Columbus Barton
CSA Pension Application

Columbus Barton applied for pension June 1st 1914 from Big Springs, Howard County.

His pension was allowed from Sept 1st 1914.

Transcriber's NOTE 1: THERE ARE TWO APPLICATIONS IN THE FILE, ONE DATED 15 MAY 1909, THE SECOND, TRANSCRIBED BELOW, IS DATED 27 JUNE 1914. SINCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONS OF THE TWO APPLICATIONS, ONLY THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS TRANSCRIBED.

NOTE 2: A series of letters from Columbus Barton to authorities in Austin and their replies were part of the pension file. Those letters were transcribed as written and follow the legal pension application paperwork.

Transcription of application follows:

Form A
For Use of Soldiers, Who are in Indigent Circumstances

The State of Texas, County of Howard

I, Columbus Barton, do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension to be granted me under the Act passed by the thirty-first Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved April 7, 1913, on the following grounds:

I enlisted and served in the military services of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that I did not desert the Confederate services, but during said war I was loyal and true to my duty, and never at any time voluntarily abandoned my post of duty in the said service; That I was honorably discharged or surrendered I was discharged at Corpus Christi, Texas June 1865. We got notice that the war had ended and that we could go home, which information came through our Colonel.

That I have been a bona fide citizen of this State since prior to Jan 1, A.D. 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not hold any national, State, city or county office which pays me a salary or fees one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor have I an income from any other employment or other source whatever, which amounts to one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does any one hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does any one hold in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and that I am not an inmate of the Confederate Home, and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true:

1. What is your age? 70 years old June 6th 1914

2. Where were you born? Greenville District, South Carolina.

3. How long have you resided in Texas? Since 1855

4. In what county do you reside? Howard County, Texas

5. How long have you resided in said county and what is your postoffice address? I have been in Howard County four years and more, will be five years in December 1914. My P.O. Box is Big Springs, Texas, Larnes A Route Box 30

6. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension law and been rejected? No

7. What is your occuption, if able to engage in one? Farmer What is your physical condition? fair

8. In what State was the command in which you served organized? Texas

9. How long did you serve? Give, if possible, the date of enlistment and discharge. About 4 years, 1861 to 1865

10. What was the letter of your company, number or name of battalion, regiment or battery? Company G Allens Regiment

11. If transferred from one command to another, give time of transfer, name of command and time of service. was not transferred

12. What branch of the service did you enlist in--infantry, cavalry, artillery or navy? Infantry

13. If commissioned direct by the President, what was your rank and line of duty? was not commissioned

14. If detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, what was the nature of your service and how long did you serve? was not detailed for special service

15. What is the assessed value of your home, if you own a home? Have none

16. What is the assessed value of your other property? $100

17. Have you transverred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? No

Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law.

Signed: Columbus Barton

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 27th day of June, A.D. 1914
Signed: S.A. Penix, County Judge, Howard County, Texas

Affidavit of Witnesses [Note--There must be at least two credible witnesses.]
The State of Texas, County of Howard

Before me, S.A. Penix, County Judge of Howard County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared, J.W. Franklin and J.F. McGee, who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath state that they personally know Columbus Barton, the above named applicant for a pension, and that they personally know that the said Columbus Barton has been a bona fide resident citizen of the State of Texas since prior to January 1, A.D. 1900, and that they have no interest in this claim.

Signature of Witness: J. W. Franklin
Signature of Witness: J. F. McGee

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 27th day of June, A.D. 1914
Signed: S.A. Penix, County Judge, Howard County, Texas

Certificate of the State and County Assessor

I, Anderson Bailey, State and County Assessor in the County of Howard, State of Texas, do certify that Columbus Barton or his wife, or his trustee, or trustee for his wife, whose name is signed to the foregoing application for a pension, under the Act of the Thirty-third Legislature, approved April 7, A.D. 1913, is charged on the tax rolls of said county with a homestead of the value of nothing and of other property real or personal , or both of the value of nothing dollars.

Given under my hand, this 27 day of June, A.D. 1914
Signed: Anderson Bailey, State and County Assessor

WAR DEPARTMENT, The Adjutant General's Office
Washington, July 5, 1911

Respectfully returned to the
Commissioner of Pensions
State of Texas, Austin

The records show that Columbus Barton, private, Company G, 17th Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted May 24, 1862. On the company roll dated February 29, 1864, last on file, he is reported "absent sick at Shreveport Hospital." No later record of him has been found.

