OLIVER W. CRISWELL, Company "A"
OLIVER W. CRISWELL, Company "A"
Oliver Criswell was born in 1843 in Marshall Co, VA, the son of Lloyd Criswell & Catherine Orum. He served in the Civil War, Co A 12th WV Inf; enlisted at the age of 17 and served 16 Aug 1862 - 16 Jun 1865. He died at the home of his brother, Richard, while visiting in Sherrard, WV.
Oliver W. Criswell is buried at Orum Cemetery in Marshall County. Oliver died at the home of his brother, Richard, who is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
PENSION FILE, NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Transcribed by Linda Fluharty.
Declaration For Original Invalid Pension
State of Pennsylvania
County of Somerset
On this 29 day of July, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty - personally appeared before me, Clerk of the Court of the Common Pleas, a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, OLIVER W. CRISWELL, age 34 years, a resident of the township of Northampton, county of Somerset State of Pennsylvania, who, being duly sworn according to law, declared that he is the identical OLIVER W. CRISWELL who was enrolled on the 13 day of August, 1862, in company A of the 12th regiment of W.Va. Vols- commanded by Captain W. L. Roberts and was honorably discharged at Richmond, Va on the 16th day of June, 1865; that his personal description is as follows: Age, 34 years; height, 6 feet -; complexion Fair; hair, Dark; eyes, Blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at Martinsburg, in the State of W.Va. on or about the summer of 1864, he contracted fever and was sent to the hospital - Always afterward suffered with lung disease - Hemorrhages of the lungs and heart disease - Also in the spring of 1865 in Virginia he contracted Chronic Diarrhea.
That he was treated in hospitals as follows: At Clarysville Md about 3 months in the summer of 1864.
That he has NOT been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above - no other service.
That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the states of W.Va. Md. & Pa, and his occupation has been that of Chair Maker.
That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a COOPER. That he is now wholly 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 teh purpose of being placed on the invalid pension-roll of the United States.
He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, W. H. Ruppel of Somerset, state of Penna, his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his clam. That he has never received nor applied for a pension. That his Post Office address is Philson's(?) Station, county of Somerset State of Pennsylvania.
Signature of Oliver W. Criswell.
Attest: Henry F. Schell & Dennis Meyers
Declaration For Pension
March 14th 1881 (He died Apr 23, 1881)
In the claim for Invalid Pension No 409.689 of O. W. Criswell, Private, Company A, 12 West Virginia Vol. Infantry:
For five years immediately preceding my enlistment I resided at Sherrard West Virginia and by occupation was a cooper; and my Post Office address was Sherrard Marshall County West Virginia.
Since my discharge my principal employment has been that of making chairs and farming; I resided in Marshall County W.Va. from about the 26 day of June 1865, the date of my discharge to the fall of Oct 1868, at which time I moved to Alleghany County, MD.- post Office address Corrigans vill(?), and in 1877 moved from there to Philson Post Office Somerset County Pa at which place I now reside. My first disability was hemorrhage of the lungs in the month of May 1865 which disability gradually grew worse from time to time until the spring of 1873 at which time I implid Dr. W. W. Wiley whose Post Office address is Cumberland, MD who treated me for about three years, and in the year 1877 Dr. H. T. Ford of Benwood W.Va attended me, in the year 1878 Dr. W. J. Myers of Myersdale Somerset County Pa attended me.
I have performed some manual labor since my discharge; have worked at farming and at chair making, at coopering and at rail roading about one year; I have been entirely unable to perform any manual labor for the last five years preceding this date March 14th 1881.
Signed O. W. Criswell
State of West Virginia Marshall County to wit.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justioce of the Peace for said County. O. W. Criswell whose name is signed to above declaration and made oath that the above declaration and statements by him subscribed were true and correct given under my hand this 14 day of March 1881 and I further certify that a certificate of my official character is on file in the Pension office at Washington, DC.
Signed by A. L. Pelley, JP
War Department, Adjutant General's Office
Washington, Oct 12, 1887
#409.689
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.
