On 21 December 1921 Alfred Brunson Kephart passed away. His wife, Mary, soon after applied for a widow's pension. It and the supporting documents can be found below:
Declaration for Widow's Pension (13 Jan 1922). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.State of Minnesota, County of Jackson
On this 13th day of January, 1922, personally appeared Mary Kephart before me the undersigned, who makes the following declaration as an application for pension under the provisions of the act of Conress approved May 1, 1920.
That she is 72 years of age, that she was born June 3, 1849 at Dubuque County, Iowa, and that her post-office address is Lakefield, Minnesota.
That she is the widow of Alfred B. Kephart, who ENLISTED August 22, 1862, at Cottage Hill, Iowa, under the name of Alfred B. Kephart, in Co. H. 21st Regiment, Iowa Vol. Infantry, and was honorably DISCHARGED July 15, 1865, having served ninety days or more, or was discharged for, or died in service of the United States of a disability incurred in the service in the line of duty, during the CIVIL WAR, and who DIED December 21, 1921, at Lakefield, Minn.
That he also served in ____ and that, except as herein stated, said soldier (or sailor [crossed out]) was not employed in the military or naval service of the United States; THAT SHE WAS MARRIED to said soldier (or sailor [crossed out]) December 25, 1867, at Dubuque County, Iowa, by William Glew, that she had not been previously married, that he had not been previously married;
That she was not divorced from the soldier (or sailor [crossed out]) and that she has NOT remarried since his death;
That the following are the ONLY children OF THE SOLDIER (or sailor [crossed out]) who are now living and are under sixteen years of age; None
That she has not heretofore applied for pension, the number of her former claim being ____; that said soldier (or sailor [crossed out]) was a pensioner, the number of his pension certificate being 879.556.
(1) Wm Kephart (Signature of first witness)
Lakefield, Minnesota
(2) O. Thoreson (Signature of second witness)
Lakefield, Minnesota
Mary Kephart (Claimant's signature in full)
Lakefield, Minnesota
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of January, 1922, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to the applicant before swearing, including the words "or sailor" erased, and the words ____ added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
O. Thoreson
Notary Public, Jackson County, Minn.
My Commission expires [illegible] 15th, 1927
Lakefield, Minnesota
Certified Copy of Death Register. Alfred B. Kephart (21 Dec 1921). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.
Affidavit Re: Marriage of B. Kephart to Mary Meyers (12 May 1922). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.
B. Kephart--25 to Mary Meyers--18
On application of said Kephart and satisfactory proof license issued this 16th day of December 1867. The marriage of the above named parties was solemnized on the 26th day of December 1867, by William Glew, a Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF IOWA, Dubuque County, ss:
I, M. J. Grace, Clerk of the District Court in and for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and compared copy and transcript of the record of marriage of B. Kephart and Mary Meyers, as the same appears of record and on file in my office.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said courty at my office in the city of Dubuque this 12th day of May 1922.
M. J. Grace Clerk District Court
By Geo. Wieger Deputy
Affidavit of James Rost (23 May 1922). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF JACKSON, ss.
James Rost being first duly sworn, deposes and say that he now is and for more than thirty years last past has been a resident of Lakefield, in the County of Jackson, State of Minnesota; that during all of said time he has been personally well acquainted with Alfred B. Kephart and Mary Kephart, his wife; that he knows that during all of said time and until the death of the said Alfred B. Kephart, the said Alfred B. Kephart and Mary Kephart were continuously living together as husband and wife in the Village of Lakefield ^ and in the vicinity of Lakefield, in said County and State, and that they continued so to live as husband and wife until the death of the said Alfred B. Kephart; that they were never divorced.
James Rost
Subscribed to before me this 23rd day of May, 1922.
O Thoreson
Notary Public, Jackson County, Minn.
My Commission expires Jan. 15th 1927.
Affidavit of C. M. Tradewell (23 May 1922). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.The text of the above affidavit is identical to that of James Rost above.
