Civil War Pension File of John Griffith
WC 464.585
Unit: Private, Company F, 2nd Illinois Volunteer Cavalry
Enlisted: 10 Jul 1861 at Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois
Discharged: 8 May 1862 at Hickman, Kentucky
Physical Description: Height, 6 feet; Complexion, dark; Eyes, brown; Hair, black
Documents:
(1) Certificate of Disability for Discharge – 22 April 1862 – Hickman, Kentucky
John Griffith, Private in Captain Reuben Bowman’s Company F, 2nd Illinois Cavalry Volunteers,
was enlisted by Captain Reuben Bowman at Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois, on 10 Jul 1861, to serve
three years. He was born in Pickaway Co, Ohio, and is 35 years old, 6 feet tall with dark
complexion, brown eyes and black hair. When enlisted his occupation was that of farmer.
The said John Griffith has been unable to perform his duty the last three months. Previous to which
time he was able bodied and performed full military duty.
Signed, R. Bowman
John Griffith has been carefully examined and is found to be incapable of performing the duties
of a soldier because of chronic pleurisy with empyema supervening upon a severe attack of fever
during last winter. He was in good health when he enlisted, but is now "utterly unfit"
for duty.
Signed, B. Cubbs, Surgeon
Discharged 8 May 1862 at Hickman, Kentucky.
Signed, Henry Hogg, Lt. Col, 2nd Illinois Cavalry
The solder desires to be addressed at Mt. Pleasant, DeWitt Co, Illinois
(2) Declaration for Original Invalid Pension – 28 Mar 1876 – Piatt Co, Illinois
John Griffith, aged 50, resident of Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois, states he enlisted on 10 July 1861
as a private in Company F, 2nd Illinois Cavalry and was honorably discharged at Hickman, Kentucky, on
8 May 1862. While in the service and in the line of his duty at Paducah, Kentucky, on or about 1
February 1862, he contracted pleurisy, followed by a severe attack of fever on which empyema supervened
from which cause he has been greatly incapacitated for manual labor ever since his discharge. He
was in good health when he enlisted and performed full military duty before he was taken with pleurisy.
He was treated in the hospital at Hickman, Kentucky, from which he was discharged on a surgeon
certificate of disability. Since 8 May 1862, he has not been employed in the military and since
leaving the service he has resided in the town of Farmer City, Illinois, and in the city of Monticello,
where he now resides. His occupation has been that of a carpenter. When he enrolled he was
a farmer.
Signed, John Griffith
Witnesses: (can’t read) Bowman, John Bowman
(3) Adjutant General’s Office Report – 2 Jun 1876 – Washington, D.C.
States that John Griffith was enrolled at Monticello and was mustered into service as a private on 12
Aug 1861 at Springfield, Illinois. On the muster rolls of Company F for the months of January
and February, 1862, he is reported "sick at Mt. Pleasant, DeWitt Co, Ill. on furlough." Roll
for May and June 1862 report him "Discharged May 8, 1862, on account of disability."
(4) Declaration for Widow’s Pension – 15 Feb 1896 – Piatt Co, Illinois
Malinda E. Griffith, aged 58, resident of Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois, declares she is the widow
of John Griffith who enlisted as a private in Company F, 2nd Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was
honorably discharged. He died 1 Feb 1896. She was married to John Griffith under the name
of Malinda E. Clearwaters on 22 Jun 1852 by Squire McGraw at Clinton, DeWitt Co, Illinois. She
has not remarried since the death of the said John Griffith. She has no children under the age
of sixteen. She makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of
the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890.
Signed Malinda E. Griffith
Witnesses: John E. Andrew, George R. Dawson
(5) Certified Copy of Death Certificate – 25 Feb 1896 – Piatt Co, Illinois
· Name: John Griffith – male – white – age 70 years 9 months 20 days
· Occupation: Street Commissioner (Think this is wrong. His son, John
Franklin Griffith, was street commissioner) – Date of Death: 1 Feb 1896 – Married
· Nationality & Place of Birth: American, Pickaway Co, Ohio
· Place of Death: Monticello – Cause of Death: Cancer Stomach - Complications: Bronchitis
· Duration of Disease: "Bad sick 2 months"
· Place of Burial: Monticello Cemetery – Date of Burial: Monday, Feb 3, 1896
· Name of Undertaker: W. E. Scott – Residence of Undertaker: Monticello, Illinois
Signed, W. B. Caldwell, Monticello
Certification by Andrew L. Rodgers, County Clerk, by W. E. Rodgers, Deputy
(6) Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate – 3 Mar 1896 – DeWitt Co, Illinois
John Griffith was married to Miss Malinda Clearwaters in DeWitt Co, on 24 Jun 1852, by John J. McGraw,
a Justice of the Peace.
(7) Affidavit – Stamped 19 Sep 1896 by Pension Office - Piatt Co, Illinois
M. R. Davidson declares he is acquainted with Mrs. Malinda E. Griffith and has known her and her deceased
husband for nearly 18 years. Mr. Griffith died some months ago and left his widow without means of
support "so far as affiant knows."
Affiant says that the said Melinda E. Griffith is still a widow. [Not signed]
(8) Affidavit – 17 Apr 1897 – Piatt Co, Illinois
George R. Weaver, resident of Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois, aged 56 years, states he has resided
near Monticello for 50 years. He served four years in Company F, 2nd Illinois Cavalry.
