JAMES M. KELLER, Company "D"
Photo obtained from Joseph Johnson, descendant.
James M. Keller, right & unknown soldier.
The original tintype was discarded.
JAMES M. KELLER, Company "D"
Photo obtained from Joseph Johnson, descendant.
James M. Keller, right & unknown soldier.
The original tintype was discarded.
James M. Keller, born in Marshall County, W.Va. on March 7, 1841, was the son of Henry Keller and Elizabeth Venamon.
The first wife of James M. Keller was Elizabeth Scandlen, whom he married in Marshall County on March 2, 1866. After Elizabeth died (1873), James married Mary Maria Shaw on July 2, 1874.
Declaration for an Invalid Pension
State of West Virginia,
County of Ohio
On this 1st day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty nine personally appeared before me J. W. Mitchell, Clerk of the Circuit Court a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid, JAMES M. KELLER, aged 48 years, a resident of Ohio County, W.Va., who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical James M. Keller who entered service under the name of James M. Keller on or about the 13" day of Aug 1862 as Pvt in company "D" of the 12" regiment of West Va. Inft. commanded by W. B. Curtis and was discharged at Richmond, Va., on or about the 16" day of June 1865, by reason of close of war, that his personal description is as follows: Age, 48 years; height, 5 feet 7 inches; complexion, dark; hair, dark; eyes, dark. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty near Harper's Ferry, in the State of Virginia, on or about August, 1864, he contracted flux. Harper's Ferry, Va. Aug 1864, he received sunstroke, affecting his head.
That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above.
That since the 16" day of June, A.D. 1865, he has not been employed in the military or naval service of the United States. That since leaving the service his occupation has been that of a FARMER. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a FARMER. That is now PARTLY disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.
Signed by James M. Keller
Witnessed by John L. Stamm and N. Nickerson
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions.
Washington, D.C., Oct. 6, 1897.
So. Div.
Ctf. No 497, 829
James M. Keller
Co. D, 12 Regt. W.Va. Vol. Inf.
Sir:
Will you kindly 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 family.
Very respectfully,
H. Clay Evans
Mr. James M. Keller,
McMechen, W.Va.
No. 1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife's full name, and her maiden name. Answer: Marry Maria Shaw was her name now it is Keller.
No. 2. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer: Near Sherrard this county and state July 2, 1874 by DHK Dix ME Church
No. 3. What record of marriage exists? Answer: this one above is the last marriage.
No. 4. Were you previously married? If so, please state the names of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. Answer: Yes her name was Elisabeth Scandlen died January 25 1873 at this place and on the land that McMechen now stands on
No. 5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. Answer:
Date of reply, October 18, 1897
James M Keller
Declaration for Pension
State of West Virginia,
County of Marshall
On this 20th day of May, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and
twelve, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, J. M. KELLER, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 71 years of age, and a resident of McMECHEN county of MARSHALL, State of WEST VIRGINIA; and that he is the identical person who was enrolled at TRIADELPHIA OHIO CO WVA under the name of J. M. KELLER on the 13" day of AUGUST, 1862 as a PRIVATE, in Co D 12 REGT. WVa INFANTRY in the service of the United States, in the CIVIL war, and was Honorably Discharged at Richmond Va., on the 16" day of JUNE, 1865.
That he was not employed in the military or naval service of the United States otherwise than as stated above. That his personal description at enlsitment was as follows: Height, FIVE feet SIX inches; complexion, DARK; color of eyes, DARK; color of hair, DARK; that his occupation was FARMER; that he was born MARCH 7", 1841 near MOUNDSVILLE, WVA.
That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: In Marshall County West Virginia excepting when temporarily absent.
That he is a pensioner under certificate No. 497.829
That his post-office address is McMechen, county of MARSHALL, State of WEST VIRGINIA.
J. M. Keller
Witnesses: Jacob Suter & Richard Marple
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C. January 2, 1915
James M. Keller
McMechen, W.Va.
497829
No. 1. Date and place of birth? Answer. Fairview Ridge Marshall Co WVa March 7 1841
No. 2. What was you post office at enlistment? Answer. Elm Grove Ohio Co WVa
No. 3. State your wife's full name and her maiden name. Answer. Mary Maria Shaw.
No. 4. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer. July 2, 1874 by DHK Dix Minister ME Church at Sherrard WVa Marshall co
No. 5. Is there any official church record of your marriage? I don't know of any
No. 6. Were you previously married? If so, state the name of your former wife, the date of the marriage 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. Yes I was married to Lizbeth A Scandlon of marshall co WVa maried march 1866 she died in 1870 in the place now cauld McMechen WVa married by Joseph Grim minister of the church of god
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 whixh he served. If she was married more than once before her marriage to you, let your answer include all former husbands. Answer. no she never was married before her and I was married
No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation? Answer. I am still liveing with my second wife yet and will untill death
No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead. Answer.
Henry G. Keller B December 24 1866 Killed in a Reck on the B and O he was freeing(?) no date
William H. Keller B September 8 1868 died Jan 13 1911
James R. Keller B May 12 1875 he is the only one living out of 6
Katy V. Keller B August 3 1878 died Jan 17 1900
now these two little girls that died in there infincy and I cant tell ther Births deths it has beb so long I cant remember I lost my Record.
James M. Keller
Date March 24 1915
General Affidavit - Ota L. Clark Keller
State of West Virginia, County of Ohio, ss:
In the matter of increase of pension of James M. keller Co "D" 12" West Va. Infantry Vols Certificate #497.829
On this 12" day of April, A.D. 1923, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths Ota L. Clark, aged 45 years, whose Post Office address is #446 North Wabash St. Wheeling, West Va and well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case as follows:
I am a daughter in law of James M. Keller, the applicant, his wife is dead, he lives with me, has no other home. I care for him, I help him dress and undress and also aid to dress his left foot which has gangrene. He has many ailments one Eye entirely out and the other so badly affected, that is is nearly Blind, and Deaf, so nearly so as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person. He also has many other complaints, No teeth, Rheumatism, lumbago, Heart and kidney trouble, vericose veins, dizziness, catarrh of Nose. He is past 82 years old, in fact he hs no memory, does not know the days of the week, never goes out alone. I know what I say to be true from observations and that owing to his nearly helpless condition he should be examined by Medical Board at his house as he is not able to walk very far or see to walk, or keep out of danger on account of hearing and bad eye sight.
I further declare that I have no interest in said case and I am not concerned in its prosecution.
Ota L. Keller
James M. Keller was dropped from the pension roll due to death June 19, 1924.
