The following is a transcription of the letter from the War Department, Adjutant General�s Office to the Commissioner of Pensions as transcribed by Marlow Bumpus on 12/30/02.

Samuel Bumpus, a private in Company G, 8^th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was enrolled on the 5^th day of September 1861 at Indianapolis. Ind. For 3 years and is reported: on roll from enrollment to Oct. 31, 1861 absent, detailed as Wagoner Oct. 22, 1861.

Nov. and Dec. 1861, absent, sick at Sarcoxie, MO. (Dec. 21, 1861) same to Feb. 28, 1962.

March and April 1862, present, same to Aug. 31, 1862.

Sept and Oct., absent, Sick at St Louis, MO. Sept 29, 1862,

Nov. and Dec. 1862, Present, same to April. 30 1863.

May and June 1863, Present (with remark) Sick May 3 1863.

July and Aug. 1863. Absent, sick at St Louis MO., July 16, 1863, same to Dec. 31, 1863.

Jan and Feb 1864, Transferred to IRC.

He was transferred to Co. J. 8^th Reg�t I.C. (sub 35^th Co. 2^nd Battalion V.R.C.) Oct 12, 1863, at St Louis MO. Cause not stated. Is reported present Aug 31, 1864.

Mustered out on Invalid M.O.R As private, Sept 5, 1864 at St Louis MO.

To date from Sept 4, 1864.

The records of this office show no further evidence of disability.

R.C. Drum, Adjutant General

H E R E W I T H I have the honor to return the papers with the testimony taken in the widows pension claim No. 3 6 1, 7 2 7 of Mary A Bumpus, widow of Samuel Bumpus deceased, late company G,
E I G H T H Indiana Infantry, War of the Rebellion and to submit the following report of my investigation: -

C l a i m a n t states that her present Post Office Address is C A R T H A G E, Jasper County, Missouri.

C l a i m a n t alleges as to a basis for her claim, that she is the lawful widow of the soldier and that he died of disability incurred in the service and line of duty.

The claim was made S P E C I A L, by the honorable commissioner and referred to the S.E. Division for special examination to ascertain the merits and came to me for the initial examination. I called on claimant at the County Poor house and served her with the usual Notice of Special Examination in person and had her acknowledge service. She waived the two days allowed under instruction and stated that she was ready to go on with the examination at once. I explained to her fully her fights and took her deposition. She testifies to her marriage to soldier on the 2nd day of May 1881 at Carthage MO.; that he had two children by his first marriage, Clara and George Bumpus, who were 12 and 7

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years old respectively; that she and soldier had two children by their marriage, Lilly May and Cora Lee Bumpus; that Lilly May was born on the 8^th of June �83 and Cora Lee was born on the 31^st of July 1885; that she was born a week before her father died; that she and her late husband had been living on the farm of James H Ralston for about a year before he, the soldier, died; that he had some kind of throat disease all the time of their marriage and told her that it came from having the measles in the service; that he had a kind of dry cough all the time and he had a difficulty swallowing anything; that he was taken down in his last illness with a chill and then he had a hot burning fever and the second day after he was taken down he commenced running off at the bowels, and this continued up to a few hours of his death; that his throat calloused so that he could not swallow any thing, not even a drink of water; that he did not take even a drink of water; that he did not take any food in his last illness, he could not take any; that on account of poor health and having no property , she has been in the county poor house almost ever since soldiers death.

Catherine Smith testifies that she was present as Midwife when claimant�s youngest child, a daughter, was born; that said child was born about a week before its father died but is unable to give the exact date.

J.H. Ralston testifies that after his time was out as Superintendent of the Jasper County Poor Farm, he went and got soldier and brought him to his, deponent�s, place and that he lived with his wife, claimant, for about 18 months up to his death; that he died on said place on the 13^th of August 1885, according to an entry made in his Account Book in which he kept soldiers time, and everything purchased for him; that the day after he died,

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he made the following entry;- �Samuel Bumpus died August 13, 1885�; that soldiers daughter was born much as ten to twelve days before his death.

Dr August Rhoads testifies that when soldier came before the Carthage Board of Examining Surgeons for examination in 1883 or �84, he recognized him as one of the soldiers he had noticed who talked in a whisper in the service some time in 1862 or�63 when he, deponent, was Orderly Sergeant of company F, of the same regiment.

All the witnesses I have examined testify to the throat affection (affliction?) of the decedent and his bad health all the time they knew him in this state.

