The National Archives
Soldier's certificate No. 4884674
Benjamin G Taylor
Pvt.
Co. G  92 Ohio Vol. Inf.
CAN no. 10495
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Declaration for Original Invalid Pension
State of Ohio
County of Athens
    On this 4th day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine personally apperaed before me Clerk of the Common Pleas Court, a court of record within and for the County and state aforesaid Benjamin G Taylor aged 42 years, a resident of the vicinity of Beebe, County of Athens, State of Ohio, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Benjamin G Taylor who was enrolled on the 15th day of August, 1862, in Company G of the 92nd Regiment of Ohio Inf. Vols. commanded by Capt F H Loring and was honorably discharged at  near Washington DC on the 10th day of June, 1865;  that his personal description is as follows; Age, 42 years[1879]; height 5 feet 7 inches; complexion, fair; hair, dark; eyes, dark.  That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at near Charleston, in the State of West VA. on or about the _____ day of October, 1862, he from fatigue and exposure on the march contracted his affliction - very much disabling him at the time.
That from the explosion of a gun cap at [can't read this name...Stormy or  Stoney - Face
or Fall] while firing his piece in the line of duty, he received a severe injury to his left
eye - very much disabling him at the time. [I have found Rocky Face Ridge May 8-11,
1864 as being one of the locations of the Ohio 92nd as part of the Atlanta(GA) Campaign]   CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO THE 92ND
That he was treated in hospitals as follows:  In Regimental Hospital at Big Springs Tenn. from about August 1st 1863 to about 1st Sept 1863 and treated by Regt Surgeon. That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above, either before Aug 15 - '62 or since June 10 - '65. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the County of Washington in the State of Ohio, and 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 fully 1/2 disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States;  and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.
    He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, A.W. McCormick, of Cincinnati O, his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim.  That he has not received nor applied for a Pension.  That his Post Offfice Address is Beebe, county of Athens, State of Ohio.
                                                          Claimant's Signature  Benjamin G Taylor
Attest:  G.W. France[a member of Benjamin's company]
             John Kinney [sp?]
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War Department, Adjutant General's Office  Washington D C June 3, 1880
Sir:  I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension
No. 278,500, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this
Office.
    It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office that Benjamin G. Taylor was enrolled on the 15th day of Aug., 1862, at Wesley O., in Co. "G" 92nd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, to serve 3 years or during the war, and mustered into service as a Private on the 7th day of Sept., 1862 at Camp Marietta, O.........On the Muster rolls of Co. "G" of that Regiment from enrollment to April 30, 1865 he is reported Present  -  He was mustered out of service with Co., as Private, June 10, 1865.  Name not borne among the absentees on the Return of the Regt. for Oct. 1862.  Company Morning Report Book for Oct 17 & 18, 1862 reports him Present, sick  - The records of this office furnish no evidence of injury to left eye or contraction of affliction as claimed. 
Assistant Adjutant General, The Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
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War Department
Surgeon General's Office
Record and Pension Division
Washington, D C, October 5, 1880 

Sir:
I have the honor to return herewith your request for a report of hospital treatment in Claim, No. 278,500, with such information as is furnished by the records filed in this Office, viz:  that Priv.B. Taylor, Co. G, 92nd Ohio Vols, was on sick report at Regt. Nov. 27, '62, with Constipation; Dec. 1, '62, (as Benj. Taylor) with Catarrhus(inflamation of the nose or air passages); Dec 10, '62 with Furunculus (a boil); Feb 13, '63 with Sprain; Feby 17, '63 with Diarrhoea; in Mch, '63 with Influenza, Diphtheria, Bruise, and Debility: June 22-23, '63 with Diarrhoea; July 9-12,'63 (as B B Taylor) with Remittent Fever; July 16-29 '63 (As Benj. G. Taylor) with Remittent Fever;  July 29-30, '63 with Debility;  Augt 5 - 10, '63 with Indigestion; Oct 14-29, '63 with Strain;  Nov
12-18, '63 and Jany 9-17, '64 with Constipation;  Mch 6-23 and Apr 10-11, '64 with Earache.
No further record of this man's treatment found.
By order of the Surgeon General:  J.J. Woodward, Surgeon, U.S. Army
To the Commissioner of Pensions.
