manual labor by reason of "Rheumatism
Disease of Stomach Livers & Kidneys and General Debility." He has not applied for a
pension before and he has not been employed in the military or naval services otherwise than stated.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension rolls under the Act
of 27 Jun 1890. His Post Office is Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.
Signed: Henry Farmer
Witnesses: Dick Winsor & C. S. Williams
(2) Widow's Claim For Pension – 22 Oct 1896 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Rachel Farmer, aged 46, resident of Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, makes the following declaration
in order to obtain the pension provided by the Act of Congress approved 14 Jul 1862. She is the
widow of Henry Farmer who was a private in Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Commanded by
David Lowry. Her maiden name is Rachel Weedman and she married Henry Farmer on 22 Aug 1869 at Mt.
Pleasant (now Farmer City), DeWitt Co, Illinois, by Alexander Orr (minister).
Henry Farmer died at Farmer City on 28 Jan 1895 of "inflammation of the Stomach following La grippe
and an Enfeebled Condition of the entire System." There was one child under the age of sixteen
at the time of his death – Henry W. Farmer, born 25 Jul 1884. Her post Office is Farmer City.
Signed: Rachel Farmer
Witnesses: J. O. Clutter & J. E. Montgomery, residents of Farmer City
(3) Certificate of Record of Marriage – 24 Oct 1896 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Henry Farmer and Miss Rachael E. Weedman were married 22 Aug 1869 by Alexander T. Orr, Minister of the
Gospel.
Signed: Warren Hickman, Clerk of the County
(4) Request for Military and Medical History – 7 Apr 1897 – Washington D.C.
Henry Farmer was enrolled 2 Aug 1862 and mustered out 21 Jun 1865, Captain Walter’s Company, 107th
Illinois Infantry. From 2 Aug 1862 to 21 Jun 1865 he held the rank of Wagoner and Private.
The rolls show him present except for the following:
· 31 Dec 1862 – On duty at Elizabethtown, Kentucky
· 28 Feb 1863 – Present. Paroled at Elizabethtown, Kentucky – 27 Dec 1862
· 1 Apr 1863 – Paroled at Elizabethtown, Kentucky – 28 Dec 1862
· 3 Apr 1863 – Paroled prisoner Benton Barracks, Missouri, awaiting exchange.
Same notations to 31 Oct 1863
· 31 Aug 1864 & 31 Oct 1864 – Absent on det[ached] serv[ice]
The Prisoner of War Records show him captured and paroled at Elizabethtown, Kentucky between 20 Dec 1862
and 10 Jan 1863. Rept'd at Benton Barracks, Missouri, 19 Mar 1863, and present 31 Mar 1863.
Absent with leave 10 Apr 1863. Present April 30, May 31, June 30, July – and Aug 31, 1863. No
later record.
The Medical records show him in hospital Oct 1863 (no diagnosis) and October 24 to Nov 11, 1863 (no diagnosis)
(5) General Affidavit – 31 May 1898 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Dr. M. C. McIntire, aged 40, resident of Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, declares that Henry Farmer
died 28 Jan 1895 of inflammation of the stomach following La grippe, general lowered state of health.
Signed: M. C. McIntire
(6)General Affidavit – 29 Jun 1898 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Catherine Weedman, aged 71, resident of Farmer City, and Rachel E. Farmer, aged 48, resident of Farmer
City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, declare they were well acquainted with Henry Farmer and were present at the
birth of Pearl M. Farmer, daughter of Henry and Rachel E. Farmer. Pearl was born 17 Aug 1879.
Henry W. Farmer was born 25 Jul 1884. Henry Farmer died 28 Jan 1895 of stomach trouble. Rachel
E. Farmer and Henry Farmer were married 22 Aug 1869. Neither of them had been previously married.
They lived together as man and wife until his death and Rachel Farmer has not been married since.
Signed: Catherine Weedman and Rachel E. Farmer
(7) General Affidavit – 1 Nov 1898 – [DeWitt Co, Illinois]
John Cusey, aged 76, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states he has been acquainted with
Henry and Rachel E. Farmer for many years. They were married 22 Aug 1869. Neither were
married previously and they lived together as husband and wife until said husband’s death on 28
Jan 1895. Neither were ever divorced or married a second time. Rachel has not been married
since the soldier’s death.
