I am related to a man named Dudley Devlin

yankee hoorah

First Sergeant
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Location
Maryland
He somehow miraculously dissapeared he mustered in mid October and Discharged in early Feb.
Can you tell me anything you think might have happened to Pvt. Devlin.
 

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Is this him?

http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Mary_Wecker_(1)

In August 1862 her husband Dudley Devlin enlisted to fight in the Civil War. He was to serve 3 years but didn't even serve a year before being discharged.

In the 1870 Federal Census Page# 9, Dudley, Mary, and family are living in Bellevue Jackson County, Iowa.
Dudley Devlin, age 55, Born Ireland, Value of Real Estate 3000, Value of Personal Estate 1800, Farmer Mary Devlin, age 40 Mary Devlin, age 13, Born Iowa Elizabeth Devlin, age 11, Born Iowa Edward Devlin, age 9, Born Iowa Margaret Devlin, age 7, Born Iowa James Devlin, age 6, Born Iowa Phillip Devlin, age 3, Born Iowa Nicholas Devlin, age 3, Born Iowa Sarah Devlin, age 1, Born Iowa

Mary's husband Dudley Devlin committed suicide July 22, 1873. After Dudley's death continued collecting his disability pension thinking it was right to sign his name and not report his death. After about 15 years this was found out and the pension cancelled. On July 23, 1890 Mary applied ( Application #435338) for a widow's pension with the help of Jon Weiss and others. The certificate # was 295067. No papers showing she got it. Later December 1912 tried again.

http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Dudley_Devlin_(1)

Enlisted August 2, 1862 as a private in Company K 31 Regiment of Iowa under Captain Johnson G. Thompson of the U.S. Infantry to serve 3 years. Able bodied performed faithfully his duties as a soldier until last days of 1862 when he became unfit for duty from exposure and fatigue. On the 28TH and 29TH after a heavy mess box fell on his leg causing injury he lay out in a cold rain without a blanket. He developed a bad case of vericose trouble. This was on the expedition up the Yahoo River to the Battle of Vicksburg. At this, Young Point camp he was as surgeon G. Cashart reported completely incapacitated. He was discharged February 27, 1863 at the Battle of Vicksburg, by order of General Sherman. this was recorded on the Devlin family Sheet and Dudley's military papers in the possession of descendant through Mary devlin Dempewolf.

The following spring ( June 11, 1863; Application #25339) he made a declaration for invalid pension and received a certificate of disability.
In the 1870 Federal Census Page# 9, Dudley and family are living in Bellevue Jackson County, Iowa.

The following was found by fellow Devlin researcher, Brian Ostberg:
FROM THE SABULA, IOWA GAZETTE, JULY 25, 1873
"From Tom Warren, Route Adt, on the CC&DRR, we learn that another suicide has been committed at Bellevue. A farmer by the name of Devlyn living 2 miles west on the Cottonville road, 'shuffled off this mortal coil' on Tuesday last, by shooting himself through the head with a Shot Gun. No cause is assigned fpr the deed. He had been out cradling grain, he came to the house, bid his family good bye, took his gun, stepped out and deliberatly shot himself causing instant death"

Dudley was buried at C.V. Dougherty Farm near Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa per Eric Ostberg and his family who have been to the grave.
 
His pension card in the other thread shows him receiving a disability pension in June 1863, so it seems he was permanently injured. Mary received a widow's pension beginning in 1890, so he must have died around that time.

Died in 1873 by his own hand.
 
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He did he committed suicide with his rifle with a shot to the head after saying "good bye" It sends chills up my back.


Yes, I just saw that:

DudleyDevlin Jackson Sentnel 31 July 1873 p 3.jpg


A couple of years before it appear he lost a lot of land sold at auction for back taxes:

DudleyDevlin Jackson Sentnel 31 August 1871 p 2.jpg


Not sure why Mary would wait 17 years before filing for a widow's pension.
 
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Name: Dudley Davlin
State: IA
County: Jackson County
Township: Bellevue Township
Year: 1852
Page: 040
Database: IA 1852 State Census Index
 
Devlin's farm in 1870:

1870 Agriculture p 1.jpg

1870 Agriculture p 2.jpg

This shows him owning 120 acres -- the same amount of land listed in the sheriff's tax sale the following year. But he seems to be reasonably well-off, so how did his land come to be in arrears for roughly $35 in back taxes? And was it actually sold, or did he pay off what he owed at the last minute? And did any of this figure into his taking his own life in 1873?
 
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