She has had a hard time...

Sarah S TurnerandThe Civil War Pension File ofIsaac Turner, PrivateCompany E4th Tennessee Mounted Infantry RegimentUnited States Army

Presented by Ruth Anne StephensDerived fromNational Archives and Records AdministrationPension File No. 483931June 2008

Introduction

The Disability Pension Act of June 27, 1890

In 1862 President Lincoln approved a bill granting pensions forsoldiers who received permanent disability as a result of their military service. An 1879 act was liberalized to include conditions of payment. The fate of some presidential elections was dependent uponthe candidate's support of pension bills. President Grover Cleveland was defeated for reelection in 1888 in large part because of his veto of a Dependent Pension Bill. President Benjamin Harrison was elected because of his definite commitment to support pension legislation. The Disability Pension Act of June 27, 1890, insured a pension to every veteran who had ninety days of military service and some type of disability, not necessarily incurred during or as a result of the War. Since most ex-soldiers were at least middle aged, the act became an almost universal entitlement for every veteran. For many decades the federal Government paid claims to all Union veterans of the Civil War and their survivors.

The Grand Army of the Republic and Kindred Societies, Library of Congress,Biographies & Guides, online , GAR data downloaded 13 Jun 2008.

Widow's Claim

The Act of Jun 27, 1890 requires, in the widow's case:

That the soldier served at least NINETY days in the War of the Rebellion and was honorably discharged.

Proof of soldier's death (death cause need not have been due to Army service).

That Widow is "without other means of support than her daily labor.

That Widow was married to soldier prior to June 27, 1890 -- date of Act.

That all pensions under this Act commence from date of receipt of application (executed after the passage of Act) in Pension Bureau.

Civil War Pension Acts 1865-1930, Black Camisards, Inc, online , data copied 18 Jun 2008

The 4th Tennessee Mounted Infantry Regiment

Organized at large in Tennessee September 1, 1864. Stationed at Alexandria, Tenn., operating against guerrillas. Four companies at La Fayette, Tenn., 4th Sub-District, Middle Tennessee, April, 1865. Action at Wall's Hill September 28, 1864. Polk County November 23, 1864. Operating against guerrillas in White, Overton, Fentress and Montgomery Counties and quieting country till August, 1865. Mustered out August 25, 1865.

4th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry, National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online , 4th Tennessee data downloaded 14 Jun 2008.

Isaac Turner

Isaac Turner was born on 25 Dec 1827 in Dekalb County, Tennessee, the son of wealthy planter and slave-owner Francis Turner and Elizabeth Turney. He married Sarah Sharpe Vance on 29Mar 1855 in Cannon County, Tennessee. Following the Civil War, Isaac, Sarah and their 8 children came to Texas, and became one of the original settlers of Abbott in Hill County in 1876. The Turners worked their small farm and watched their children grow, as 2 more children were born in Texas. Isaac Turner died on 20 Sep 1888 from Typhoid Fever, and is buried at Chatt-Jessie Cemetery in rural Hill County.

Table of Contents

Department of the Interior, United States Bureau of Pensions Office of Assessor of Taxes- Hill County, Texas Proof of Marriage Proof of Death Power of Attorney Depositions Rejection & Denial of Claim James A Matthews Letter Wills Disbarment Epilogue

Department of the Interior,Bureau of Pensions

12 Sep 1890-27 Nov 1893

Office of Tax Assessor-Hill County, Texas

19 Aug 1892

Proof ofMarriage

5 Sep 1891

Proof ofDeath

22 Oct 1891

Power ofAttorney

10 Nov 1893

Depositions

16 Oct 1891-13 Nov 1893

N J Burk

No information is available on N J Burk.

Edward & Mary A Carroll

The village of Abbott is a creature of the Katy Railroad, starting with itin 1881-1882. The first settlers in this community were James Thompson who died about January 1891, about a mile and a half southeast of Abbott: Mrs. M.J. Johnson living a mile and a half east: James Franklin now living a mile west: Judge W.G. Blood from Kentucky two miles north: W.L. Wells from Mississippi about two and a half miles north: D.C. Carr now living a mile and a half southeast: J.M. Young, Edward Carroll, Isaac Turner, W.M. Walston and G. H. Young."Abbott, Texas First 100 Years"

Edward Carroll was born in Nova Scotia in Aug 1829 and immigrated to the United States in 1840. His wife, Mary A Carroll was born in Ireland in May 1840. Edward Carroll was enumerated as a jeweler in the 1880 Federal Census for Hill County, Texas.

