Civil War Pension File of James W. Baker
SC 375.818
Unit: Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted: 28 Feb 1864 at LeRoy, Illinois; mustered in at Chicago, Illinois
Discharged: 6 Dec 1865 at Norfolk, Virginia
Physical Description: 5 feet 9 inches; fair complexion; hazel eyes; light hair;
born DeWitt Co, Illinois; occupation farmer
Documents:
(1) Affidavit of James W. Baker – 23 Mar 1883 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
James W. Baker, aged 37, whose Post Office is Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois.
He states that during the late war of the Rebellion he enlisted as a private of
Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry on or about 28 February 1864 and was
mustered in at Chicago, Illinois. He was honorably discharged on 6 December
1865 at Norfolk, Virginia. While in the service and in the line of his duty
he was wounded in the back of the head at Drury’s Bluff in Virginia on or
about 14 May 1864. He also contracted camp diarrhea in the summer of 1864
while at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, from the first of June 1864 on. The claimant
states that the said wound and camp diarrhea has continued to disable him ever since
his return from the army and by reason of the said disability contracted in the
service he believes that he is entitled to a pension as provided by the Acts of
Congress for disabled soldiers of the late war. He appoints Stephen K. Carter
of Clinton, Illinois his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim for a pension.
He was never in the United States service or the Navy of the United States other
than already stated.
James W. Baker
Witnesses: Richard A. Lemon & Wm. W. Weedman, residents of DeWitt Co, Illinois
(2) War Department: Surgeon General’s Office – 29 Sept 1883 –
Washington, DC
Pvt. J. W. Baker, Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteers, received a shell wound in
neck at the battle of Proctor’s Creek and Drury’s Bluff, Virginia, May
11 to 17, 1864. Information from the records of the Regiment on file.
B.F. Pope, Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army
(3) War Department: Adjutant General’s Office – 5 November 1883 –
Washington, DC
James W. Baker, private of Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteers was enrolled 28 Feb
1864 at LeRoy for 3 years and is on various Company Rolls. There is a casualty
list that reports him "Wounded" but no indication as to where or when
he was wounded.
(4) Officer’s Certificate of Disability – 9 February 1885
Joseph W. Neal, late First Lieutenant of Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteers certifies
that James W. Baker was a Private in his company. Baker was discharged about
1 December 1865 at Norfolk, Virginia by General Order from the War Department. "James
W. Baker was wounded by a piece of shell while we were supporting a Battery near "Duries"
Bluff, Va. on or about the 14th day of May 1864. The said wound being in the
head. And further the said James W. Baker was bothered with camp Diarrhea
during the summer of 1864."
(5) Proof of Disability – 14 February 1885 – McLean Co, Illinois
George W. Canaday, aged 38, a resident of Empire, McLean Co, Illinois, states he
is acquainted with James W. Baker and says that while in the line of duty at Drury’s
Bluff, Virginia, Baker was "knocked down at the time of an explosion of a shell,
while in line of duty, while going to support a battery. The affiant saw him
fall when shell exploded over company. Three others fell at same time.
The affiant also remembers said James W. Baker complained frequently of Diarrhea
while in service." The affiant was with the company at the time of his
injury.
(6) Officer’s Certificate of Disability - 18 February 1885 – LeRoy,
Illinois
Noah L. Robinson, late Sergeant of Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
certifies that he knew James W. Baker while in the army. That "while
in the line of duty on or about 14 May 1864, at "Druey’s" Bluff,
Va, while going to support a battery as ordered a shell exploded, a piece of which
struck said Baker on the head, knocking him senseless. The concussion caused
by said shell knocked three other of said company down at same time. Said
Baker was off duty several days thereafter on account of said injury."
The affiant also knew that the claimant was relieved from duty frequently on account
of chronic diarrhea.
(7) Statement of Captain Joseph W. Neal – 10 Mar 1885 – Hillsdale,
Kansas
Affiant states that James W. Baker was with his company and was wounded by a piece
of shell and cannot say how long the claimant was off duty. "I think
he is entitled to a pension. I have known him ever since he came out of the
army and he is a worthy soldier."
(8) Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension – 27 September 1890 –
Ellsworth Co, Kansas
James W. Baker, aged 45, resident of Hollyrood, Ellsworth Co, Kansas. He is
enrolled at the Topeka Pension Agency at the rate of $2.00 a month and believes
he is entitled to an increase of pension on account of "an increased disability
and he thinks the rate of pension he is now receiving is unjustly and unreasonably
low and disproportionate to the rate drawn by other pensioners for similar or equivalent
disability."
Signed James W. Baker
Witnesses: Charley Hill and M. R. Davis
(9) Circular, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions – 15 January
1898 filled out by James W. Baker 27 Feb? 1898
· Married: "Harret" M. Baker, maiden name, Weedman – married 21
Apr 1870, DeWitt Co, Illinois, by P.V.C. Pool, J.P.
· Was not previously married
· Living children: G. L. Baker, born 14 Mar 1873; Mary Kate Baker, born 23 Nov 1876;
Georgie Weedman Baker, born 17 Dec 1884
(10) General Affidavit – Pension Office Stamp: 1 March 1901 – Ellsworth
Co, Kansas
James W. Baker, aged 54, resident of Holyrood, Ellsworth Co, Kansas, states that
he believed that he never received an order for his medical examination under the
date of 26 August 1892. However, it was recently discovered, having been misplaced
among old papers and that this is his first opportunity to comply with its requirements.
He is willing to have his medical examination and willing to supply all required
proof that he possibly can so that his claim can be completed as early as possible.
(11) Physician’s Affidavit – no date – DeWitt Co, Illinois
J. W. Woodward, MD, resident of Farmer City, DeWitt Co, Illinois, states he is a
practicing physician and that he has been acquainted with the said soldier for about
29 years. So far as he knows, the soldier was a sound and able bodied man
prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Service. Upon the soldier’s return
home in 1865 he treated the said soldier who was suffering from camp Diarrhea in
a very bad form. The soldier was suffering more from said "camp Diarrhea"
than any one the affiant has ever treated. He treated the soldier from the
time of his return home to the present time with the exception of about four years
when the soldier was treated by Dr. Leal who is now dead.
(12) Drop Notice – 29 July 1905 – Topeka, Kansas
James W. Baker, Certificate #375.818, was last paid $6.00, to 4 February 1905.
Dropped because of death, 11 June 1905.
(13) Declaration for Widow’s Pension – 22 Sep 1905 – Sedgwick
Co, Kansas
Harriet M. Baker, aged 53, resident of Wichita, Sedgwick Co, Kansas, states she
is the widow of James W. Baker. She married the said soldier on 21 Apr 1870
at DeWitt Co, Illinois, by P.V.C. Pool under the name of Hattie M. Weedman.
The said soldier died 11 June 1905 at Wichita, Kansas. She has no living
children under the age of 16 years.
Witnesses: O.W. Good and [unreadable]
Compiled Service Record, James W. Baker, Private, Company I, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, SC 375.818, National Archives, Washington D.C.
[Note: Harriet Weedman was the daughter of George Weedman & Catherine Danner. The Weedmans were early settlers of the Farmer City area.]