[the following is a composite of forms that ask questions and other forms that provide the answers. ]

Deposition in Pension Claims
Ex Parte
Columbus Barton
Applicant for Confederate Pension

Answers and depositions of M.D. L. DAVIS and E. B. MORGAN in the interrogations and cross interrogatories propounded to them in the above entitled cause

1. What is your name? Age? Present place of residence and postoffice address?
M.D.L. DAVIS: -- 72 years old. --Coleman County TX
E.B. MORGAN: --my age is 71 years. --present place of residence Tow Texas, Llano County (2) years

2. Do you personally know, or did you at any time know Columbus Barton, who is an applicant for pension under Act of March 26, 1909?
M.D.L. DAVIS: I knew Columbus Barton
E. B. MORGAN: not answered

3. How long have you known the said Columbus Barton applicant for pension and when and where did you first know him?
M.D.L. DAVIS: I have known Columbus Barton since 1858
E. B. MORGAN: Since the year 1856. He was living with his Father in Burnet County Texas in 1856.

4. Do you personally know that the said Columbus Barton applicant for pension enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, and performed the duties of a soldier?
M.D.L. DAVIS: I do.
E. B. MORGAN: Yes, he inlisted in 1862 in Col. Allens Regiment, Company G.

5. Do you personally know in what company and regiment the said Columbus Barton applicant, enlisted and served in the Confederate Army? When? Where? And the time of service?
M.D.L. DAVIS: He enlisted in Co. G, 17 Tx Infantry Allens Reg. He enlisted in Burnet Co. Tx I think in 1862. I went in the service same time. He served until close of war. I knew him intimately in the army.
E. B. MORGAN: Company G in 1862 in Travis County Texas. He served until the close of the war. He entered the service in 1862 and served in Texas, Arkansas and Lousiana from 1862 until 1865.

6. Do you personally know that Columbus Barton was commissioned as an officer directly by the President of the President of the Confederate States? What was his rank and line of duty?
M.D.L. DAVIS: He was just a private
E. B. MORGAN: He was not commissioned by the president of the confederacy. His rank was a private soldier. His line of duty was to obet the command of his supperiors.

7. Do you further know if Columbus Barton was, under the provisions of the conscript law, detailed for any kind of special service in the field, shops, armories, etc., of the Confederacy? What was the nature of his service, and how long did he serve?
M.D.L. DAVIS: not answered
E. B. MORGAN: not answered

Cross Interrogatories.

1. If, in answer to the foregoing direct interrogatories, you have stated that you personally know or did know said applicant, and that you know that he enlisted in the service of the Confederacy and performed the duties of a soldier or sailor, and having named the company and regiment , or special service in which applicant so enlisted and served, then please state fully what is your source of such knowledge? And state whether or not you know or at any time you knew of any other soldier by the name of Columbus Barton serving in the same company or regiment or special service in which you say the said applicant Columbus Barton enlisted. If you have stated that said Columbus Barton enlisted and served in the navy of the Confederacy, then state whether or not you know any other soldier or sailor of the same same name as said Columbus Barton applicant serving in the same command, or the special service to which he was assigned?

M.D.L. DAVIS: I knew him before he went in the Army. I knew him in the Army. I was in same regiment with him and saw him frequently--often. I never knew any other Columbus Barton.
E. B. MORGAN: I was with him from the time he entered the servis untill he was discharged. I never knew any other man by the name of Columbus Barton.

If you say that you so know other soldiers of the same name of Columbus Barton then can you and how do you identify and locate the one from the other or others?

2. Are you positively certain that said Columbus Barton applicant for pension, is the identical person serving as testified by you?

M.D.L. DAVIS: Yes I am certain
E. B. MORGAN: I am positively certain that he is the identical person.

3. Do you know whether or not the said Columbus Barton served honorably from the date of his enlistment until the close of the late Civil War between the States, or until he was discharged from said company and regiment, or the special service to which he had been assigned?

M.D.L. DAVIS: He did.
E. B. MORGAN: He served honorably and was honorably discharged.

4. Do you know whether or not the said Columbus Barton applicant for pension, deserted his command, or voluntarily abandoned his post of duty or service during said war?

M.D.L. DAVIS: He never deserted his command--was a good soldier.
E. B. MORGAN: He did not at any time desert his command or post of duty, nor the service during the war.