OLIVER W. CRISWELL, a Private of Company A, 12" Regiment W.Va. Infy Volunteers, was enrolled on the 13" day of August, 1862, at Moundsville for 3 yrs and is reported: on rolls Jany & Feby/64. Present, stop $30 as reward for apprehension as a Deserter. Mar & Apl/64 absent waiting trial at Cuymberland Md. for Desertion. May & June/64 absent. Sick at Cumberland Apl 8/64, July & Aug/64 absent sick at Washington City since July/64, Sept & Oct/64 absent. sick since July/64, Nov & Dec/64 Present, Jany & Feby. Mar & Apl/65. Present. Due -- $30 for arrest, was reported a deserter from Sept 14/63 to Oct 9/63. was restored to duty without trial by order of Gen'l Crook.
Co. M/O roll dated Richmond, Va June/16/65 reports him present. & M/O said date and place
Regt'l Returns Mar & May/65 do not report him absent
Regt'l Hosp. Records not on file.
Records of this office furnish no further evidence of disability covering period claimed.
(Illegible signature) Adjutant general's Office.
Widow's Claim for Pension
State of Maryland
County of Allegheny
On this 17 day of January, 1889 personally appeared before me, a clerk of a Court of Record in and for the County and State aforesaid SARAH A. DAY a resident of Williams in the County of Somerset and State of Penn, age 39 years, who being duly sworn, amkes the following declaration, in order to obtain the Pension provided by the Act of Congress approved July 14, 1862. That she was the widow of OLIVER W. CRISWELL who was a Private in Comapany A in the 12 Regiment of W.Va. Vols in the War of 1861; that her maiden name was SARAH A. CAGE and that she was married to said Oliver W. Crisswell on or about the 1 day of May 1864, at Cumberland in the County of Alleghany and that she knows of no record evidence of said marriage except a certificate.
She further declares that said OLIVER W. CRISWELL her late husband, died at Marshall County in the state of W.Va. on or about the 30 day of April 1881 of consumption contracted in the service in the war of 1861. She also declares that she has remained a widow since the death of said O. W. Criswell till 28 Aug '82 when she married JACOB DAY. ---- She hereby appoints Jacob Brown of Cumberland, Maryland as her lawful attorney.... The following are the names dates of birth and places of residence of all the children of her deceased husband who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death.
Catherine born June 29, 1866, Ellen born March 5, 1868, Clara born March 18th 1872, Edward born April 30 1874 & Rozey born May 29 1880.
My Post Office address is Williams Somerset Co Penn.
Signed by Sarah Day
Witnesses: Mary J. Utt & Elizabeth Cage
General Affidavit
State of Maryland
County of Alleghany
In the matter of pension of Sarah A. Day late widow of Oliver Crisswell Co A 12 W.Va vols.
Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State, MARY JANE UTT, aged 45 years, citizen of the Town of Cumberland, County of Alleghany, State of Maryland, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case, as follows:
I am the sister of claimant, Sarah A. Day, and state the following facts from persoanal knowledge. Said claimant was married to said Oliver W. Crisswell on the first day of May 1864 in Cumberland Md by Father Brennen. She was only about 15 years old and was never married before. Said Oliver W. Crisswell was under 21 years old. He was a strong looking man when he was married but I noticed when came out the army in 1865 he was showing signs of lung disease, or consumption, coughing and spitting. He rapidly grew worse with his disease had hemorrhage many times from his lungs in my presence. he became unable to do any hard work. He lived several years in W.Va. just after his discharge but returned to his wife's parents in 1868 - near Cumberland Md. He died on 23 April 1881 while on a visit to his people in W.Va near Wheeling. he left as his widow the claimant and six young children all widow her charge when he died - She married said Jacob Day Aug 22 1883 - Both now living.
I further declare that I have no interest in said case, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Signed by Mary J. Utt
27 March 1889
General Affidavit
State of Maryland
County of Alleghany
In the matter of pension of Sarah A. Day late widow of Oliver Criswell.
