William L. Towner
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Form No 1 - Amended
Name of Applicant Runnels County Postoffice Ballinger Comptroller's File No. 13969 I have carefully examined the within application for pension, together with the proof in support thereof, and I recommend that the application be Approved this __ day of Sep 25 1908 A.D.
E.A. Holmes I hereby Approve the within application for pension, this Sep 26, 1908 day of __ A.D.___
J.W. Stephens No Application Rejected by County Judge or County Commissioners Should be Forwarded to Comptroller
Filed July 13, 1908 |
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APPLICATION of Indigent Soldier or Sailor of the late Confederacy for pension under the Act of May 12, 1899. Hereafter use no other blank but this. THE STATE OF TEXAS County of Runnels To the Honorable County Judge of Runnels County, Texas: Your petitioner, William L. Towner respectuflly represents that he is a resident citizen of Runnels County, in the State of Texas, and that he makes this application for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act passed by the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved May 12, A.D. 1899, the same being an act entitled "An Act to carry into effect the amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas, providing that aid may be granted to disabled and dependent Confederate soldiers, sailors, and their widows under certain conditions, and to make an appropriation therefor(sic)," and I do solemnly swear that the answers I have given to the following questions are true. Note -- Applicant must make answer to all of the following questions, and such answers must be written out plainly in ink. Q. What is your name? Answer William L. Towner Q. What is your age? Answer I was born Nov. 1, 1841 <67 yrs> soon Q. In what County do you reside? Answer Runnels Q. How long have you resided in siad County and what is your postoffice address? Answer 28 years. Ballinger is my P.O. (I came to Texas in 1865.) Q. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law heretofore, and been rejected? If so, state when and where. Answer No Q. What is your occupatioin if able to engage in one? Answer Conveyancer Q. What is your physical condition? Answer I am not a stout man for my age Q. If your physical condtioin is such that you are unable by your own labor to earn a support, state what caused such disability. Answer Well, chiefly age debility & chron. Dysentery Q. In what State was your command originally organized? Answer Miss. Q. How long did you serve? Give date of enlistment and discharge. Answer I enlisted in 6th Miss. Infantry in Co. "E" a 12 mo. enlistment & served out my time & when regiment re-organized I enlisted again but in a few months washonorably discharged from (?) finallly chronic diarrhea. After my health recuperated I re-entered the civil service and served till I was paroled at Meridian Miss at close of war in Gen. Dick Taylors Dept.- Q. What was the name or letter of your company and name or number of your regiment? Answer Company "E" 6th Miss. Infantry Q. State whether you served in the infantry, artillery, cavalry, or the navy. Answer Infantry first Q. State whether or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land certificate under any previous law, and if your answer in the affirmative state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you have received. Answer No Q. What real and personal property do you now own, and what is the present value of such property? Give list of such property and value. Answer I have no real estate Q. What property, and what was the value thereof, have you sold or conveyed within two years prior to the date of this application? Answer None 0 valeu Q. What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value? Answer My wife has long since died Q. What income, if any, do you receive? Answer None Q. Are you in indigent circumstances; that is, are you in actual want, and destitute of property and means of subsistence? Answer You might call it that Q. Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? Answer I am too old to labor much Q. Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? Answer No Q. Did you ever desert the Confederacy? Answer Never Q. Have you been continuously since the first day of January, 1880, a bona fide resident citizen of this State? Answer Yes, I came to Texas in latter part of 1865. have been here ever since
Q. If you originally enlisted in the Confederate service from
the State of Texas, were you at the date of the passage
of this act, a bona fide resident citizen of
the State of Texas? Answer Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for pension be approved and that such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. (Signature of Applicant) W. L. Towner Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13 day of July A.D. 1908
B.B. Stone, |
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AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES
The State of Texas Before me B.B. Stone County Judge of Runnels County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared H. A. Massey & C. C. Cockrell who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who being by me duly sworn on oath, state that they personally know W. L. Towner the above named applicant for a pension, and that they personally know that aid W. L. Towner is unable to support himself by labor of any sort.
(Signature of Witness) H. A. Massey Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14 day of August, A.D. 1908
B. B. Stone, |
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AFFIDAVIT OF PHYSICIAN
The State of Texas Before me B.B. Stone County Judge of Runnels County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared Dr. E.R. Walker, who is a reputable practicing physician of this County, who being by me duly sworn on oath, states that he has carefully and thoroughly examined W.L. Towner applicant for a pension, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities which render him unable to labor at any work or calling sufficient to earn a support for himself: chronic dysentary (Signature of Physician) E.R. Walker M.D. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10 day of August, A.D. 1908.
