William Muffley: Disability Pension Application

William Muffley
Disability Pension Application

In July 1890 William Muffley applied for a disability pension based on his service in the War of the Rebellion, where he was wounded and succumbed to sunstroke in April 1865. These original papers are located in his file in the National Archives in Washington, DC.

In 1881 William lodged a successful application for an invalid pension. The result of the application was a monthly pension of $4. Subsequently, in 1889 he requested an increase in his invalid pension and successfully gained an additional $2 per month, making his total monthly pension $6. In this application, William is seeking to increase the award based on his worsening conditions. Again, his children are more visible in the application process as witnesses and in preparing statements.

His application, the support letters and the examining surgeon report are hand written and have been here transcribed. There are some words which were not deciphered. They may be found written as xxx. To facilitate reading, all of the reports are included in this single web page. Each panel is a separate affidavit, report, or action.

On 27 June 1890 an act was passed which permitted William Muffley to apply for disability status in his pension enrollment. Following is his application.

Declaration for an Original Disability Pension

State of Iowa, County of Mitchell, ss
on this 16th day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred ninety personally appeared before me Clerk of the District Court a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid William Muffley aged 67 years, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical William Muffley who was enrolled as a private on the 30th day of March, 1864, in Company G of the 8th Iowa regiment of Veteran Vol. commanded by Charles Scott Jr and was honorably discharged at Selma Alabama on the 12th day of April, 1866; That his personal description is as follows:

Age 43 years; height 5 feet 6 inches; complexion fair; hair Brown; eyes Dark. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of duty he received a gunshot wound of the right shoulder and also was sunstruck whilst at Montgomery Alabama a few days after being wounded as aforesaid.

That he is now a pensioner of the U.S. enrolled at Des Moines Iowa by reason of said wound, at the rate of six dollars per month, Certificate No. 228041 Increase.

That he is now totally disabled from doing any manual labor. That said disability is not by reason of his own vicious habits, but to the disability assigned and to old age.

That he has not been in the military or naval service of the United States since the 12 day of April 1866. That since leaving he service this applicant has resided in the State of Iowa at Osage since 1869 and that 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 he is now totally disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the Untied States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being enrolled on the invalid pension roll of the United States under the act approved June 27/90, I hereby appoint J.M. Moody of Osage Iowa with favor of [substitution] his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim. That his residence is Osage Iowa and that his post office address is Osage Iowa.

William Muffley (signature)

Wm Moss (signature)
C. Larson (signature)

Also personally appeared Wm C. Moss residing at Osage Iowa and C. Larson residing at Osage Iowa persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, say that they were present and saw William Muffley, the claimant sign his name (make his mark) to the forgoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.

Wm. C Moss (signature)
C. Larson (signature)

Sworn to and subscribed before me the 16th day of July A.D. 1890 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration &c, were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.

F.O. Bronson (signature)
Clerk of the District Court
Mitchell County Iowa

In support of William Muffley's application for Disability Pension, John Demaray filed the following statement on 31 October 1891. John Demaray and his wife Loretta (and son Charles and Charles' wife) moved from Iowa to Grants Pass Oregon prior to 1910.

General Affidavit

For the testimony of employers or near neighbors of soldier (other than relatives), who have known him before his enlistment, or since his discharge and return from the army.