Personally came before me a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State, John W. Utt aged 64 years a citizen of the Town of Cumberland, County of Alleghany, State of Maryland, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case, as follows:
I became acquainted with said O. W. Criswell about a year before he died. He as very low with what I believed to be the consumption - coughing and spitting - saw him have several attacks of Hemorrhages of the lungs. He was entirely unfit for any work whatever. I cut wood and carried it to the house for him, and did other light acts for him. He was very poor. He left as his widow the claimant Sarah A. Day, and the following children all under 16 years of age. Catherine, Ellen, William, Clara, Edward, John & Rose. William died since the death of his father, and upon reflection I say John died before his father (a very short time before) These children all remained with the mother after the death of their father until grown up and were cared for by her. One still remains with her Rose.
I further declare that I have no interest in said case, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Signed by John W. Utt
27 March 1889(?)
(Another affidavit, with essentially the same content, was given by Susannah Findley, neighbor.)
General Affidavit
State of Pennsylvania
County of Bedford
In the matter of pension of Sarah A. Day late widow of Oliver Crisswell Co A 12 W.Va vols.
Personally came before me Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State, DR. T. S. WELLER, aged 58 years a citizen of the Town of Hyndman, County of Bedford, State of Penn, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: I have been practicing medicine for thirty-six years.
I treated him as near as now recollect in the fall of 1872 for congestion of the lungs his lung trouble finally took on the nature of consumption (a taxis pulmonalis) from which I believe he never permanently recovered. As to dates I cannot attest. From the fact that I was his family physician and recorded or charged all their accounts against him with his own.
I further declare that I have no interest in said case, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Signed by T. S. Weller
Date?
General Affidavit
State of Maryland
County of Alleghany
In the matter of pension of Sarah A. Day late widow of Oliver Criswell Co A 12 WVa.
Personally came before me a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State, Andrew Cage, aged 67 years and Elizabeth Cage, aged 70 years citizens of the Town of Cumberland, County of Alleghany, State of Maryland, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case, as follows:
We are the parents of claimant Sarah A. Day. Her late husband Oliver W. Crisswell died on the 23" day of April 1881 near Wheeling WVa, while on a visit there. He was married to the claimant May 1" 1864 by Father Brennen in Cumberland Maryland. She was never married before - only 15 years old. He was only 19 & don't think he was ever married before. The said Crisswell left the following children born of said claimant as follows:
1 - Mary Catherine born June 29" 1866
2 - Elizabeth Ellen " Mch 5" 1868
3 - William born June 12" 1870, died Aug 12, 1883
4 - Clara Virginia born Mch 18" 1872
5 - Charles Edward " April 30" 1874
6 - John Harrison " Feby 27" 1876, died Jany 6" 1881
7 - Drusilla born July 15" 1879, died July 27" 1879
8 - Rose born May 27" 1880 - The claimant Sarah A. Day was married to Jacob Day on the 22" day of August 1883, said Crisswell was discharged from the Army in June 1865. He then went to West Virginia with his family and returned to our house in 1868 with consumption, coughing & spitting indeed he shew signs of consumption before his discharge. He continued to grow worse & had frequent attacks of hemmorrhages from the lungs - carried alum & salt in his pocket as a remedy. He continued to grow worse - became a mere skeleton till his death April 23" 1881. He died of consumption and nothing else. He was not able to do hard work he would try, could not support his family - His wife had to do it. He was treated by Dr. P. A. Healey since dead - Dr. Fundenberg (who has lost his mind completely) Dr. Weller and Dr. Myers, and took a great deal of medicine bought at Drug stores. He was a sound man at the time of his marriage.
Signed by Andrew & Elizabeth Cage
03 April 1889
Re-Application For Widow's Pension
Hon Geo A. Pearse
Sarah A. Day former widow of Oliver W. Criswell Co A 12 WVa vols in the Civil War applied for pension about 1889- No. 387.227 as Criswell's widow up to the time of her marriage to Jacob Day, about 3 years after the death of Criswell who died Feby 11, 1907 (This must mean when Jacob Day died) Criswell left a number of children under 16 years of age.
Now that Mrs. Day is again a widow she wants to renew the claim in some proper manner. Will you kindly advise me what course should be taken?
Very Respectfully
Jacob Brown
July 22, 1907
A note at the bottom: "Brown has forfeited his rights to atty ship under claim Order No. 23. 7. 29/07 JCB"
On the side: "Abandoned."
