Catherine Masters

Catherine married Benjamin Franklin Shew on 19 Oct 1840. Benjamin was born on 22 Jun 1813 in Ohio; died on 02 Jun 1878 in Albion, Noble County, Indiana; was buried in Jun 1878 in Orange Township, Noble County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~thompsongenealogy/p1.htm#i70

Deposition:
Deposition of Almira L. Thompson 29 August, 1892, Vancouver, Washington in the matter of Application for Widows Pension Special Examiner of Pension Office - F. C. Sharp

My age is 46, a housekeeper by occupation. I reside about three miles northeast of Vancouver Washington, my PO Address. I am the identical Almira L. Thompson who is an applicant for pension as the widow of Lewis Y. Thompson under the general law. I have not filed any claim under the Act of June 27, 1890. My husband served in Co. D, 44th Indiana Infantry and he was never in any other service, military or naval to my knowledge.

I was married to Lewis Y. Thompson under the name Almira L. Shew at my father's house near Albion Indiana Oct 26, 1865 by the Rev. M. W. Cook. Neither of us were ever married before. We had born unto us twelve children:

Lottie O. Thompson born Dec. 26, 1866
Savilla M. born May 25, 1869
Sterley F. born Sep. 18, 1871
Orlan M. bornJuly 18, 1873
Benjamin L. born Sep. 9, 1876
Silas L. (twin) born Sep. 9, 1876 Dead
Alonzo A. born Mar. 2, 1879
Florence J. born Feb. 14, 1881
Dudley L. born Jan. 2, 1883
Clarence B. born Feb. 24, 1885
Tivus G. born Mar. 23, 1887 Dead
Charley E. born Aug. 11, 1889

I give the dates from memory which I recollect perfectly well. I had a family Bible record showing the dates of deaths and births, but that was burned in Missouri in April 1885 when our house burned. All my children are at home and have been provided for by me since my husband died April 2, 1889. I did not include the named Orlan M. Thompson, child born July 18, 1873 because in my declaration for pension because he was so nearly sixteen years of age that I did not think of it at the time and since then the time was so short I thought I would let it go.

Dr. Gard? of Wauweca Ind. attended me when Orlan M. was born and Mrs. Hade was present. Also Margaret Cook of the same place who is dead.

Dr. J. L. Shipley of Ravanna MO was my physician when Benjamin L. and Silas L. (twins) was born and Anna Masters of this place and Lizzie Bennett, Woodlawn Wash was present.

Mrs Chloe A. Anderson of Ravanna MO was midwife when Alonzo A. was born. Mother Thompson of this plae and Mrs Nancy Covsius? of Ravanna MO were present.

Mother Thompson waited on me when Florence J. was born and Nancy Covsius? of Ravanna MO was present.

Dr. J. L. Shipley of Ravanna MO attended me when Dudley L. was born. Mother Thompson and Fannie Thompson both of this place were present.

Dr. J. E. Calloway of Ravanna MO attended me when Clarence B. was born and Mother Thompson and Ella Edison of Ravanna MO were present.

Hannah Gilmore, midwife of this place attended me when Charley E. was born. Mother Thompson and Anna Masters were present.

I first met my husband before the War. We were school children together. We lived near together at the time he went in the Army and he was a strong healthy young man. Never had any sickness except the ague, or physical defects to my knowledge before his going in the Army. We became engaged when he came home on furlough in January 1864.

Q - What was the soldiers health when home on furlough in January 1864?
A - His health was not good and his furlough was extended and I think he was home some sixty days. He had some fever and came very near to dying. I saw him and sat up with him a good many nights. Dr. Lemon? was his physician and think he lives in Albion Ind. now. I have forgotten what the doctor called the diarrhea from at that time.

My husband's health was poor when he returned from the Army and he was not strong when we were married. He complained of his side - left side - and stomach. Following the pains and cramps of his side and stomach came an attack of diarrhea. He had these attacks as often as every six weeks and every time the diarrhea would follow. The following summer after our marriage he had a very bad spell resulting from an attack of pain and cramps and he was so laid up for several weeks I went to Dr. Lemon? and procurred medicine for him.

We were living on a farm close to my fathers near Albion, Noble Co. Ind. We lived there until March 1867. Our neighbors were Seth Thompson now in Neb. Thos Black in Kan.[these two are crossed out ED.] James Thompson, Albion, Ind. Dr. Joseph Eby, Albion, Ind. - Poppy [sic] dead - Wm. McKee now of Kendallville, Ind. Jno Johnson in MO. Robt Chambers, Albion, Ind. Henry Balwer? Albion, Ind. Others are dead and now away.

By the advice of Dr. Lemon and Dr. Clark we moved to Minnesota for my husband's health and settled at the Winnebago Indian Agency, Blue Earth County and only staid there until June 1867 when we moved to Ravanna, Mercer Co. MO and went on a farm. Our neighbors were: Mr. - Dodson, Sam Miles, Mat U?, Joseph McMurray, Jno Wilcox, Lewis Rouse, Ben Reeves and his brother Bill. We were farming about three miles east of Ravanna. While there my husband was treated by Dr. Jas. Barbour for the same pains in his left side and cramps of stomach and resulting diarrhea.

At the end of three years my health became poor so we moved back to Albion Ind. to the same old farm and lived there six years. Our neighbors were the same as when we first lived there as we lived in the same house. Dr. Gard had my husband under his care. Also Dr. Lelock? who still lives in Albion. Dr. Gard lives at Wauweca Ind.