SIGNED: M.D.L. DAVIS, witness
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 4 day of May 1911
Signed: T.J. White County Judge, Coleman County Tx

SIGNED: E.B. Morgan, Apr 8, 1911, in Llano County, Texas

LETTER FROM M.H. MORRISON, County Judge, Howard County
Big Springs, Texas, June 27, 1911

to

Hon. R.A. Buford
Comm of Pensions
Austin, Texas

Dear Sir:

I am handing you papers in re: application of Columbus Barton for pension.,

Yours truly,
M.H. Morrison
Co Judge

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton
Howard Co. Tx
Big Springs Texas
6th 4th 1914

TO: Geo. W. Kyser, Austin Texas
The Texas Pension Commission

I, C. Barton made application for pension March 26th 1909. as for I enclose statio. have wrote them several times no ans. hopping you can get the matter straighten out for me.

Yours very truly
C. Barton

p.s. I am very anxious about this matter. should any thing else be required of me let me know at once. C.Barton
Big Springs Texas
Howard County

LETTER FROM: Office of Commissioner of Pensions
State of Texas, Austin
Geo. W. Kyser, Commissioner

to

Mr. Columbus Barton
Big Springs Texas
June 6th, 1914

Dear Comrade

I have examined your application and find the proof as to your service in the army good--but in your application you did not prove your citizenship--neither did you send in the assessment of your property--I send you a blank--under the law as it now is; which you will take to your Co. Judge and have filled out as the law requires and return for my approval--I have the proof of your service here--but be sure to fill out the application in every particular except as to service--

Yours truly
George Kyser
Commr of Pensions

Big Springs, Texas
June 27th, 1914

to

Mr. Geo. W. Kyser, Commissioner of Pensions, Austin Texas

Dear sir:

I am herewith handing you application of Columbus Barton of Big Springs for Confederate Pension together with affidavits which were not on former application sent to your department. I am attaching your letter to him which show you already have the proof and evidence ects heretofore sent in the matter.

Please consider his application and let him hear from you, as he is anxious to get it through as he needs it.

Yours very truly,

S.A. Penix
County Judge Howard County, Texas

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton
Lone Grove, Llano Co. Texas
[date obscured by Received stamp]

Received in the governor's office Apr 5, '16

to the Governor's Office

Govner ____[name obscured by Received stamp]

Dear Sir & friend I hoap. I am & old Texan & old confederate Solder & not able to work & have bin drawing a penson until the last six month. I sint up my pension blank a bout six month a go & I have not heard from them yet & I rote mr Jones a bout a month a go & have not heard from him yet. I was in the War 4 years & like mos of the old solders not able to work and the good people voted a tax on themselves to pay the old solders a pension & am as much intitled to it as any of them & I have bin on the frontear of Texas evry since 1855 & if you can help I would appreciate it. I am a Brother of old Dr. Barton that lives at Slado Bel Co & Dr Bob Barton at Temple is my nephew & if you can help me I would be very thankful.

Columbus Barton

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton
Jayton, Texas
undated

to

Mr. J. C. Jones
Comisioner of pensions

Dear Sir & a freind I hoap.

I am & old Confedredt Soldier & bin geting my pension up to too year go wen I was at lonegrove lano co. You sent me my las papers. I had my papers sind up and sent them back to Austin the next day & never have heard from them since & I am & old Confederate & I am in title to a pesion & I need it for I am geting old and not able to work & am like a good many old Texans I have help make the fronteer wat it is to day & I serve in the Confedr army 4 years & I am entitle to my penson & I want it. I hoop to hear from you soon.

Columbus Barton
Jayton Kent Co Texas

[stamped on bottom of handwritten letter: RETURNED FOR FILE NUMBER AND ORIGINAL COUNTY]

LETTER FROM: Governor's Office, Austin Texas
James E. Fergtuson, Governor
John L. Wroe, Secretary to the Governor
J. H. Davis, Jr., Assistant Secretary

April 5th, 1916

to

Mr. Columbus Barton
Lone Grove, Texas

Dear Sir:

I am directed by the Governor to take up the matter about which you write with Col. Jones, Pension Commissioner, which I am doing to-day. Doubtless you will hear from the Commissioner by return mail.

Extending the Governor's best wishes, I beg to remain,

Sincerely yhours,

Jno S. Wroe
Secretary to the Governor

cc
Col. J.C. Jones, Capitol

LETTER FROM: J.C. Jones, Commissioner

4/6/1916

to:

Mr. Columbus Barton
Lone Grove, Texas

Dear Sir:

Your letter to the Governor has been referred to this department and I beg to state that we have investigated the matter, and find that your warrant for the Quarter ending Nov. 30, 1915, was mailed to you at Big Springs, Texas, and that same was returned to the State Comptroller as "unclaimed", hence no warrant was mailed to you for the quarter ending Feby. 29, 1916.