B.B. Stone, |
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CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY JUDGE
The State of Texas I, B.B. Stone, County Judge of Runnels County, State of Texas, do hereby certify that on the 14 day of August, A.D. 1908, before me came on to be heard the application of W.L. Towner for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law of this state, approved May 12, A.D. 1899; that the answers of said applicant to the questions propounded were made under oath as the same appear in writing in the foregoing application; that the affidavits of the witnesses who are credible citizens were made before me as the same hereinbefore appear, and that the foregoing affidavit of Doctor E.R. Walker who isutable practicing physician of this county, was made before me. I also certify that the said applicant W.L. Towner, is not an inmate of the Texas Confederate Home, nor otherwise disqualified under the provision of Section 12, of the Confederate Pension Law. I further certify that after considering all the proceedings had before me relative to the said application for a pension by the said W.L. Towner I find the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and I hereby approve said application. Witness my hand and seal of office at Ballinger, Tex., this 14 day of August, A.D. 1908
B.B. Stone |
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CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER
The State of Texas We, the undersigned members of the Commissioners Court of Runnels County, Texas, hereby certify that the foregoing application of W.L. Towner for a pension, together with the proof in support thereof, was duly submitted by Hon. B. B. Stone County Judge of this Runnels County, to the Commissioners of this Runnels County, at a regular term thereof on the 14th day of August A.D. 1908, and after a careful consideration of the same we find the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided for by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and we hereby approve said application. Witness our hands and seal of office at Ballinger this 14th day of August A.D. 1908
Signature of Commissioners) W.M. Weeks, County Prect. No. 1 |
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INTERROGATORIES TO WITNESSES IN PENSION CLAIMS EX PARTE
William L. Towner
Pending in the Honorable Commissioners Court The Honorable County Judge of Runnels County, Texas, will please take notice that, five days after the service hereof, applicant herein will apply to the Clerk of the County Court of said County and State, for a commission to take the depositions of Capt. B. M. Melton and ___ who resides in the County of Dallas in the State of Texas in answer to the following interrogatories and such cross interrogatories as may be propounded by the County Judge of said County, which will be read in evidence upon the hearing of applicant's claim for pension in behalf of applicant; said testimony is material and indispensable to applicant in furnishing the required proof to h__ claim for a pension under the Act of May 12, 1899, the application for which is now pending before the Honorable County Judge, and the facts necessary and required to be proven under the provisions of said Act, applicant believes can not be proven by any witness __ residing in the County of Runnels and State of Texas, of which he is a bona fide resident.
William L. Towner Direct Interrogatories to be propounded to the Witness B.M. Melton
Int. 1. What is your name? Age? Present place of
residence and postoffice address? CROSS INTERROGATORIES To be Propounded to B.M. Melton CROSS INTERROGATORY 1. If, in answer to the foregoing direct interrogatories, you have stated that you personally know or did know said applicant, and that you know that he enlisted in the service of the Confederacy and performed the duties of a soldier or sailor, and having named the company and regiment in which applicant so enlisted and served, then please state fully what is your source of such knowledge? And state whether or not you know or at any you knew of any other soldier or sailor by the name of W. L. Towner serving in the same company or regiment in which you say the said applicant W. L. Towner enlisted or if you have stated that said applicant enlisted and served in the navy of the Confederacy, then state whether or not you know any other sailor of the same name as said W. L. Towner applicant, serving in the same command? If you say that you so knew other soldiers or sailors of the same name of applicant's, then can you and how do you identifiy and locate the one from the other or others? CROSS INT. 2. Are you positively certain that said W. L. Towner applicant for pension, is the identical person serving as testified by you?
CROSS INT. 3.
CROSS INT 4. Do you know whether or not the said W. L. Towner applicant for pension, ever deserted the service in the Confederate army or navy?
The State of Texas I, B.B. Stone, County Judge of said County, in said State, do hereby waive copy of interrogatories, notice, time and issuance of commission, and it is hereby agreed that the answers to the hereinabove direct and cross interrogatories of the said herein named witness ___ may be attached hereto.
B.B. Stone |
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DEPOSITION IN PENSION CLAIMS, WITH CAPTION AND CERTIFICATE EX PARTE
William L. Towner IN RE APPLICANT FOR CONFEDERATE PENSION
Under Act May 12, 1899, pending in
County Commissioners Answers and depositions of B. M. Melton to the accompanying interrogatories and cross int. propounded to him in the above entitled cause taken before Hiram F. Lively in accordance with the accompanying waiver To the first interrogatory the said B.M. Melton, Witness, answers: B.M. Melton, age 67 years, reside at Dallas Texas To 2nd Int. He answers Yes To 3rd Int. answers: since 1858 - first knew him in college in Tenn. and served with him in the Confederate Army in 1861 To 4th Int. answers Yes I do To 5th Int. answers Co. "E" 6th Miss. Vol. Infantry - enlisted in 1861 in Scott Co. Miss. He served with me up to the reorganization of the army in 1862
To Cross Int. he answers To 2 X Int he says - I am
To 4 X Int. he answers - I know he never
deserted before the reorganization of army in 1862
or afterwards that I ever heard of Subscribed and sworn to this the 27th day of July 908.