I think that from the testimony obtained in the investigation, we may safely accept August 13, 1885 as the correct date of death of the soldier and July 31, 1885 as the correct date of birth of Cora Lee, his youngest child. Soldier and his wife, claimant, lived together on the farm of Mr. Ralston the last year of his life and there can be no reasonable question as to the legitimacy of this youngest child, Cora.

The evidence obtained tends to show that the claim is meritorious; that soldier�s death was due to his military service and I recommend further examination for the testimony of the following witnesses;-

Mrs. Amanda Long, Humboldt, Allen Co., Kansas, as to the death of soldier�s first wife and post office address of his children by her.

Claimant states that on account of her poverty and poor health she was obliged to give away her two children by soldier; that Mrs. Linda Keisling of Butler, Bates Co., MO., is the guardian of her oldest daughter Lilly and that Mrs. Nellie Turner of Monett, Berry Co., MO. is the guardian of her youngest daughter Cora Lee Bumpus.

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Claimant and all the witnesses I have examined, except Mr. Gabriel, bare good reputations for the truth and veracity as far as I can ascertain.

V E R Y R E S P E C T F U L L Y

Signed by Willy Raitton

Special Examiner.

As transcribed by Marlow Bumpus 12/28/02

On this 8^th day of August of 1894 at Modock, Randolph Co., Indiana, before me, J M McGee, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared, Wesley Jordan, who by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propondered (yes, propondered) to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: That his age is 52, P.O. Modock, Randolph Co., Indiana, Occupation, farming.

Deposition A, of Clara A Baker, case of Mary A Bumpus

Transcribed 12/29/02 by Marlow Bumpus

On the 15 of April, 1898 at Humboldt, Allen Co., Kansas, before me, H.L. Elliott, a Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared before me, Mrs. Clara A Baker, 24, of Allen Co., Kansas, Occupation, Housekeeper.

I am a daughter of Samuel and Nancy C Bumpus. I was born August 7, 1873. At least that is what I was taught when I was a child and I have always kept August 7 as my birthday.

My father had only two children by his first wife Nancy, (my mother). The other child is still living. His name is George James Bumpus and he was born June 23, 1870. I have a record on a piece of paper showing the dates of our birth. The record was made by my father or mother. I think probably my mother but I�m not certain.

(Affidavit exhibits record. The writing is considerable faded. The entries show that Samuel and Nancy C Bumpus were married were married September 5, 1869. George J Bumpus born June 23, 1870. Clara M Bumpus born August 7, 1873. I believe the record is genuine. H.L.E. Spl. Exm.)

The present address for my Brother is No. 302 East Indiana St. Chicago Ill.

I don�t know the date of my mother�s death. I was over one year old when she died but I don�t know just how old she was.

My father was a drinking man and did not take care of my brother and I, so Jack Thompson took us to his home and raised us.

Jack Thompson does not know the date of my mother�s death or the dates of birth of myself and my brother. He has no record of the dates, I am positive of that fact.

I saw my father only once after I went to live with Jack Thompson. I don�t remember when it was, only that I was still a small girl.

I said I was taught when I was a small girl that the date of my birth was Aug. 7, 1873. I was taught that fact by Mrs. Thompson, my foster mother.

Mrs. Thompson obtained the date from the record which I have shown you and she obtained that record from my father when she and her husband took us to raise. The record was with our clothing or what ever effects we had.

I have been told that my middle name is �Manda� but I never liked that name so I changed it to Amanda, simply adding an �A� to it. I usually sign my name Clara A Baker.

I have understood your questions. My answers are correctly recorded in this deposition. Signed Mrs. Clara A Baker, Deponent.

Deposition A case of Mary A Bumpus

No. 367689

17 Aug. 1897

Transcribed by Marlow Bumpus 12/12/02

(Mary Amanda Bumpus married Samuel Bumpus in 1881.)

My husband was sickly and week at the time I made his acquaintance in 1881. He was always sick from the time I made his acquaintances until he died. He complained mostly of a sore throat. He had great difficulty in swallowing and breathed hard. I do not know the nature of his throat affliction but he has told me that he had the measles when he was in the army and it settled in his throat. My husband had no cough to speak of. He was always concerned about choking and had to be careful in eating to avoid choking. His voice was very week. I never heard him speak above a whisper.

Dr. L.I. Mathews of Joplin MO. treated my husband some for his disease of the throat. Dr. Roads may also have treated him. I don�t know of any others. I do not remember what the doctors said was ailing soldiers throat.

