Need some help sorting out a possible CW ancestor.

[Harris]

I've hit a brick wall with all my normal genealogy resources on a possible new CW GGG Grandfather.

John H. Underwood,
born in 1842 Union Co. Ohio
Died July 9th 1869, Cass Co. Michigan

His widow, My GGG Grandmother Olivia Ruud remarried a man named Chapman. She filed for a pension with the name Olivia E Chapman for her first husband's service in the War. She claims he served in the 19th Michigan. Which makes sense because the 19th mustered in Cass Co. Michigan Sept. 1862 (the same county he died in). However I cannot find his name on any regimental roster.There are two other men named Underwood in the 19th, but nothing close to the name John or the right age.
Adding to the confusion is a man named John H. Underwood in the 11th Michigan, mustered in St. Joseph Co. Michigan Sept. 1861. I originally thought this was my guy as St. Joseph Co. is right next to Cass Co. Michigan, and thought Olivia must've been mistaken on her pension claim. That was until I found John H Underwood name on a reunion roster of the 11th Michigan held after the date my John H Underwood died.

I know some of you like to "sleuth" around and thought maybe one of you may have more resources at your disposal than I to solve this mystery.
Is it possible my GGG Grandmother was making a false pension claim? The other Underwood men in the 19th both seem to survived the war and our found in later Census reports.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Harris

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I've hit a brick wall with all my normal genealogy resources on a possible new CW GGG Grandfather.

John H. Underwood,
born in 1842 Union Co. Ohio
Died July 9th 1869, Cass Co. Michigan

His widow, My GGG Grandmother Olivia Ruud remarried a man named Chapman. She filed for a pension with the name Olivia E Chapman for her first husband's service in the War. She claims he served in the 19th Michigan. Which makes sense because the 19th mustered in Cass Co. Michigan Sept. 1862 (the same county he died in). However I cannot find his name on any regimental roster.There are two other men named Underwood in the 19th, but nothing close to the name John or the right age.
Adding to the confusion is a man named John H. Underwood in the 11th Michigan, mustered in St. Joseph Co. Michigan Sept. 1861. I originally thought this was my guy as St. Joseph Co. is right next to Cass Co. Michigan, and thought Olivia must've been mistaken on her pension claim. That was until I found John H Underwood name on a reunion roster of the 11th Michigan held after the date my John H Underwood died.

I know some of you like to "sleuth" around and thought maybe one of you may have more resources at your disposal than I to solve this mystery.
Is it possible my GGG Grandmother was making a false pension claim? The other Underwood men in the 19th both seem to survived the war and our found in later Census reports.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Harris

I actually found 3 men named Underwood in the 19th. Zenas H. Underwood was 43 when he enlisted on 12/25/1863. He eventually transferred into the 10th Michigan.

Stephen W. Underwood was 29 when he enlisted on 8/9/1862.
Both these men would be too old.

Then there's this man, (correct age) middle initial J (John?) Don't know how the H would fit in there, but maybe he was known by a middle name of John ?

Enos J. Underwood

Residence Newberg MI; 19 years old.

Enlisted on 8/9/1862 at Newberg, MI as a Private.

On 9/5/1862 he mustered into "A" Co. MI 19th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 6/10/1865 at Washington, DC
- Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65

 

[Harris]

I actually found 3 men named Underwood in the 19th. Zenas H. Underwood was 43 when he enlisted on 12/25/1863. He eventually transferred into the 10th Michigan.

Stephen W. Underwood was 29 when he enlisted on 8/9/1862.
Both these men would be too old.

Then there's this man, (correct age) middle initial J (John?) Don't know how the H would fit in there, but maybe he was known by a middle name of John ?

Enos J. Underwood

Residence Newberg MI; 19 years old.

Enlisted on 8/9/1862 at Newberg, MI as a Private.

On 9/5/1862 he mustered into "A" Co. MI 19th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 6/10/1865 at Washington, DC
- Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65

You might be onto something here East Tennessee! Newberg is a Twp. in Cass County. It is adjacent to Penn Twp, where John H Underwood is buried. Ill look around for Enos J.

 

[Drew]

There's a Find-a-Grave memorial for John H. Underwood buried at Young's Prairie Cemetary in Penn Twnshp., Cass County. It indicates birth in 1848 but there is no photograph of the marker so I wouldn't take it to the bank.

There is a Pvt. John H. Underwood listed among the 1st U.S. Lancers, MI Cav. also. That unit was recruited clear on the other side of a pretty big state though, don't know if it helps.

 

[Allie]

If you care enough to spend the money you could send off for the full pension record. It doesn't appear Michigan is online. The full record would give whatever proof of service she sent in originally.

Looking at this record compared to others from Michigan it doesn't appear to have been approved. There is a application number but no pension number, unlike some other records. Of course it could have been denied for all kinds of reasons, not necessarily anything to do with his service.

 

[Harris]

If you care enough to spend the money you could send off for the full pension record. It doesn't appear Michigan is online. The full record would give whatever proof of service she sent in originally.

Looking at this record compared to others from Michigan it doesn't appear to have been approved. There is a application number but no pension number, unlike some other records. Of course it could have been denied for all kinds of reasons, not necessarily anything to do with his service.

Excuse my ignorance Allie, but how does one ask for those type of records, an to whom? any idea on cost?
Thank you so much!

 

[Allie]

I've never done it but familysearch.org has a page on how to order records from the National Archives. Apparently a pension record is $75 for the first hundred pages and more after that, and they are really slow. They recommend hiring a Washington DC area genealogist to do it for less cost.

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Requesting_copies_of_Civil_War_service_and_pension_records

 

[Drew]

I wonder whether a widow who remarried would be eligible for a pension, particularly if second husband was still living?

