1ST LOGO

CLINTON H. POTTER, Company "B"


NATIONAL ARCHIVES PENSION FILE
(partial)

Transcribed by Laurie Birks Dean from pension file provided by Linda Fluharty.


Claim For Invalid Pension.

State of Pennsylvania
County of Washington, SS.

     On this 14th day of Aug. 1865 personally appeared before me Pro Monotary of the Common Pleas Court in and for the County and State aforesaid, Clinton H. Potter of West Finley Tp., in the County of Washington, and State of Pennsylvania who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved July 14th, 1862; that his age is 20 years; that he is the identical Clinton H. Potter, who re-enlisted in the service of the United States at New Creek, on the 23rd day of December, 1863, as a Private in Company (B) commanded by Captain Boon in the 1st Regiment of West Va. Vol. Cav. Volunteers, in the war of 1861; and was honorably discharged on 19th day of June, 1865; that while in the service aforesaid and in the line of his duty he incurred the following disability on the 20th day of July 1864, at Stephen's Depot, Va. on duty with his company in an engagement with the rebels, he received a gun shot wound in the left shoulder which has deprived him of the use of his left arm; was under treatment at Clarysville Hill (?), Mo., until his discharge.

His Post Office address is Good Intent, Washington Co., Pa.

Clinton H. Potter
(Claimant)

     Also personally appeared Capt. Hugh B. Boon and William Potter, both of Washington County, and State of Pennsylvania, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, say that they were present and saw the above named Clinton H. Potter sign his name to the foregoing declaration and that they are and have been for 4 years acquainted with the above-named Clinton H. Potter the applicant, who was a Private in Company "B", Commanded by Captain Boon in the 1st Reg't. of W. Va. Volunteers, Cavalry and know the applicant to be the identical person he represents himself to be.

They know these facts because first deponant was Capt. & 2nd deponant of same Co. with applicant.

H. B. Boon
William Potter
(Witnesses)


State of Missouri
Harrison County, SS.

On this 18th day of August 1868, before the subscriber a clerk of the Circuit Court within and for the County of Harrison aforesaid personally appeared Clinton H. Potter who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to Company "B" in the First (1st) Regiment West Virginia Cavalry, Volunteers in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Pennsylvania from whence he has lately removed. That he now resides in the County of Harrison in the State of Missouri where he intends to remain and wishes his Pension to be made payable at the Pension Agency at Macon City, Missouri. The following are his reasons for removing from the state of Pennsylvania to the state of Missouri. Because he has sold his property in Pennsylvania, purchased property in Missouri and resides thereon.

Clinton H. Potter

Sworn to and subscribed before me on the 18th day of August, 1868.


State of Missouri
Harrison County,
Town of Bethany, SS.

On this 18th day of August, 1868 before me the subscriber a clerk of the Circuit Court within and for the County aforesaid duly authorized to administer oaths personally came Alexander Harvey, aged 50 years, and Isaac Phillebaum, aged 23 years, whom I know to be residents of the County and State aforesaid, and..............

State of Missouri
County of Harrison, SS:

On this 12th day of June 1871, personally appeared before me Hazleton J. Skinner, clerk of the Circuit Court within and for the County of Harrison aforesaid Clinton H. Potter aged 26 years a resident of Cypress Township in the county of Harrison and the state of Missouri who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is a pensioner of the United States duly enrolled at the Pittsburgh pension agency at the rate of eight dollars per month by reason of disability incurred in the military service of the United States while a private in Company "B" of the 1st Regiment West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers, and that his present physical condition is such that he believes himself entitled to receive an increased pension of the 3rd grade provided for in the supplementary Pension Act approved June 6, 1866, or any act in relation thereto: He further declares that he is disabled in the following manner to wit: in the left breast and shoulder caused by being shot with a minnie ball, the ball entering the upper and inner portion of the left shoulder near the jugular vein and ranging backwards and coming out at the back fracturing the shoulder blade and causing inability to use the left hand or arm and causing the left arm and left breast to shrink away; so that the left arm, shoulder, and upper part of the left breast has shrunk away to about one half the size of the right side. That said wound was received while in the line of his duty at the battle of Stephen's Depot, East Va. My P. O. address is Bethany, Harrison Co., Mo.

Clinton H. Potter
(applicant)

J. A. Phillebaum
Jos. Bryant
(Attest)

(The following is a portion of another page similiar to the above.)
..........About the 4th day of June 1864 at or near Stephensburgh, Virginia, he was shot, while in the service of the United States aforesaid and in the line of his duty, by the rebel enemy of the United States,............

Department of the Interior
Certificate No. 51840
Name, Clinton H. Potter

First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer. Yes, Elizabeth Jane, Fordyce

Second. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer. Sept. 11, 1867, Washington Co., Pa. by Rev. Brownson

Third. What record of marriage exists?
Answer. I have certificate & living witnesses.

Fourth. Were you previously married?
Answer. No

Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer. 5 boys, Willis born Sept. 24, 1870; John born Dec. 22, 1874; Harlo born June 12, 1878; Adebert born May 29, 1880; Harvey born March 5, 1886.