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 Letter from Benjamin Taylor
April 11, 1884
Mr A W. Melborrnie    Dear Sir
I received your letter yesterday and also one from the department informing me that my case is rejected.  The examiner did not finish up my case, and I did not think that the papers was sent in to the Department yet. The examiner took part of my evidence on the 25 and 26 of January and promised to take the balance of the evidence on the 30th which he has failed to do.  The evidence that I wanted to take is rebutting evidence which is the most important in my case.  The examiner told me to sign up the papers and go and be examined by the Doctor that he would come and finish up my case.  He got word that my examination was sufficient and I was not examined, then he told me again that he would come on the 30th which I can prove.  There is false evidence taken in my case which I can prove.  I can get twenty witnesses that I was a sound man and free from the affliction at enlistment that worked with me .......  And I want the examiner sent back to finish up my case for I have not had justice done me yet and I want you to get me another hearing for me if you can.  Write and let me know what to do immediately.  I intend to prosecute it further if I can get it started as I honestly deserve a pension.  Yours Truly,
                                     Benjamin G. Taylor
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Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washingotn, D. C. January 15, 1889
Certificate No. 484674
Name, Benjamin G. Taylor
Sir:
In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment
please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated
below.
                       Very respectfully,  H Clay Evans, Commissioner
A.C. Rice   US Pension Agent, Columbus Ohio
First. Are you married:  If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer. Malind Shannon
Second. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer.  July 27, 1856   Herman Frost
Third.  What record of marriage exists?
Answer.  Nun [sic]
Fourth.  Were you previously married?
Answer.  No
Fifth.  Have you any children living:  If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer.  Elizabeth Taylor   Born June 8, 1857
        Carline  Born Nov 1, 1861
        John    Born July 23, 1866
        Mary   Born Aug 8, 1869
        Walter   Born Aug 7, 1872
        Ralph   Born Jan 16, 1875
        Samantha   Born  Aug 12 [?]  1878 [?]
Signature
Benjamin G Taylor
Date of reply, June 4, 189__
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General Affidavit
State of Ohio, County of Athens
In the matter of Benjamin G taylor late a Private in Co. G of the 92nd Reg't of  Ohio Vols., for Original Pension.  On this 8th day of April A.D. 1889, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Eugene Jewell aged 63 years, a resident of Beebe in the County of Athens and State of Ohio whose Postoffice address is Beebe and well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
To the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions.  I wish to make a statement in the case of Benjamin Taylor, late of Co G 92nd Regt. O.V.I.  It has been stated by some parties among whom was Wyatt Johnson who has now been dead for about three years that Taylor had his affliction some time before the War while flat boating on the Ohio River as a ban to his pension claim. Now I wish to state that Wyatt Johnson told me one time when going to Athens on the Cars[?] that he knew nothing about his having the affliction  whatever. But in his opinion it was the River complaint as good many of the boys had that.  The way it came up was this.  There had been so much said about it I heard the Government Agent was coming down to investigate the matter and he being supposed to __?__ as he was on the boat at the time.  I thought I would ask him about it.  His answer was --_?_ need not come to his house for he did not know anything about it but the Boys said it acted like it.  But he thought it was River complaint .  He told me this in presence of G. W. France one of Taylor's own company who heard him say it.  Now I say
I have not the least interest in this claim whatever only to see long delayed justice done an
Old Broken Down Soldier, one that should have had his pension years ago.
I further declare that  I have no interest in said case and am not concerned in its prosecution.
                                                                                    Eugene W. Jewell

 [George W. France was in the 92nd OVI company G]
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General Affidavit
State of Ohio, County of Athens
    In the matter of Benjamin G. Taylor late a [Private] in Co "G" of the 92nd Reg't. of Ohio Vols., for original Pension.  On this 8th day of april A.D., 1889, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Walter Kidwell aged 52 years, a resident of Beebe in the county of Athens and State of Ohio whose Postoffice address is Beebe and well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
In the matter of the Pension Claimant Benjamin Taylor Co. G, 92nd Regt OVI
W. Johnson told me in conversation a few years ago that he did not know whether B.G. Taylor had the affliction. Not he said when he went down the River with him on a flat Boat in the Spring of 1861 that he had the diarrhea caused by drinking river water.  He said the boys would devil him about having the affliction.  I further declare that I have no interest in said case and am not concerned in its prosecution.
