Last month I wrote a series of articles on finding and ordering Civil War records from the National Archives Records Administration. This information was most useful for Union soldiers, although the National Archives does have the surviving military service records for Confederate soldiers. However, the National Archives has no Confederate pension records in its files. To order these, one would have to contact the state from which the Confederate soldier served. This week will discuss which Confederate pension records exist for each state and how to locate them.
n Alabama — In 1867 pensions were first granted to soldiers who had lost limbs. In 1886 they were expanded to include widows. In 1891 pensions were approved for indigent veterans and their widows. Search the online index at www.archives.state.al.us/
civilwar/index.cfm. Contact the Alabama Department of Archives & History, 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36130-0100.
n Arkansas — In 1891 pensions were granted to indigent veterans. In 1915 widows and mothers were added to the pension rolls. There is a searchable online index at www.ark-ives.com/doc
umenting/confed_pensions.asp. Contact the Arkansas History Commission & State Archives, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201.
n Florida — In 1881 the state began granting pensions to veterans and in 1889 to their widows. Check the database of pension applications at www.floridamemory.com/Collections/PensionFiles/. Contact the Florida State Archives, R.A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250.
n Georgia — The state began granting pensions to veterans with artificial limbs in 1870. In 1879 other disabled veterans and widows were added. In 1894 old age and poverty were included as reasons to receive a pension. Search the pension applications at content.sos.state.
ga.us/cdm4/pension.php and the enlistment oaths and discharges at con
tent.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/con
fed.php. Contact the Georgia Department of Archives & History, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260.
n Kentucky — The state didn’t grant pensions to Civil War veterans until 1912. Kentucky’s civil war databases, including Confederate service records, military records from the Adjutant General’s office, and pension records can be searched at www.kdla.ky.gov/
resources/KYCivilWar
Research3.htm. Contact the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives, Kentucky State Archives, 300 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40601.
n Louisiana — The state began granting pensions to indigent veterans and their widows in 1898. Search the pension applications index database at www400.sos.
louisiana.gov/archives/gen/cpa-alpha.htm. Contact the Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-2137.
n Mississippi — Pensions were first granted to indigent veterans and their widows in 1888. Contact the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Charlotte Capers Building, 100 S. State St., Jackson, MS 39201.
n Missouri — The state granted pensions to indigent veterans only starting in 1911. No widows were included. Contact the Missouri State Archives, State Information Center, 600 W. Main St., Jefferson City, MO 65102.
n North Carolina — The state started giving pensions in 1867 to veterans who were blind or amputees as a result of their service. Other disabled or indigent veterans or widows were added to the rolls in 1885. Contact the North Carolina State Archives, 4614 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4614.
Next week will continue with this list of states.
History
GENEALOGY: Confederate pension records out there for the asking
- History
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
Perhaps someone out there can help me with something I’ve been working on for quite a few years
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Early Terre Haute theater includes Billy Emerson
Traveling theater troupes performed in Terre Haute before the village was incorporated on Jan. 26, 1832.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Radiant heating — a hot idea
This week’s Historical Treasure is a bit out of season, but a wood stove will help drive away the morning chill and you can make breakfast on it.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: Record-breaking temps hit Vigo
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
The Emperor Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire and the man who ended that empire’s persecution of Christianity, died this week (May 22) in 337 AD, having lived a life that would change the world.
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
Inside the archives room of the Vigo County Public Library, row after row of fragile documents, rare out-of-print books, and historic photographs are kept on shelves in a humidity and temperature-controlled room.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
Efforts to open Center Street, from Cherry to Swan, spanned a half century or more.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
The saying goes, if you’re easily embarrassed or afraid of what you’ll find, don’t start doing genealogy.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
Our very last constitutional amendment — the 27th Amendment — was ratified this week (May 7) in 1992 when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
- More History Headlines
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
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