C. H. Potter
(Signature)


Missouri State Board of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death

Place of Death
County, Adair     Registration District No. 4     File No. 34535
City, Kirkville     Primary Reg. District No. 3001     Registered No. 266
A. S. C. Hospital

FULL NAME: Clinton H. Potter

Sex: Male     Color or Race: White     Married
Date of Birth: May 28, 1845     Date of Death: Nov. 19, 1914
Age: 69 yrs. 5 mos. 21 ds.
Occupation: Farmer
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Father's name: C. H. Potter, Sr.      Birthplace of Father: Penna.
Maiden name of mother: don't know     Birthplace of Mother: don't know

Informant: H. G. (?) Potter
Address: Texarkana, Texas
Filed: Nov. 20, 1914

Cause of Death: Nephritis (Parenchymatoris)     Duration: 1 year
Contributory: lystitis & prostatio enlargement     Duration: 3 years
Place of Burial: Bethany, Mo.     Date of Burial: 11-22-1914
Undertaker: Davis & Wilson     Address: Kirksville


Declaration for Pension

State of Missouri, County of Harrison, SS:

     On this 22nd day of September, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid, Clinton H. Potter, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 69 years of age, and a resident of Bethany County of Harrison, State of Mo.; and that he is the identical person who was enrolled at Wheeling, West Virginia under the name of Clinton H. Potter, on the .....day of June, 1861, as a Private, in B 1 W. Va. Cav. in the service of the United States, in the Civil War, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Cumberland, Maryland, on the .....day of June, 1865.

Height, 5 feet 9 1/2 inches; complexion, Light; color of eyes, blue; color of hair, light; that his occupation was farmer; that he was born May 29, 1845 at Washington County in the State of Pennsylvania.

     That his several places of residences since leaving the service have been as follows: Washington County, Pennsylvania until March, 1867, and since then in Harrison County, Missouri.

     That he is a pensioner under certificate No. 51840 at the rate of $19.00 per month; asking for $30.00 per month.

     That his Post-Office address is Bethany, County of Harrison, State of Mo.

Clinton H. Potter
(signature of claimant-full name)

Thomas D. Brown
Washington Morgan
(Attest)

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 22nd day of September, 1914........


General Affidavit
State of Missouri, County of Harrison, SS:
     In the matter of Claim of Elizabeth J. Potter, widow of Clinton H. Potter, late of Co. "B", 1st W. Va. Cav. for widow's Pension #1038873.
     On this 29 day of September, 1915, personally appeared before me Judge of Probate in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Martha Gunn aged 80 years, a resident of Bethany in the County of Harrison, and State of Missouri whose Post-Office address is Bethany, Mo. well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

I am a sister of Clinton H. Potter, now deceased, and have known him all his life, I being about 10 years older than he. I have been acquainted with Elizabeth J. Potter, ever since she was a little girl and know that neither of them were ever married prior to their marriage to each other and I know that they always lived together after their marriage up to the time of his death, and neither was ever divorced from the other. I was not present at their marriage, but knew of it at the time and lived in Washington Co., Pa., at the time, and while I do no know of their marriage by reason of having seen the ceremony performed, yet I have every reason to believe that they were married at Washington, Pa. on or about Sept. 11, 1867. Mrs. Potter's maiden name was Elizabeth Fordyce and my brothers name was Howard Clinton Potter, although for some reason he reversed the two given names and went under the name of Clinton H. Potter, after he was grown.

Martha Gunn
(Signature of Affiant)


General Affidavit
State of Missouri, County of Harrison, SS:
     In the matter of the claim of Elizabeth J. Potter, widow of Clinton H. Potter, Co. "B" 1st W. Va. Cav. No. 1038873.
     On this 2nd day of October, 1915, personally appeared before me Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Elizabeth J. Potter, aged 70 years, a resident of Bethany in the County of Harrison, and State of Missouri whose Post-Office address is Bethany, Missouri well known to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

I am the widow of Clinton H. Potter, I was married under the name of Elizabeth Fordyce, to Clinton H. Potter on Sept. 11, 1867, at Washington, Pa., by James I. Brownson, a minister of the Gospel, my said husband was married under the name of Howard Clinton Potter, that being his correct name, but he, early in life adopted and used the name Clinton H. Potter, my full maiden name was Elizabeth J. Fordyce. I am unable to furnish a copy of the record of my marriage because no marriage license was issued in Washington Co., Pa. prior to the year 1885 and there is no public record thereof. I can furnish testimony of only one witness to the marriage, to wit: Mary Sutton. The minister, James I. Brownson, is now deceased, and I ask that the testimony of Martha Gunn, a sister of Clinton H. Potter, dec'd., be considered along with the testimony of Mary Sutton, to prove said marriage, I also furnish in proof of said marriage a certificate given us by said minister, which I request be returned to me where same has been used.

Elizabeth J. Potter
(Signature of Affiant)


State of Pennsylvania
County of Washington, SS:
     Before me the subscriber, John F. Carmichael, Justice of the Peace in and for Washington, Washington County, State of Pennsylvania personally appeared Wade J. Day of Washington, Washington County, State of Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, I, Wade J. Day do hereby make the following statement under oath, that on the 14th day of December, 1915 I examined the marriage diary of Rev. J. I. Brownson, who was for over fifty years pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and found recorded therein that Howard Clinton Potter of West Finley Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania and Elizabeth Fordyce of the same place were married by the said Rev. J. I. Brownson at Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania on September 11th, 1867 as of record on page 54 of said diary, which same diary was a copy from the original made by Marcus A. Brownson, son of Rev. J. I. Brownson and certified on June 14, 1902 as being the true copy of the originial diary of said J. I. Brownson by James I. Brownson, executor of the Rev. J. I. Rownson, deceased.

Wade J. Day

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of December, 1915.........


BACK