W R Robison

A neighbor of Isaac Turner's in Justice Precinct #3, Hill County, Texas, Will R Robison was also a farmer. He and his wife Lizzieraised 6 children here and are buried at Abbott Cemetery.

Sarah S Turner

In defense of her claim, Sarah Sharpe Vance Turner submittedboth a letter attesting to the birth of her daughter Zora Belle Turner and six-page deposition describing her life before and after the death of her husband Isaac Turner.

Rejection&Denial of Claim

25 Nov 1893-4 Dec 1893

James A Matthews Letter

16 Sep 1897

W H Wills & CoDisbarment

15 Nov 1883

The Washington, DC law firm of W H Wills & Co, consisting of Walter H Wills and Norma W Wills, on 14 Nov 1883 was disbarred for ingenious, deceitful, and seductive means employed...to lure into their toils the ignorant and unfortunate persons who are sought out asvictims to be bled and then abandoned.

Nine years later, the Washington, DC law firm of N W Wills & Co was retained by Sarah S Turner to represent her interests before the Bureau of Pensions. Two weeks after N W Wills& Co was hired, Sarah's claim was rejected/abandoned.

Epilogue

The Fate of the Major Characters

Sarah S Turner- Sarah died on 11 Jul 1897, following years of delicate health. Two months later, the James A Matthews letter was written on behalf of her surviving minor children. Sarah is buried in the Turner family plot at Chatt-Jessie Cemetery in rural Hill County.

Francis Lee (Frank) Turner- Sarah's oldest surviving son lost his wife Jennie Margaret on21 May 1887 and a short time later their infant son Claudie also died. Frank's surviving children Martha Rebecca (Mattie) and Margaret Elizabeth (Lizzie) at this time went to live with Sarah. After Sarah's death, family lore states that Frank Turner deserted his family in desperation, possibly to South America, and was never heard from again.

Isaac T Turner- Having never married, Isaac died on 25 Dec 1900. He is also buried at Chatt-Jessie Cemetery.

John Joseph Turner- As the oldest surviving son following the disappearance of Frank, John became head of the remaining Turner clan after Sarah's death. He provided for siblings Zora, Mary and James Turner, as well as nieces Mattie and Lizzie Turner until adulthood. John married Annie Victoria Swofford in 1901.

Epilogue

The Fate of the Major Characters (cont.)

John Joseph Turner (cont)- John became a peace officer at Abbott and held that position for over 25 years, until his death on 17 Nov 1933. He was a highly respected citizen of that community and his going will remove another landmark from that community. John is buried at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro, Texas.

Edna Lenora Turner- Edna was the daughter mentioned by Sarah in her deposition of 10 Nov 1893: in 1892 one of my daughters lost her mind and was sent to the asylum.... Ednadied at age 33 on 11 Aug 1907, following surgery for internal cancer. She had been an invalid for several years prior to her death. Edna is buried at Chatt-Jessie Cemetery.

Zora Belle Turner- Zora Belle married railroad man David Edward Pitts in 1901 and eventually moved to Yoakum, Texas. On 18 Sep 1941, she died from injuries received in anautomobile accident a few days earlier. She is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Yoakum.

Mary Tennessee Turner- Mary wed another railroad man, Charles Arthur Rogers in 1912. They also moved to Yoakum, where their only child was born. In 1919, the young familyreturned to the North Texas area, settling in Fort Worth. There Mary died on 29 May 1971 at the age of 91. She is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Fort Worth.

Epilogue

The Fate of the Major Characters (cont)

James Bowie Turner-Jimbo worked for the railroad and moved to Yoakum, where he married Olivia Waterwall in 1920. He died on 17 Dec 1938 in Yoakum and is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Yoakum.

James A Matthews- As the husband of Sarah's invalid daughter Edna Lenora Turner, James wrote a letter to the Bureau of Pensions on 16 Sep 1897, after the death of Sarah Turner. Onbehalf of Sarah's surviving minor children, the letter requested the pension be awarded, as the children need it very-much (sic). After the death of Edna in 1907, James later marriedCarrie Burton in Marshall, Texas. There he died on 6 Jun 1953 and is buried at Algoma Cemetery in Marshall.

N J Burk- No information is available on N J Burk.

Edward & Mary A Carroll- The Carrolls, along with Isaac Turner, were among the original settlers of Abbott, Texas. Edward and Mary are buried at Ridge Park Cemetery.

W R Robison- Will R Robison was a farmer and neighbor of the Turners in Hill County. Will and his wife Lizzie are buried at Abbott Cemetery.