He has been acquainted with John Griffith since July 30, 1861, at the time of his enlistment, and
has known him and his wife Malinda Griffith ever since the war. He further states he has lived
as a neighbor to John and Malinda Griffith for 25 years up to his death. At the time of the
death of John Griffith all the property he left his widow was a house and lot in the city of
Monticello worth about $800.00. Malinda Griffith has no means of support and is old and
physically unable to earn her own living by labor. She has not remarried since the death
of John Griffith.
Signed, Geo R. Weaver
(9) Pension Certificate – 6 Jun 1898 – no place
Malinda E. Griffith is entitled to a pension under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890 at
the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on 19 Mar 1896, and to continue during her
widowhood. Given at the Department of the Interior 6 June 1898.
(10) Circular Letter, Bureau of Pensions – 21 Sep 1916 – Washington D.C.
Letter describes the provisions of the Act of Congress that was approved by the President on
September 8, 1916 which increases a widow’s pension to $20 a month if she is over 70 years
of age. There is a request to fill out the form on the back of the letter and return it to
the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington D.C.
· Widow’s Certificate Number: 464585
· Name of Soldier: John Griffith
· Service of Soldier: 11 months and was discharged
"I am 79 years of age, having been born Mar 7, 1837 at Farmer City, Illinois, DeWitt Co.
I am entitled to the increase of pension provided by the first section of the Act of September 8, 1916."
(Signature) Malinda E. Griffith
(Post office address) 603 E. Center St. Monticello, Ill. Piatt Co.
(11) Letter – 6 Jan 1917 – Monticello, Illinois
Letterhead: H. P. Harris, Hardware, Heating and Plumbing
Hon W. B. McKinley, MC
Washington, D.C.
" Dear Sir – I have been asked to advise you of the death of Mrs. Malinda E. Griffith, on Jan. 3,
1917, one day before her quarterly pension was due. I understand this pension will be returned to
Washington. Mrs. Griffith was a poor woman, and an old resident, past 80 years of age, and a
helpless invalid for more than six years past. This pension payment, which I understand can be
secured if proper steps are taken, would be of great help in paying up funeral expenses, and anything
you will do to further this will, I assure you, be appreciated.
Yours truly,
J. F. Griffith
Monticello"
(12) Letter – 9 January 1917 – [no place]
Dear Mr. Griffith:
Your letter of January 6th with reference to the death of Mrs. Malinda E. Griffith, has been
received. I am this day taking the matter up with the Commissioner of Pensions, and will
write you fully upon receipt of a letter from them.
With kindest personal regards,
I am, yours very truly, [blank – no name nor signature]
Stamp: Finance Received, Jan 10 1917, Group 1
(13) Application for Reimbursement – 18 Jan 1917 – Piatt Co, Illinois
J. F. Griffith, aged 55, resident of Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois, makes the following declaration
to obtain reimbursement from the accrued pension for expenses paid in the last sickness and burial
of Malinda E. Griffith who was a pensioner of the United States by certificate No. 484585 on account
of the service of John Griffith. The pensioner did not leave a child under 16 years of age.
No sick or death benefits were paid on the pensioner’s account. There was no insurance.
There is no executor or administrator nor application for an appointment of one for a will. The
pensioner left property, $90 in the bank. The pensioner did not leave an unendorsed pension check.
The applicant is her son. The pensioner died of paralysis. The sickness began 13 Oct
1911 and she has been an invalid since October 1911. The physicians who attended the pensioner
during her last sickness were Charles M. Bumstead, Monticello, Illinois, and J.M. Holmes, Monticello,
Illinois. During her last sickness she was nursed by Nellie Brooks, her daughter. The
pensioner lived at Monticello during her last sickness and died there 3 Jan 1917. She was buried
at Monticello Cemetery. There has been no payment nor will application be made for payment toward
the expenses of the pensioner’s last sickness and burial.
Statement of expenses:
· C. W. Bumstead – physician, services – paid - $40
· medicine, none
· nursing care, none
· A. B. Zybill – Undertaker – unpaid - $215.45
· Livery – none
· Cemetery – none
This is a complete list of the expenses of the last sickness and burial of the deceased pensioner.
Signed, John F. Griffith, 606 E. Center, Monticello, Piatt Co, Illinois
Witnesses: Ernest E. Lohr and Carl Thompson
Statement of Attending Physicians:
The pensioner died 3 Jan 1917. The last sickness commenced 13 Oct 1911 and from that date the
pensioner constantly required the regular and daily attendance of another person. The doctors
attended the pensioner from 1912 until her death. The pensioner died of right hemiplegia and
uremia. Her daughter nursed her but no charge will be made. Dr. John Holmes made two
visits to see her. The deceased paid cash for every visit from a doctor.
Signed, Charles M. Bumstead and John M. Holmes
(14) Drop Notice – 19 Jan 1917 – Chicago
Malinda E. Griffith was last paid at $20 to 4 October 1916 and has been dropped from the roll due
to death 3 Jan 1917.
Combined Service Record, John Griffith, Private, Company F, 2nd Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, WC 464.585, National Archives, Washington, D.C.