DEPOSITION
Case of George W. Scraper No. 450.512
On the 28th 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 2nd Indian Home Guards, and served as 1st Sergeant
until May 31, 1865 at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory.
That I had a son named Wm.
M. Scraper who served as 1st Sergeant of Company G, 2nd
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 25th 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
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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 1st
Sergeant of D Company 2nd Indian Home Guards, and the mother of
William M. Scraper who was a 1st Sergeant of G Company 2nd
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 2nd
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 2nd 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 3rd day of May 1883 and I certify that the contents
were fully made known to deponent before signing.
Chas R. Conner
Special Examiner
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Indian Territory
Cherokee Nation Cooscoowee Dist.
In the matter of Original Invalid Pension of Geo. W. Scraper
late Orderly Sergt. Of Company D 2nd
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 27th 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.