Signed: John Cusey
(8) General Affidavit – 1 Nov 1898 – [DeWitt Co, Illinois]
David Lowry, aged 75, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that Henry Farmer and Rachel
E. Farmer were married 22 August 1869. Neither of them were married before and they lived together
as man and wife until the death of the Husband on 28 Jan 1895. Rachel E. Farmer never married a
second time. "I have been personally and intimately acquainted with both of the above named
parties for 30 years."
Signed: David Lowry
(9) General Affidavit – 19 Nov 1898 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
T. H. Cusey, aged 52, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that Henry W. Farmer, only
son of Henry and Rachel E. Farmer, is living and is the only child living under sixteen years of age.
He is under sixteen years of age 17 Jan 1898.
Signed: T. H. Cusey
(10) General Affidavit – 19 Nov 1898 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
D. Lowry, aged 75, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that Henry W. Farmer is the
son of Henry and Rachel E. Farmer. He is the only child of said soldier under sixteen years of
age, 17 Jan 1898, and he is still living.
Signed: D.Lowry
(11) General Affidavit – 2 Dec 1898 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
D. Lowry, aged 75, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that Henry Farmer complained
of "Rheumatism and disease of Stomach, liver and kidneys were not due to or caused by vicious
habits. I was a neighbor of this soldier and have known him for over thirty years and am as well
acquainted with his habits as a neighbor therefore I state to the best of my knowledge and belief that
his afflictions rheumatism and disease of Stomach liver and kidneys were not due to vicious habits."
Signed: D. Lowry
(12) General Affidavit – 2 Dec 1898 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
John Cusey, aged 76, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that Henry Farmer complained
of rheumatism and disease of stomach, liver and kidneys. Such afflictions were not due to vicious
habits. He has been a neighbor of the soldier and has known him for many years.
Signed: John Cusey
(13) General Affidavit – 24 Jan 1899 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
J. H. Staley, aged 50, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states he was personally acquainted
with Henry Farmer and met him frequently from September 1892 to January 1895. During that time he
was disabled for the performance of manual labor by reason of rheumatism disease of stomach liver and
kidneys.
Signed: J. H. Staley
(14) General Affidavit – 25 Jan 1899 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
Lemuel H. Ennis, aged 50, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states he was personally acquainted
with Henry Farmer who complained of Rheumatism and Stomach trouble. Because of these ailments he was
not able to do manual labor from September 1892 to January 1895.
Signed: Lemuel H. Ennis
(15) General Affidavit – 28 Feb 1899 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
George Farmer, Post Office Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states that in answering the circular of
10 Feb 1899 for Henry Farmer, who was a brother of his, the soldier came to his house about February
1863 sick with measles, complained of heavy breathing and had a bad cough. Since the soldier’s
discharge he has had rheumatism and stomach trouble. Henry Farmer was sound when he entered the U. S.
Service and was never well after his discharge.
Signed: George Farmer
Compiled Service Record, Henry Farmer, Private, Company I, 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, File Designation SC 990.257, National Archives, Washington D.C.
Note: The 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was mustered in 4 Sep 1862 and arrived for training at Jeffersonville, Indiana, 1 Oct 1862. They moved to Elizabethtown, Ky., 18 Oct 1862. Around 3 Dec 1862 the 107th moved to Munfordsville, Ky. For some reason Henry Farmer remained on duty at Elizabethville where Lt. Colonel Harry S. Smith and the 91st Illinois Volunteer Infantry were stationed. Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan, CSA, and his raiders were in the area doing as much damage as they could to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The raiders burned two railroad bridges, then surrounded Elizabethville, setting up their artillery on Cemetery Hill. Smith had 600 to 650 Federal troops and Morgan had around 3500 Confederate troops. The 91st Regiment eventually surrendered, as did Henry Farmer. The "Christmas Raid" was Morgan’s most successful. He captured and paroled over 1800 prisoners, inflicted 150 causalities, burned a total of 2,290 feet of railroad bridgework, destroyed 35 miles of track and telegraph lines, and destroyed numerous railroad structures along with large quantities of Federal stores. In doing so he suffered 26 causalities (2 dead and 24 wounded).
Rachel Ellen (Weedman) Farmer died 22 Dec 1901 in Chicago. She did not receive a pension.