Military and Medical History Request (12 Oct 1894)

Military and Medical History Request (Washington, DC: Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, 12 Oct 1894). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Additional Pension and Supporting Documents (1898-1915)

Pension Questions (Washington, DC: Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, 15 Jan 1898). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Certificate No., 879.556
Name, Alfred B. Kephart
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D. C., January 15, 1898

SIR:

In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below.

Very respectfully,
H. [illegible] Evans,
Commissioner of Pensions

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

Answer. Yes Mary Brown Meyers

Second. When, where, and by whom were you married?

Answer. Dubuque Iowa Wm Glew Justice of Peace

Third. What record of marriage exists?

Answer. A mariage [sic] certificate

Fourth. 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. no

Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.

Answer. yes Bertha Born April 23 '69; Lottie March 9 '71; Whilthorn february 13 '73; Levi Naugle June 10 '76; Della Oct 22 '78; Roscoe March 13 '81; Mary E. March 1 '86; George Earl April 15 '88; Verly May Jan 21 '91

Alfred B. Kephart (Signature)


Sarah Allen Affidavit (14 Apr 1913). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

State of Iowa, Dubuque Co. ss:

Sarah Allen, being duly sworn, says that she is a resident of Farley, in County and State aforesaid; that she is a daughter of Naugle Kephart, deceased, and a sister of Alfred B. Kephart, now resident at Lakefield, Minnesota, who was a member of Co. "H", 21 Iowa Inf. That the said Naugle Kephart during his lifetime, kept a birth register, the same being kept in a blank book, kept for that purpose; that said record is now in my possession; that the following entry appears therein, as to the said Alfred B. Kephart: "Alfred B.[runson added] Kephart, Born July 25th., 1842."

That there are no erasures in connection with the said entry, and that said entry is the original entry made by the said Naugle Kephart; and that it bears no marks of alteration, or erasure, or tampering of any kind; and that from the appearance of the entry and the writing thereof, affiant believes that said entry was made at the time it purports to have been made, to-wit: about July 25th., 1842.

Sarah Allen (Signature)

State of Iowa, County of Dubuque, ss:

I, Geo. A. Giblis, a notary public for said County and State, do hereby certify that, on the 14 day of April, 1913, the said Sarah Allen, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, appeared before me and made oath that the facts therein stated are true; and I further certify that the said family record referred to in said instrument was duly exhibited to me, and that the entry referred to appears in said record, to all appearances in accordance with all the facts stated in the foregoing instrument.

Geo. A. Giblis
Notary Public
My commission expires 6 [date unfinished]


Pension Questions (Washington, DC: Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, 2 Jan 1915). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Washington, D. C., January 2, 1915

SIR:

Please answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below. The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your widow or children. Use the inclosed envelope, which requires no stamp.

Very respectfully,
G. [illegible]
Commissioner

ALFRED B. KEPHART
LAKEFIELD, MINN.
879556

No. 1. Date and place of birth? Answer. Cottage Hill, Dubuque County, Iowa.
The name of organizations in which you served? Answer. Company H, 21 infantry Vol.

No. 2. What was your post office at enlistment? Answer. Cottage Hill.

No. 3. State your wife's full name and her maiden name. Answer. Mary Brown Meyers

No. 4. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer. 25th of December 1867. By William Glew, Justice of Peace, Cottage Hill.

No. 5. Is there any official or church record of your marriage? The marriage Licence were recorded. If so, where? Answer. At Dubuque, Dubuque Co. Iowa.

No. 6. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. If there was more than one previous marriage, let your answer include all former wives. Answer. no

No. 7. If your present wife was married before her marriage to you, state the name of her former husband, the date of such marriage, and the date and place of his death or divorce, and state whether he ever rendered any military or naval service, and, if so, give name of the organization in which he served. If she was married more than once before her marriage to you, let your answer include all former husbands. Answer. no

No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation? Answer. yes.

No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead. Answer. Bertha Kephart Born April 23th [sic] 1869. Lottie, Born March 9th 1871. Whilthorn, Born Feb 13th 1873. Levi Naugle, Born June 10th 1876. Mable, Born Oct 22th 1878. Roscoe, Born March 13th 1881. George W., Born June 23th 1883. Mary Ella, Born March 1th 1886; George Earl, Born April 15th 1888. Verlie May, Born Jan 21th 1891. Alfred B. Jr. Born July 14th 1893.

Date March 29, 1915 (Signature) Alfred B. Kephart

Declaration for Pension (21 Jul 1921)

On 31 May 1921, Alfred Brunson Kephart suffered a paralytic stroke. His wife, Mary, filed the Declaration for Pension seen below.


Declaration for Pension (21 Jul 1921). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

STATE OF Minnesota, COUNTY OF Jackson, ss:

On this 21st day of July, A. D. 1921, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, within and for the county and State aforesaid, Mary Kephart, wife of Alfred B. Kephart, who being duly sworn according to law, declares ["said Alfred B. Kephart" added] that he is 79 years of age, and a resident of Lakefield, county of Jackson, State of Minnesota; and that he is the identical person who was ENROLLED at Cottage Hill, Iowa, under the name of Alfred B. Kephart on the 22nd day of August, 1862, as a Private in Company H - 21st Regt. Iowa Vol. Inf. in the service of the United States, in the Civil War, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Baton Rouge, La., on the 15th day of July, 1865. That he also served ____.

That his personal description at enlistment was as follows: Height, ___ inches; complexion, ____ color of eyes, ____; color of hair, ____; that his occupation was ____; that he was born ____, 18__, at _____. Have no data available, and his condition is such that no information can be had from him.

That he requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another person on account of the following disabilities: Had paralytic stroke, and left paralyzed. Can move left hand a little, but can't walk, or talk, help himself in any way. Can understand but little of what is said to him. Has been in this condition since the stroke on May 31, 1921. He is confined to his bed entirely, except when we set him up in a reclinging wheelchair for short periods.

That since leaving the service he has resided at Lakefield, Jackson County, Minnesota, and his occupation has been farming until he retired when couldn't work any more.

That he has ___ applied for pension under Original No. ___. That he is ___ a pensioner under ["Reissue" added] Certificate No. 879.556. That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of May 1, 1920.

(1) H. H. Sontag (Signature of first witness)
Lakefield, Minn.
(2) O. Thoreson (Signature of second witness)
Lakefield, Minn.

Mary Kephart (Claimant's signature in full)
Lakefield, Minnesota

SUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me this 21st day of July, A. D. 1921, 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 "on opposite page" erased, and the words "on opposite page", added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

O. Thoreson (Signature)
Notary Public, Jackson Co., Minn.
My commission expires Jan. 15, 192 [illegible]
Lakefield, Minnesota