JOHN P. CULVER

John Culver, rt., with 2nd wife, Emaline "Emma" (McElfish), and grandson, Ollie.
(Photo owned by Janice McCarty)

Contributed by Janice McCarty

John P. Culver was born in Virginia, now Ohio County, WV. John’s parents were Andrew and Elizabeth Culver. Some of the census material has Andrew [b. 1805] from Virginia and some say Pennsylvania and some say Maryland. Elizabeth [b. 1800] was from Virginia. John P. had two other brothers, Simeon and George, who also served in the war. They had two sisters, Mariah and Mary.

John P. Culver was born in Virginia, now Ohio County, W.Va., although census records also give his birthplace as Pennslyvania and Maryland. John’s parents were Andrew and Elizabeth Culver. Elizabeth [b. 1800] was from Virginia. John's brothers, Simeon and George, also served. He had two sisters, Mariah and Mary.

John was married first to Phoebe A. Wharton in about 1864. She died in 1874 leaving behind two children, George, 7, and Mary, about 5. John was married to Emaline [Emmy] McElfish, July 2, 1882, in West Alexander, Pa., by Squire Joseph Finley Mayes. John and Emmy raised their grandson Ollie, taking him in before he was a year old.

John worked in the coal mines, most of the time driving a team. The harness for these teams weighed well over 100 pounds. John died on May 25, 1904, at the age of 68 years and 16 days. He was buried at the Old Tent Cemetery, one of the oldest in the area, at Peter's Run Road in Ohio County, W.Va..

The National Archives
Soldier’s Certificate No. 398388
Veteran- John P. Culver
Rank- Pvt.
Service- Co. E. 1 W. Va. Vol. Inf. & Co. H -2 W. Va. Vet. Vol. Inf.
CAN No. 8465
Bundle No. 4

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D. C., Feb 27, 1899
Southern Div. No. 398388
Co. E. 1st Reg’t W. Va. Vol. Inf.

Mr. John P. Culver
Griggs, West Va.

No. 1 Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife’s full name, and her maiden name.
Answer: Emaline Culver, maiden name Meulekilfisch [way it looks]

No. 2. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer: Squire M??? July 2nd, 1882

No. 3. What record of marriage exists?
Answer: Good

No. 4 Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer: Phoeby A. Whorton died 1874, Wheeling, Ohio Co., West Va.

No. 5 Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer: George Culver born Feb 28th 1864 and Virginnia Culver born 1870, Fulton near Wheeling

[Stamped as ‘South Div. Mar 8 1899 received’]

General Affidavit

State of West Virginia, County of Ohio, On this day of April ? A. D., 1886, personally appeared before me, a ???????Court in and for the said County, duly authorized to administer oaths, John H. Donnelly aged 51 years, whose Post Office address is Clinton, Ohio county, West Va., who being duly sworn, declared in relation to said case as follows: I belonged to Co. E, 1st W. Va. Infantry, the same Company and Reg’t to which John P. Culver belonged. Sometime in the fall of 1868, said Culver was driving a Regimented team, hauling a load of hay, near a point known as Moorefield Gap when the saddle horse he was riding fell and pitched him over his head among the leaders of the team and he was struck or fell in same day so that his right hip was badly injured. I remember the circumstance quite well. He was lame for a long time and complained while in the service of the trouble if gave him. I have lived in the same neighborhood with him and have known him well ever since he came out of the service and he has complained to me frequently ever since his hurt, in the army and since that his hip continues to grow worse and weaker and gave him more trouble all the time.

Further delclare that he has no interest in said case and is not concerned in its prosecution.

Signed: John H. Donnelly

Affidavit of Applicant-State of West Virginia, County of Ohio. In the matter of application of John P. Culver, late private, Co. E. 1st West Va. Infantry for invalid Pension which is entitled Inv. No. 565092.

On this 15th day of May A. D. 1886, personally appeared before me a Clerk of Circuit Court in and for the said County, duly authorized to administer oaths, the said applicant, John P. culver, aged Forty Six Years, whose Post Office address is Fulton Ohio Co., W. Va.

Who being duly sworn declared in relation to said case as follows. In the fall of 1863, I believe to have been in September, about two -thirds of the 1st West Va. Infantry among them part of my Company [E- [the other one third of the Regiment had been captured], was stationed at Petersburg, Hardy Co., W. Va. I was at this time detailed to drive one of the Regiment’s four horse teams. On the day referred to, I was returning from a foraging expedition after hay near Moorefield, riding the saddle horse, driving the loaded team, my team being I believe in the lead, there begin three or four other teams in Company passing over a very rough, stony piece of road about dark. The horse I was riding fell and threw me over his head among the feet of the leading horses. I receiving at the time a blow or kick on the right hip, which, though severely felt at the time, did not entirely disable me and I managed to get free without other serious injury. This kick or blow resulted in laming me and yearly this laming worsens until for the past 5 years, I have been unable to ride a horse any distance or drive a team.

Driving team and mining coal have been my occupation, but about nineteen [19] years ago I was taken with bleeding of the lungs when working in the coal mine. I cannot do any hard work now unless I have a return of this bleeding. I believe this bleeding of the lungs was caused by the fever and ague which I contracted when in the army and the exposure keeping to the performance of my duty as a soldier. I never received any treatment from the surgeon or the assistant [?] surgeon of the Regiment. I was treated by Dr. Ulrich of the City of Wheeling W. Va. Some time after my discharge from the army for the bleeding of the lungs. I am unable to get a physicians affidavit as to my condition [?] before enlistment for the reason that within y recollection, until during the war, I never had a physician preside [?] for me for any complaint. I never was in a hospital for treatment at any time and up to my enlistment was very strong and hearty, and so far as I know and believe, entirely free from disease or symptoms of disease, particularly of bleeding of the lungs.
John Culver.
Also signed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Stamped Pension Office, May 25, 1886.

3-1081
Pensioner Dropped
United States Pension Agency
Washington, D. C. Nov. 23, 1904
Certificate No. 398388
Class- Prv.
Pensioner-John P. Culver
Service-Pvt. E. 1 W. Va. Vol. and H 2 W. V. Vet. V.I.

The Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir, I have the honor to report that the above named pensioner who was last paid at $8.00, to 4 Mar. 1904 has been dropped because of death Mar. 20-1904. Enr. Card herewith.
Very Respectfully, ? ? King
United States Pens. ?? Agent.