Hiram F. Lively
The State of Texas I Hiram F. Lively do hereby certify that B.M. Melton and ___ personally known to me to be credible citizens of said County and State, and that the foregoing answers of B.M. Melton the witness __ before named, and ____ whose name_ appears signed to the foregoing depostion, were made before me, and were sworn to and subscribed before me, by said witness B.M. Melton Given under my hand and official seal, this the 27 day of July 1908
Hiram F. Lively . |
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INTERROGATORIES TO WITNESSES IN PENSION CLAIMS EX PARTE
William L. Towner
Pending in the Honorable Commissioners Court The Honorable County Judge of Runnels County, Texas, will please take notice that, five days after the service hereof, applicant herein will apply to the Clerk of the County Court of said County and State, for a commission to take the depositions of George W. Smith and ___ who resides in the County of Rusk in the State of Texas in answer to the following interrogatories and such cross interrogatories as may be propounded by the County Judge of said County, which will be read in evidence upon the hearing of applicant's claim for pension in behalf of applicant; said testimony is material and indispensable to applicant in furnishing the required proof to h__ claim for a pension under the Act of May 12, 1899, the application for which is now pending before the Honorable County Judge, and the facts necessary and required to be proven under the provisions of said Act, applicant believes can not be proven by any witness __ residing in the County of Runnels and State of Texas, of which he is a bona fide resident.
William L. Towner Direct Interrogatories to be propounded to the Witness George W. Smith
Int. 1. What is your name? Age? Present place of
residence and postoffice address? CROSS INTERROGATORIES To be Propounded to George W. Smith CROSS INTERROGATORY 1. If, in answer to the foregoing direct interrogatories, you have stated that you personally know or did know said applicant, and that you know that he enlisted in the service of the Confederacy and performed the duties of a soldier or sailor, and having named the company and regiment in which applicant so enlisted and served, then please state fully what is your source of such knowledge? And state whether or not you know or at any you knew of any other soldier or sailor by the name of W. L. Towner serving in the same company or regiment in which you say the said applicant W. L. Towner enlisted or if you have stated that said applicant enlisted and served in the navy of the Confederacy, then state whether or not you know any other sailor of the same name as said W. L. Towner applicant, serving in the same command? If you say that you so knew other soldiers or sailors of the same name of applicant's, then can you and how do you identifiy and locate the one from the other or others? CROSS INT. 2. Are you positively certain that said W. L. Towner applicant for pension, is the identical person serving as testified by you? CROSS INT. 3. If you have answered Direct Interrogatory No. 6 in the affirmative, then please state your source of knowledge or information? Is not this your answer simply based on conjecture? CROSS INT 4. Do you know whether or not the said W. L. Towner applicant for pension, ever deserted the service in the Confederate army or navy?
The State of Texas I, B.B. Stone, County Judge of said County, in said State, do hereby waive copy of interrogatories, notice, time and issuance of commission, and it is hereby agreed that the answers to the hereinabove direct and cross interrogatories of the said herein named witness ___ may be attached hereto.
B.B. Stone |
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DEPOSITION IN PENSION CLAIMS, WITH CAPTION AND CERTIFICATE EX PARTE
William L. Towner IN RE APPLICANT FOR CONFEDERATE PENSION
Under Act May 12, 1899, pending in
County Commissioners Answers and depositions of Capt. Geo. W. Smith to the accompanying interrogatories and cross int. propounded to ___ in the above entitled cause taken before _____ in accordance with the accompanying _____ To the first interrogatory the said G. W. Smith Witness, answers Geo. W. Smith - 82 years old - at Henderson, Rusk County, Texas To the 2nd - I have known him since his childhood, knew him during the time he served in the confederate army and have known of him since that time, though I have seen him but few tims since I left Navarra County To the 3rd - Have known him for 40 or 45 years - Knew him first in Mississippi To the 4th - I saw him mustered into the confederate army, and that he performed the duties of a soldier To the 5th - Company "E" 6th Mississippi Regiment in 1861 - at Lake Station, Scott County, Miss. Served 12 months or so- an re-enlisted & was taken sick To the 6th When I last saw him 2 years ago in June he was unable to make support by labor I will say that I am sure there was no other W. L. Towner in Company "E" 6th Miss Regiment and further know that W. L. Towner did not desert from the Army. G. W. Smith Subscribed and sworn before me, this 20 day of July, 1908
Lon A. Smith Clerk Co. Court |
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Comptrollers Department,
To the Miliary Secretary, Dear Sir: I have the honor to request the military record of William L. Towner who is reported to have enlisted in Company E, 6th Regiment Mississippi Infantry in the service of the Confederate States army. Purpose: The person named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this State, and I desire to verify his proof of service. Very respectfully,
J.W. Stephens |
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WAR DEPARTMENT, THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE WASINGTON, Sept. 15, 1908 Respectfully returned to the
Comptroller, The Records show that William L. Towner was mustered into service as captain, Company E, 6th Mississippi Infantry, Confederate States Army, August 24, 1861. His name appears on an undated muster roll of the company, which does not show his presence or absence. Nothing further has been found of record relative to his service, nor has any record been found to show that he was captured or paroled.
(Unreadable signature) |
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