W. Kidwell.  [Walter Kidwell had the property next to the Taylor property in
Decatur Township, Washington Co., OH on 1875 map]
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General Affidavit
State of Ohio, County of Athens
In the matter of Benjamin G. Taylor late a [Private] in Co "G" of the 92nd Reg't. of Ohio Vols., for Original Pension.  On this 5th day of April A.D., 1889, personally appeared before me, Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Frank B Patten aged __ years, a resident of Stewart in the County of Athens and State of Ohio whose Postoffice address is Stewart and well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
In the pension Claim of Benjamin Taylor of Co G 92nd O.V.I. the evidence that I gave before
Col Green Special Agent & Examiner, I did not state positively that I knew claimant had the affliction before he went into the service.  In the Spring of 1861 I went with claimant down the Ohio River as far as then Richmond Ohio on a flat-Boat.  Near[?] the town of Ripley Ohio claimant drank very freely of Wahoo Bitters [that is what the words look like!!] and it physiced him pretty badly and he complained of having the diarrhea badly the rest of the voyage and he came home from then Richmond.  The rest of the crew going to Cincinnati Ohio was talk of claimant having the affliction at that time.  If he had, I have no positive knowledge of it. I further declare that I have no interest in said case and am not concerned in its prosecution.
                        F. B. Patten
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Declaration for Pension     Act of May 11, 1912
State of Ohio, County of Athens
On this 27th day of May A.D. one thousand nine hundred and twelve, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, Benjamin G Taylor who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 76 years of age, and a resident of Beebe, Ohio, County of Washington, State of Ohio; and that he is the identical person who was enrolled at Cutler Ohio, under the name of  Benjamin G. Taylor, on the 15th day of August, 1862, as a Private, in Company G, 92nd Regt. OVI in the service of the United States, in the Civil War, and was Honorably discharged at Columbus Ohio on the 19th day of June, 1865. That he was not employed in the military or naval service of the United States otherwise than as stated above.  That his personal description at enlistment was as follows:  Height, 5 feet 6 inches; complexion Dark; color of eyes, Dark;  color of hair, Black; that his occupation was farming; that he was born on Oct 4th[?], 1805, at West Moorland Co PA
( This would be Westmoreland Co. PA)
That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows:  2 have always lived in Washington Co. Ohio since close of Civil War.
That he is a pensioner under certificate No. 484,674.  That he has not applied for pension under original No. 484,674.
That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of May 11, 1912.
That his post-office address is Beebe, County of Athens, State of Ohio.
Attest: Thomas Featherston, Almiso Featherston
Benjamin G  X his mark  Taylor   27th day of May, A.D. 1912
                                                          John Featherston, Notary Public
[This one was stamped "Validity accepted" and May 28, 1912]
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Application for Reimbursement  [summary]
26 Dec 1917
Personaly appeared Ralph Taylor[Ben's son], aged 44, resident of Beebe, County of Washington, OH.
Declaration to obtain reimbursement from pension for expenses paid in the last sickness and burial of Benjamin G. Taylor.  Pension was last paid to June 4, 1917.
Benjamin Taylor was married only once to Malinda  Shannon who had already died on
Nov 20, 1912.   The pensioner had  no children under age 16.  Mattie Vernon[Benjamin's daughter] of Broadwell, Ohio took care of Benjamin in her home. Benjamin was buried at Mt. Liberty Cemetery in Washington County.
Expenses to be paid: Dr. Howard...$41....Mattie Vernon $16....J.C. Snedeker, undertaker...
$92.....
Ralph Taylor signed with his mark....resident of Beebe, Athens County, Ohio.
S.A. Merrell and Lizzie French, neighbors both of Cutler, Ohio,  testified to Ralph Taylor's mark
and that the pensioner died June  30, 1917, that he had money and  real estate, that they knew
him for 30 years. This part of the form was signed by Alvin J. French, Notary Public. 

Statement of the attending Physicians.
Date of death June 30, 1917.  Date of commencement of pensioner's last sickness Sept 29, 1916. The pensioner required constant care long before that date.  The pensioner died from a general decline due to old age. The persons who cared for him were Mr. and Mrs. Lon Vernon. Benjamin was physically and mentally unable to care for himself.  Money was owed to the doctor, J.M. Howard, M.D. of Amesville Ohio.
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Department of the Interior     Bureau of Pensions
Benjamin G. Taylor, who was last paid at $30., to 4 June, 1917 was dropped from the roll because of his death June 30, 1917.  It was written on this paper that A.J. French was his guardian.