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Joseph H. Keepers[1]
Rank: Private, Company I, 5th Regiment,
Texas Cavalry
Born/died: May 15, 1843 – May
16, 1921
Cause of death:
Residence at death:
Served: October 19, 1861 –
for the duration of the war
Age at enlistment: 18
Remarks:
Joseph enrolled in the
Confederate Army, at San Antonio, Texas, on October 19,1861. His card shows the
value of his horse, $70, and his equipment, $20. His brother James W. Keepers enrolled in the same company at the
same time.
Joseph was married twice. The
first in 1863 to Rosella Shoults; they had two girls and Rosella died in
1867. His second marriage, in 1868 to
Mary A. Stewart produced six more children.
Mary applied for a widow’s pension on May 19, 1931. Affidavits supporting her claim were given
by L. H. Reuser, M. M. Williams and lawyer, Thomas B. Smiley, the county judge
for Karnes County.
A 1930 letter[2] from the war department to Texas congressman, John N. Garner, states that Joseph enlisted “October 11, 1861, at Lagrange, Texas, and was mustered into service October 19, 1861, at San Antonio, Texas, as a private of Company I, 5th Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army. He is accounted for on the rolls as follows: October 19 to December 31, 1861, presence or absence not stated; December 31, 1861 to April 30, 1862, left at Fort Thorn, sick, February 10, 1862; May and June, 1862, present; June 30 to October 31, 1862, presence or absence not stated; November 1, 1862 to January 1864, the latest on file, sick on furlough.” No capture, parole or later record was found. He may have been promoted to Sergeant near the end of the war.
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