We moved back to Ravanna MO in December 1875 and went on to the old farm. My husband superintended a brickyard when able. We sold the farm because husband was not able to clear the land and it was mortgaged. We lived there for ? eight years and had the same neighbors. Dr. Jno L. Shipley and Dr. J. E. Calloway was my husband's and family physician while we lived there. My husband was troubled the same only the attacks were more severe and oftener. H? piles when we first lived in MO and they troubled him from that time to his death.

In 1883 we moved to a place about 1/4 of a mile from the old place and resided there until the summer or fall of 1885. My husband was still superintending the brickyard.

In fall of 1885 we moved to Howard City, Elk County, Kan. and lived about seven miles north of town on a ranch. We lived in Peter Hughes house and he boarded with us. My husband was not able to do any thing that winter or the following spring. My two oldest children worked out and helped support us. The trouble was the same complaints and rhumatism settled in his hips and legs. Dr. Lewis of Howard City came to see him once. I don't know where Peter Hughes is but probably he is still there as he owned a large farm.

In the spring on 1886 we moved east of the Hughes place about seven miles and went on a ranch rented of a man named Dyer - dead. My husband was not able to work and I and my two oldest children tried to farm it. We remained there until February 1887 when we moved to Loyal, Garfield Co., Kan.

My husband was elected sheriff that fall and could get about very well by riding. He resigned to come out here and we arrived here in Oct. 1888. He went to Dr. M? several times for medicine at Loyal. After arriving here we settled about six miles from Vancouver on what is called Fourth Plain. We lived on George Newton's place until my husband died April 2, 1889. He had no physician here until Dr. Smith [J. Randolph Smith. ED] was called during his fatal illness. My husband took sick on a Wednesday night and I sent for Dr. Smith the following morning and he visited him every day I think until he died which was the last day when Dr. Smith said there was no use in coming.

Q - What did Dr. Smith call the your husband's disease?
A - In the first place he called it pneumonia and treated him for that disease for over a week as I understood. Then he said to me that there was something singular about my husband's case and in talking about it to my husband he told the doctor about the old trouble with his side. Thus after examination of my husband he (Dr.) told me that his condition explained what the trouble was. Afterwards he said to me that he did not understand how my husband had lived as long as he had. During the last sickness my husband had a cough - a sort of hack and he raised a bad looking matter in considerable quantities. No sir, he had no cough of that sort to raised any thing of that nature prior to the last sickness. No sir, my husband had no bronchial trouble that I know of. He never complained of his throat or lungs. The trouble was in his side near his heart. All the Doctors said that.

Q - Did the Doctors ever call your husband's side trouble pleurisy?
A - Not that I remember. I don't recall their giving the complaint or disease? any name. They always spoke of it as the trouble between his heart and lungs. No sir, there was no examination made after the death. One of the post Surgeons of Fort Vancouver (name unknown) came out with Dr. Smith to see my husband once a couple of days before he died. I was not in that noon, but that Surg. told mother Thompson that there was no hope for my husband.

Q - What sickness did you ever hear of your late husband incurring in the Army?
A - He had the measels and before he recovered he was sent to his regiment, took a cold there and then had the sever pains in his left side ever afterwards. Wm Opie was my husbands bunkmate in Service most of the time. I have not had any correspondence with comrades as to my husband's condition in service since he died. Wm Opie visited us in Ind. after we were married and I have remained a widow since my husband died.

I don't care to be present during any further examination of my claim. I have understood my rights and have heard the deposition read and am correctly recorded. Deponent.

Obituary:
Mrs. Thompson is Dead After Short Illness

Mrs. Almira Thompson died yesterday at her home at Thirtieth and U Street
following a short illness. She was 70 years of age, and had been a resident
of Vancouver for eight years.

She is survived by the following children, Mrs. A.J. Taylor of Image (Clark
Co., WA), Mrs. F.E. Fuller of Portland (OR), Frank Thompson of Montesano
(WA), Orin Thompson and Ben Thompson both of Vancouver, Dudley of Yakima,
Washington, Clarence E. of Portland (OR).

The funeral services will be held from the United Brethren church tomorrow
at 2 o'clock. Interment in Fourth Plain cemetery. On 23 August 1919.

Almira married L.Y. Thompson [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary:
Thompson Fannie, 78, died last Sunday at a hospital in Portland, Ore. following a major operation. Widow of the late Adolphus Thompson, she was born and grew to womanhood near Albion, the family moving to the west more than 40 years ago. Besides a daughter in Portland, Ore., and a brother William Shew of Albion, she is survived by a brother, G. M. Shew of Kendallville. + 3-?-1929.

Francis married A.V. Thompson [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Malissa Niles on 27 Jun 1872. Malissa (daughter of H. Niles and S. Simmons) was born in 1852 in Indiana; died on 17 Dec 1880 in Albion, Noble County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Almeda Deeter on 24 Nov 1891. Almeda (daughter of M. Deeter and L. Hart) was born in 1859; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married L.A. Murphey [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Mary M Frazure on 31 Oct 1878. Mary (daughter of John H Frazure and M. Schaff) was born in 1859 in Pennsylvania; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: E. Hoover. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Emma A Frazer on 25 May 1884. Emma (daughter of John H Frazure and M. Schaff) was born on 05 Apr 1863; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married R. Cleland [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clarence married Dora Piper on 10 Nov 1874. Dora was born in 1876; died in 1945 in Albion, Noble County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clarence married G. Gunder [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bertha married C.F. Bowman [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]