DEPOSITION

Case of George W. Scraper No. 450.512

On the 28^th day of May, 1883, at Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation Indian Territory before me, Chas R. Conner, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared George W. Scraper, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of afore said pension claim, deposes and says:

That I was born in 1814, one year after the Creek War in the state of Alabama. I enlisted in D company 2^nd Indian Home Guards, and served as 1^st Sergeant until May 31, 1865 at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory.

That I had a son named Wm. M. Scraper who served as 1^st Sergeant of Company G, 2^nd Indian Home Guard, was discharged on December 31, 1863 for disability, and died at his house of consumption in about one year after he left the army. That I have applied for a pension for and on account of the following ailments or disabilities contracted me under the following specified circumstances.

In 1863 July on or about 16 day we was ordered to get ready forthwith, to march up to honey Springs in Creek Nation, by our supervisor officers. we marched out according to order. We marched one whole day and night. Just little before daylight, we was halted by our officers to rest. And my son W. M. Scraper spread his gum blanket on wet ground. It had rained that night, and went to sleep, and the officers came round again and ordered us again to get ready for march, and when William M. Scraper woke from sleep he had pain in his side. But performed his duty all that day in fight. But the pain that contracted that night he never recovered. Since from the time he took pain that night in his side, and had cough and turne (turned) to consumption, and died, at home in the Cherokee Nation Indian Territory, on the 13 day of September 1864. He had one doctor Richie, attending to him at Fort Gibson In. Terr. Than afterwards Indian Regt. moved to this place “ Tahlequah” after we came here had Doctor Hitchcock attended to him. at Cherokee Male Seminary was hospital than (then), but to no effect. Finally his mother conveyed him home on horse back through wilderness and his mother attended to him ballence of days. we spent some money for medicine to relieve him but to no effect and died. my son William M. Scraper was born on the 25^th day of December 1838 in the state of illinoise, while was emigrating to this country under the Treaty of 1835 – 36. about nine days before his death he told his mother that he was going to die in a few days. I served nine months as Lieutanant if there is any pay due me for services such. you must try to collecte from the United States. I was exposed by over heating myself at Honey Springs battle. I shall never recover any more. my son W. M. Scraper was not married when he died, had no children.

When I was discharged from the army of the United States I had sum money that I received for my services as soldier and nothing more. my place was

Page 2. Deposition of George W. Scraper, May 30, 1883

entirely desolated. I had no cattle and no hogs etc. So I had sum money, as I have stated in the foregoing statement for my services. I invested my money in cattle and few hogs and small house and farm. we was living on these cattle ever since.

G. W. Scraper

Deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30 day of May 1883, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.

Charles R. Conner

Special Examiner

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPOSITION

Case of Mrs. Louisa Scraper, No. 287.674

On this 30 day of May 1883, at Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation Indian Territory, before me, Charles R. Conner, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Mrs. Louisa Scraper, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination of affore said pension claim deposes and says.

That she is the wife of Geo. W. Scraper who was 1^st Sergeant of “D” Company 2^nd Indian Home Guards, and the mother of William M. Scraper who was a 1^st Sergeant of “G” Company 2^nd Indian Home Guards. That she is an applicant for pension on account of the services of her son and, his death in consequence thereof on September 13, 1864 of consumption in Going Snake District – Cherokee Nation.

That my own age was 65 years last March, and my husband to the best of our knowledge and belief was born in the year 1814 and is now 69 years of age. That my family at the beginning of the late war consisted of myself, my husband, and ten children. That the name of my first child was William M. Scraper, born Dec. 25, 1838, died Sept. 13, 1864 of consumption. The name of my second child was Henry H. Scraper born – date not remembered – served as Sergeant in “D” Company 2^nd Indian Home Guards and he died in April 1871 of consumption. The name of my third child was James Scraper, he was about 22 years of age when the war broke out, died in the year 1871 of consumption. The name of my fourth child is Lydia Ann, was 17 years old in 1862 and is now living the wife of Judge Clark. The name of my fifth child is Joseph M. Scraper, he was about 15 years of age in 1862, and is now living. The name of my fifth child was Martin Scraper, he was just ten years old at the beginning of the late war and died April 2^nd 1872 of pneumonia. The name of my seventh child was John Scraper, he was eight years old in 1862, and was killed in 1872 by a team he was driving hauling logs. The name of my eighth child is Delilah, born Sept. 28, 1855 and she is now alive and married. The name of my ninth child is Eliza E., born August 4, 1859, and she is now alive and married. The name of my tenth and last child is Susie Scraper, born Sept. 6, 1861, and she is still alive and single.

Affiant further states that prior to and during the war she and her husband lived in Going Snake District. And in February 1865 they moved on to Grand River Saline District where the family has ever since resided until April 13, 1883 when they moved to Vinita. That she and her family have lived on a little farm about thirty acres of which was in cultivation and they now own about eighty head of cattle, thirty hogs and two horses.

That this place is now rented, they to get one third of the produce. That from the close of the war in 1865 and before that and during the lifetime of their son, William M. Scraper they have had and still have a comfortable maintenance. That her reason for applying for a pension as the mother of William M. Scraper was and is that her husband by reason of advancing age and its accompanying

Page 2. Deposition of Mrs. Louisa Scraper. No. 287.674 - May 30, 1883

Infirmities is less able than formerly to exert himself in support of herself, himself, their youngest child Susie, the only one with them, and their grandaughter named Henrietta, these being the only members of their family at the present time.

Her

Louisa X Scraper

Mark Deponent

G. W. Scraper

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3^rd day of May 1883 and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.

Chas R. Conner

Special Examiner

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indian Territory

Cherokee Nation Cooscoowee Dist.

In the matter of Original Invalid Pension of Geo. W. Scraper late Orderly Sergt. Of Company D 2^nd Regt. Indian Infantry Home Guards.

Personally came before me a mayor of Downingville in said district George W. Clark, a resident of Dowingville Ind. Terr. who, being duly sworn, declares that his age is ___(blank) years. That he is son-in-law of said claimant, that he has been well acquainted with claimant – since his discharge from the army in May 1885 – much of the time has resided near him and his opportunity has been good to know claimants general physical condition during all of said acquaintance. That at date of his discharge, he was afflicted with inflammation in his eyes and had ____ eye sight, that his left eye was useless, that he could not see to read anything with it but he could see to read with his right eye. But could not see good enough to shoot a rifle and read only coarse print. He often had spells with his eye that made him keep in the house because the sunlight hurt___________

(Last line of page unreadable)

His eyesight failed gradually till he could not read. Think it has been as much as fourteen years since he could not read. He was fully one half disabled from procuring his subsistence by manual labor for the first eight years after the discharge from said service and for about 14 years has been wholly disabled for procuring his subsistence by manual labor by reason of blindness. He never has been able to do his farm work since he came out of the army by reason of rheumatism in his joint – and legs and back and arms. His right leg and right arm have always been most disabled by rheumatism. For the last 12 or 14 years he has complained of being nearly paralyzed in the right leg. I know it has been very difficult for him to get around because he has not good use of his leg. He has been wholly disabled by said infirmities for 14 years. I have no interest in said claim. My P. O. address is Vinita, Ind. Terr.

G. W. Clark

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 27^th day of July A. D. 1888 and I certify that I have no interest in said claim and that

W. C. Chamberlin

Mayor of Downingville

Cherokee Nation

Transcribed by Judy Rowe Boemio April 2008

NOTE: In the past, tuberculosis was called consumption.