Last month
the 2014 president-elect of the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society sent an email
to all members saying that he was going to be at the National Archives in
Washington DC and that he’d be glad to do some research for others. I thought how nice it was that he volunteered
for this and then I thought how I really wanted to know which file I should
order of a Civil War pension, as I have a name with two services. Maybe he could see which was the right one so
that I wouldn’t waste money on the wrong one.
But then I thought he’d be too bogged down with other people with more
interesting items to find, so I threw away the email.
Then the next
week, he sent another note that he was surprised no one had contacted him. I felt sad for him and didn’t want him to go
to the National Archives with nothing to do (!), so I sent him my dreaded Smith
request. Yes, the dreaded Smith. But the first name was unique so I’d hoped I
wasn’t asking too much.
Well, my
Genea-Hero not only found the right file, but copied it all for me! I now have a CD of the entire pension
file! And it’s fascinating.
This is my
husband’s second great grandfather on his father’s side. My husband never met his father, nor new anything of
his father’s side. I found that his
great grandmother was a Smith and her father was in the Civil War. Twice (which is why there were two that I
found and wasn’t sure who to order—they were the same person!). He now knows that his 2nd great
grandfather was 5’7” tall, had a dark complexion, gray eyes and brown
hair.
He also knows
that his grandfather contracted the measles in Kansas City, Missouri in
1861. As did my 3rd great
grandfather. Both rode St. Joseph’s
Railroad at the same time. Did they know
each other? Pass each other? I’m still working a timeline for him, but he
was captured by the Confederates in Little Blue, Missouri on 5 November 1861
and then discharged on 22 December that year and returned home (I assume as
part of the release agreement). He
reenlisted on 15 August 1864 and was a sergeant until his discharge on
26 June 1865.
His pension file mentions diseases of the heart, kidney and
back as well as chronic diarrhea, all from the measles contracted in 1861. Since my own grandfather’s pension file reads
nearly exactly the same, except chronic cough rather than diarrhea, I am
guessing that everyone maybe exaggerated their symptoms just a bit?
I am sure that as I analyze his service timeline, I will be
adding more writings about Kilbourn Smith (and we know know how HE spelled his
first name, as his signature is nice and clear!).
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my Genea-Hero,
Patrick!