Will suggest that you write the State Comptroller, and request that any warrant that has been returned by the Post Master, be mailed to you, AND BE SURE AND GIVE YOUR ADDRESS, this you no doubt failed to give on your affidavit, which was mailed on Oct. 15, 1916.

Yours truly,
J.C. Jones, Commissioner

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton
Jayton Texas
August 28, 1918

to

Govner Hobby

Sir & friend I hope.

I am & old Texan & lived in Texas since 1855 & was on the fronteer as long as ther was any fronteer & my [years?] of hard ships to make Te[x]as wat is at this time & I am also & old Confedert Solder & am intitle to a penson & had bin drawing a penson up to April 15, 1916 & had had it fixt up by ofiser & sent it back by return mail & have never heard frm it since. I belong to the Seventeen Te[x]as Regment. Allen was my frst colernl. Wash Jones was my second colernl& colern miller was my third cornel. I was at lone Grove Llanco the paper I got & I had thim up that veary eavnig. I got them & they win back to Austin the nexd day I have never hoard of them since. I wish you wold have this look in to for am in title to a penson for I am not able to work & the good [several words unidentifiable] to help our solder & I sure need my part of it. I hop to har from you soon

Yurs as ever
Columbus Barton, Jayton PO Kent Co Texas

LETTER FROM: Governor's Office
W.P. Hobby, Governor
John D. McCall, Secretary to the governor
S. Raymond Brooks, Assistant Secretary

September 4th 1918

to

Mr. Columbus Barton, Jayton, Texas

Dear Mr. Barton:

This will acknowledge your letter of August 28th concerning a pension which is being transmitted to the Honorable J.C. Jones, Commissioner of Pensions, who is in a position to supply you with all available information along this line.

Yours sincerely,
Governor

cc/J.C. Jones

handwritten notes on letter:
Look this up--April 1916-to date
No warrant issued since Apr 1916

LETTER FROM: J.C. Jones, Commissioner of Pensions

October 2, 1918

to

Mr. Columbus Barton, Dayton, Texas

Dear Sir:

I am in receipt of a letter from you addressed to the Governor and referred to me for reply.

Please state why you have waited so long before notifying this department that you did not receive your pension since April 1916. Have you been out of this state orf have you been dropped from the roll for any reason. On receipt of an explanation from you I will be pleased to look into this matter further.

Yours truly
J.C. Jones, Commissioner of Pensions

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton, Jayton
Oct 13, 1918

to

Govner Hobby

I rote Jones a munt ago & I have not got any ansur from him a bout my penson & I don't think he intens to rite me & by his cearlesnes I have bin knoct out of my pension too years & I am as much intitle to a pension as any old Confederet for I surve 4 years & I am 75 years old & not able to work & have not a thing to bring me & my wife in anything & if I did not no I was in title to a pension I woul not clame it the last penson I got was too years a I was at Lone grove Lano Co at that & J C Jones sent me the penson papers to make out & the same eavneng I got them I went to a note republic & mailed them that eavning & the very next I got some more papers to fil out & I new that I was not due any more papers until the next quater & I have got them yet & Jones got my pension in a tangel once before & had to rite to Govner Furgeson before I ever got them & I never did vote for him eather hoping to hear from you soon & I wil send the papers to yo[u] that wasent due me. & I never got my papers to fil out til the 15 of that quater but that wasent my fault afar got them out of the office & had them mad[e] out the same day I receved them & mald them back to Austin the same day & I don't think I ort to be cut out of my penson dust becaus I did not git my papers before the 15 when it was not my fault.

COLUMBUS BARTON

LETTER FROM: Governor's Office
W. P. Hobby, Governor
John D. McCall, Secretary to the Governor

November 19th 1918

to

Mr. Columbus Barton, Jayton, Texas

Dear Mr. Barton:

I am referring your letter of october 13th concerning the pension due you to Honorable J.C. Jones, Commissioner of Pensions, for attention.