I've never had a need to research a family member's Union pension , but these are public records. $75 sounds really exorbitant to me. Perusal of NARA's website may reveal a better way to get the whole file.

 

[chaughey001]

I actually found 3 men named Underwood in the 19th. Zenas H. Underwood was 43 when he enlisted on 12/25/1863. He eventually transferred into the 10th Michigan.

Stephen W. Underwood was 29 when he enlisted on 8/9/1862.
Both these men would be too old.

Then there's this man, (correct age) middle initial J (John?) Don't know how the H would fit in there, but maybe he was known by a middle name of John ?

Enos J. Underwood

Residence Newberg MI; 19 years old.

Enlisted on 8/9/1862 at Newberg, MI as a Private.


I think your 100% correct a lot of people used their middle name. Great Job

On 9/5/1862 he mustered into "A" Co. MI 19th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 6/10/1865 at Washington, DC
- Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65

 

[chaughey001]

I wonder whether a widow who remarried would be eligible for a pension, particularly if second husband was still living?

I've never had a need to research a family member's Union pension , but these are public records. $75 sounds really exorbitant to me. Perusal of NARA's website may reveal a better way to get the whole file.

I remember when they were $35.00

 

[DJenne]

I've hit a brick wall with all my normal genealogy resources on a possible new CW GGG Grandfather.

John H. Underwood,
born in 1842 Union Co. Ohio
Died July 9th 1869, Cass Co. Michigan

His widow, My GGG Grandmother Olivia Ruud remarried a man named Chapman. She filed for a pension with the name Olivia E Chapman for her first husband's service in the War. She claims he served in the 19th Michigan. Which makes sense because the 19th mustered in Cass Co. Michigan Sept. 1862 (the same county he died in). However I cannot find his name on any regimental roster.There are two other men named Underwood in the 19th, but nothing close to the name John or the right age.
Adding to the confusion is a man named John H. Underwood in the 11th Michigan, mustered in St. Joseph Co. Michigan Sept. 1861. I originally thought this was my guy as St. Joseph Co. is right next to Cass Co. Michigan, and thought Olivia must've been mistaken on her pension claim. That was until I found John H Underwood name on a reunion roster of the 11th Michigan held after the date my John H Underwood died.

I know some of you like to "sleuth" around and thought maybe one of you may have more resources at your disposal than I to solve this mystery.
Is it possible my GGG Grandmother was making a false pension claim? The other Underwood men in the 19th both seem to survived the war and our found in later Census reports.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Harris

I wonder whether a widow who remarried would be eligible for a pension, particularly if second husband was still living?

I've never had a need to research a family member's Union pension , but these are public records. $75 sounds really exorbitant to me. Perusal of NARA's website may reveal a better way to get the whole file.

Hello Harris! I totally share your frustration in your search. It took me years to figure out what happened to my gggrandfather! And all my research took place before anything was online. Then when everything went online, there were a few wonderful years of free internet and then everything went under the umbrella of a few select organizations with fees. Pretty maddening. But if you are willing to do somemore legwork, I think you can find your guy. The sleuthing is way too much fun to let pass. (IMHO).

Be absolutely certain on his name. I know this seems obvious. See if you can find marriage/birth/death records. His family location. The census is good...sometimes. City and town register its are great. John is a common nickname. Easy to use. Could be given or middle name. Try to nail down your guy. That said...

First, if you haven't already, use your free state, county local and university resources. If you have a library card, you may be able to do online research through your state library system catalogs. Some libraries are genealogy centers. They will have greater resources and not always online ones. Local libraries may Michigan military records and regimental histories.

Google books is great for finding papers and small local histories written at the time of the war and in the public domain. Search your county name end of war celebrations etc... It's time to 'triangulate' around your guy. Find his community.
Online regiment groups can help as well.

Look to the "sons of" societies in the state: I found a list in 2 minutes:

http://www.suvcwmi.org/graves/search.php (MUnderwood search doesn't come up, just type Underwood into the surname field, no first name needed. ) It brings up 22 Underwoods who served. There are three Johns. Enos died in 1901 according to this database. Mine that database for all its worth! AND If you prove your line, you are eligible to join!

The NARA records search is not free, but it is also not $75. These are public records and someone does the copying and it takes 90 days or so. You are charged for the price of copies and the mailing. So the cost is not bad. (Or you can travel to a regional center...closest to Michigan is Chicago or Maryland... So not so close. But it makes for a great trip)

The link to the military service record request form is here: there is an online submission option which is $30 (new to me)
http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-86.pdf
The military record will only give you the files related to his service. His muster in, transfers, on duty, off duty, sickness. That's about it. Not great, but important as a source. Always source all your findings. (First rule of genealogy
The pension record is the one that will have all the details of the person. Quite often height, hair color etc and it can be quite long or a disaster. I have seen pension records that are a complete mess, barely legible and that was the reason for the denial. The application was ruined in transit and couldn't be read. Pretty maddening. In any case, my suggestion is to wait on it until you are certain you have the correct ancestor.

These are my suggestions only. I hope you enjoy your sleuthing. If I've mentioned anything you've already done, it's only a suggestion.

I hope to hear how it goes.
Deborah

 

[Drew]

The NARA records search is not free, but it is also not $75. These are public records and someone does the copying and it takes 90 days or so. You are charged for the price of copies and the mailing. So the cost is not bad. (Or you can travel to a regional center...closest to Michigan is Chicago or Maryland... So not so close. But it makes for a great trip)

Great post, DJenne

This stuff is a lot of fun and no, it shouldn't be expensive if one is patient and determined!