My husband was taken down sick on the 3^rd day of Aug., 1885 and died 5 days later. He was taken with a chill and a high fever followed. He was taken sick Sunday and his bowels began running off on the succeeding Tuesday. I suppose he had the cholera Morbus (?), at least he had a terrible diarrhea. During his last sickness he complained of his bowels and his throat and in fact of hurting all over. I do not think he had one chill after his fever came on it did not go down any until his bowels began to run off and after that he was not quite so hot as he had been before. Dr. Hanna of Parshley MO. treated him in his last sickness. He came to see him about 4 times. The doctor gave him some medicine to take in water. I do not know what it was. He did not put any poultice or plasters on his bowels, chest or throat.

The cholera Morbus continued up to the soldier�s death though about the last day the stools were scanty and had a white and frothy appearance. He had not been subject to diarrhea before his last sickness but on the contrary was usually mostly constipated.

He complained a great deal of his throat and held his mouth open to breath most of the time during final illness. He put his hands on his throat and seemed to be choking. He did not eat any food after being taken down but was conscious to his death.

He breathed harder after being taken down and I think his throat swelled some.

The following persons helped to take care of soldier in his last sickness.

Jim Ralston, Carthage, Jasper Co., MO.

Mrs. Ralston � � � �

Sanford Smith � � � �

Mrs. Smith � � � �

I can�t name any others. My husband was buried in the Ralston�s graveyard near Knight�s Station, Jasper Co., MO. There is no tombstone at his grave. The G. A. R. of Carthage, MO furnished the coffin.

I can not name any one who knew him from 1969 to 1881.

The following families living near Knight�s Station can testify to his health from 1881 to Soldiers death. The Ralston�s, Smith�s, Grubb�s, Martin�s, Knights� and Hollingsworth�s.

(Claimant cannot give given names)

Signed Mary A Bumpus, Deponent.

17^th day of Aug. 1897

G. F. Woodbury, Special Examiner

Deposition of Amanda Long dated Oct. 20 1893

Case of Mary Amanda Bumpus, Application for widows pension.

As transcribed by Marlow Bumpus 12/30.02

My age is 53 years, a widow and housekeeper. My PO is Humboldt Kansas.

I do not know the claimant but I did know Samuel Bumpus but not very well

Samuel Bumpus first married my sister, Nancy Catherine Lattin. She died here at Humboldt Kansas at my house seventeen years ago this last spring. Mr. Bumpus had been in MO. at work and got to my house the evening before his wife Catherine died.

My sister had two children by Samuel Bumpus and the oldest is a son and he is almost 22 years of age, I think. His name is George Bumpus. Jack Thompson, about 9 miles S.E. of here raised George and Ms. Thompson told me about first of last July that George Bumpus was somewhere in New Mexico but I did not get our of Mr. Thompson what part of New Mexico George was in.

The other child is a girl and her name is Clara Amanda and she has married a man by the name of Baker and she lives about, I think, six miles east of Humboldt. Her husbands name is Elwood Baker and he is a farmer. She is about 20 years of age, I think. I think these children have record of their ages. I cannot give the dates of their births as I do not know.

These two children are all that were born by Samuel Bumpus�s first marriage.

I understand Samuel Bumpus married again in Carthage MO. but I never saw his second wife and do not know anything about Mr. Bumpus�s death.

Samuel Bumpus never had any disease or disability that I ever heard of.

John Gabriel of Carthage MO., my nephew, could give a good deal of information about Samuel Bumpus as he knew him near Carthage MO. for quite a while.

Signed Mrs. A. P. Long

I heard my deposition read. I also understood the questions and my answers are correctly recorded.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20^th day of October 1893 and I certify that contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.

Signed A.J. Hunter, Special Examiner.

DEPOSION OF WILLIAM ANDREWS, 15 APRIL 1898

AT HUMBOLDT, ALLEN CO., KANSAS

Transcribed by Marlow Bumpus 1/5/2003

William H. Andrews, overseer of the Poor and township trustee. Age 68

I was township trustee in this city during the year 1876.

I remember Samuel Bumpus and His two children for the reason that I had charge of the children for a while during 1876. I did not know the soldiers wife but I remember that she died here either during the early part of 1876 or during the year 1875. I am not certain which. I am certain however that she died before I took the children and I had them during the fall of 1876.

The children were given to the Jack Thompson to raise during the fall of 1876 or early winter following, I think in December 1876.

I know nothing in regard to the dates of the children�s birth.

I understood the questions and my answers are correctly recorded in this deposition.

W.H. Andrews, Deponent

H.L. Elliott

Special Examiner