Yours sincerely
W.P. Hobby [signature stamp]
Governor

LETTER FROM: Commissioner of Pensions

Nov. 20th, 1918

to

Mr. Columbus Barton, Jayton, Texas

Dear Sir:--Your letter of recent date addressed to the Governor has been referred to this Department for attention, as all pension matters are. In reply to your letter beg to say that this is the second letter that has been referred by Gov Hobby to this Department and a previous one, by Gov Ferguson, in each case my Clerk has replied to you promptly, and each instance has asked that you furnish this Department with some reasonable information as to why you failed to receive your pension and why you had failed to send in your quarterly Affidavits?. This Department has to handle something over 17000 pension affidavits quarterly and it is a matter of impossibility to give each claim a voluminious amount of correspondence and if a pensioner fails to receive his warrant it is not the fault of the department, but nine times out of ten it is because the pensioner fails to follow the rules and regulations as laid down in the pension law. Under date of Oct. 2nd, 1918, you have my letter as follows, "Please state why you have waited so long before notifying this Department that you did not receive your pension since april 1916. Have you been out of the State or have you been dropped from the rolls for any reason. Upon receipt of an explanation from you I will be pleased to look into this matter further." You ignored this letter entirely [transcriber note: letter quoted above was sent to Dayton instead of Jayton] and until you give me more information as to why you have not received your warrants or why you have failed to send in your Affidavits, it will be impossible for me to proceed further in the investigation of your claim. I am perfectly willing to do all that I can to see that you get justice, but you will have to assist me as above stated. This is an old claim and there is a lot of work attached in the way of looking up old files and affidavits. Let me hear fully and at an early date.

Your very truly,
Commissioner of Pensions

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton, Jayton Tex
November 24, 1918

to:

Mr. J.C. Jones, [Commissioner of Pensions]

Just recived your letter. Wil say I rote you a leter a bout a month ago & did not get any ansur & that was the reason I rote to Govner Hobby. It seems from yours just received you rote me Oct 2. I have not recived a word from you until I got at this one now. I wil say to you too years a go last Aprel I was at Lone Grove Lano County & you sent me a pension blank to fil out & I got it out of the PO & just walked a craus the streets to a juses ofice he fild it out & his brother witnest it & I went that same eavning & mailed it & I never have heard from it since & in too or three weaks after that I went to Blfton & told the postmaster if any mail came there for me to forded it to Blufton. I wated for some time & I went back there & they said that there bin no mail come there from Austin & think that it was a bout the 12 or 13 when I got those blanks & when I did not get any check maby they did not get back to Austin by the 15 but I new it wasnt my fault & I went out to Mexico that faul on a visit and got sick. Got back hear the 16 day of august 1918 and I thaught I would try and get my pension for I am 75 years old and not able to work & I dont no what other proof you want if you want any more proof I wil be glad you wil let me no how to get it for I no I am intitle to it for I served 4 years in the Confedret Army. I hoap to hear from you soon.

Yours as ever
Columbus Barton
Jayton PO Kint Co Tex

LETTER FROM: Commissioner of Pensions

November 30th, 1918

to

Mr. Columbus Barton
Jayton, Texas

Dear Mr. Barton:--Replying to your letter of the 24th inst, you are advised to go before a Notary and state under oath the date you left and the date you returned to Texas, the reason of your delay and that while absent you at no time ever considered any other state your residence. Upon receipt of this Affidavit I will re-instate your name on the pension rolls.

Yours very truly,
Commissioner of Pensions

THE STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF KENT

Before me the undersigned authority on this day personally appeared before me Mr. Columbus Barton, who after being by me duly sworn on his oath deposes and says that he is a resident of Stonewall County, Texas, has been a Confederate pensioner from the State of Texas, for about 10 years--until it was suspended about May 20th 1916--at which time he went to visit his sons, Tom and Bob Barton in the state of New Mexico, that he returned to Texas, about Feb.15th, he was detained on this trip by reason of being sick and unable to return sooner, again he visited his said sons in May 15th 1918, in New Mexico and returned the 15th day of August 1918 to Texas, at no time while he was absent from the State of Texas, did he consider any other State his residence.

Signed: Columbus Barton

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of December, A.D. 1918,

A. S. Porter, Notary Public, Kent County, Texas

LETTER FROM: Columbus Barton
Owen PO, Brown Co, Tex

December 8, 1918

to

Mr. J.C. Jones, Pension Comishener

Dear friend

On acount of it bein so cold on the plains I have came to Brown Co to s[t]ay this winter. I cant stand cold weather since I had the new monay in N mexico & you send my male to Owen PO Brown Co if you pleas & wil send you the state ment you wanted & I hoap evrything wil bea awl rite now & I think it wil bea for I no I don't want nothing but what is rite & I dont think we will have any more trouble if I can get my papers to sign up in time get back to Austin before the fifteenth of the month.

Yours ever
Columbus Barton

[transcriber's note: Columbus Barton died in Burnet County 22 Feb 1923]