The following is the transcript of my greatgreatgrandmother's application for pension.

Submitted by: Lilly Beal Engleman
mailto:Lillyj57@aol.com

Harris, Louisa 00691Claimant: Harris, Louisa
Pension Number: 00691
County: Cass
Husband: Thomas N.

Application of Indigent widow of Soldier or Sailor of the late Confederacy for pension under the Act of May 12, 1899.
The State of Texas, County of Cass
To the Honorable County Judge of Cass County, Texas

Your petitioner, Mrs. Louisa Harris, respectfully represents that she is a resident citizen of Cass County, in the State of Texas, that she is the widow of Thomas N. Harris, deceased, who was a Confederate soldier (or sailor), and that she makes this application for the purpose of obtaining a pension as the widow of said Thomas N. Harris, deceased, under the act passed by the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved May 12, A.D., 1899, the same being an act entitled "An act to carry into effect the amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas, providing that aid may be granted to disabled and dependent Confederate soldiers, sailors, and their widows under certain conditions, and to make an appropriation therefor," and I do solemnly swear that the answers I have given to the following questions are true.
Q. What is your name? Louisa Harris
Q. What is your age? 76 years old
Q. In what County do you reside? Cass
Q. How long have you resided in said County & what is your post office address? 26 years, Lodi, Texas
Q. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law heretofore, and been rejected? If so state when & where. No
Q. What is your occupation if able to engage in one? Housewife
Q. What is your physical condition? Unable to do anything
Q. What was the name of your deceased husband? Thomas N. Harris
Q. Were you married to him anterior to March 1, 1866? If so, on what date were you married to him & where? Feb. 1st, 1844 in South Carolina
Q. What was the date of his death? May 11th, 1894
Q. Are you unmarried, and have you so remained unmarried since the death of your said husband for whose services you claim a pension? Yes, yes
Q. State in what company and regiment your deceased husband for whose services you claim a pension enlisted in the Confederate army, and the time of his service therein? Co. K, 2nd S.C. Rifles, 22 months
Q. State whether or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land certificate under any previous law, and if you answer in the affirmative state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you have so received. No
Q. What real & personal property do you own, and what is the present value of such property? Give a list of such property & value. None
Q. What property & what was the value thereof have you sold or conveyed within two years prior to the date of this application? None
Q. What income, if any, do you receive? None
Q. Are you in indigent circumstances; that is, are you in actual want and destitute of property and means of subsistence? Yes
Q. Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? Yes
Q. Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? No
Q. Did your deceased husband for whose services you claim a pension, ever desert the Confederacy? No
Q. Have you been continuously since the first day of March, 1880, a bona fide resident citizen of this State? Yes
Wherefore your petitioner prays that her application for pension be approved and that such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law.
Witness: Jas N. Simmons Signature of applicant x (her mark) Louisa Harris
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 24th day of July 1899
W. A. Callaway, County Judge Cass County, Texas

Affidavit of Witnesses (There must be at least two credible witnesses)
The State of Texas, County of Cass
Before me, W. A. Callaway, County Judge of Cass County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared Jas. N. Simmons and J. L. Hatcher, who are personally known to me to be credible citizens, who being by me duly sworn on oath, state that they personally know that Mrs. Louisa Harris, applicant for a pension as the widow of Thomas N. Harris, deceased, is in truth and fact the widow of the said Thomas N. Harris, deceased; that they personally know that the said Thomas N. Harris, deceased, enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, and performed the duties of a soldier (or sailor) as claimed by his said widow in the above & foregoing application, and that they further know that the said Mrs. Louisa Harris, widow of the said Thomas N. Harris, deceased, is unable to support herself by labor of any sort.
Witness J. Y. King Signature of Witness Jas. N. Simmons
Signature of Witness x (his mark) J. L. Hatcher
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 24th July 1899.
W. A. Callaway, County Judge Cass County, Texas

Certificate of County Judge
The State of Texas, County of Cass
I, W. A. Callaway, County Judge of Cass County, State of Texas, do hereby certify that on the 24th day of July 1899, before me came on to be heard the application of Mrs. Louisa Harris, widow of Thomas N. Harris, deceased, for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law of this State, approved May 12, 1899; that the answers of said applicant to the questions propounded were made under oath as the same appear in writing in the foregoing application; that the affidavits of the witnesses who are credible citizens were made before me as the same herein before appear. I also certify that the said applicant Mrs. Louisa Harris, is not disqualified under any of the provisions of Section 12, of the Confederate Pension Law. I further certify that after considering all of the proceedings had before me relative to the said application for a pension by the said Mrs. Louisa Harris, as widow of Thos N Harris, deceased, I find the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided for by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and I hereby approve said application.
Witness my hand and seal of office at Linden this 24th day of July 1899.
W. A. Callaway, County Judge Cass County, State of Texas

Certificate of County Commissioners
The State of Texas, County of Cass
We, the undersigned members of the Commissioners Court of Cass County, Texas, hereby certify that the foregoing application of Mrs. Louisa Harris, widow of Thos. N. Harris deceased, for a pension together with the proof in support thereof, was duly submitted by Hon. W. A. Calloway, County Judge of this Cass County, to the Commissioners Court of this Cass County, at a regular term thereof on the 15th day of August 1899, and after a careful consideration of the same we find the said applicant is lawfully entitled to the pension provided for by the Confederate Pension Law of this State, and we hereby approve said application.
Witness our hands and seal of office at Linden this 15th day of August 1899.
Jas. E. Harris
J. J. Shaddix
H. R. McCoy
J. M. Smith

Office of Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin, Nov. 9, 1910
To the Adjutant General
War Department
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to request the military record of Thomas N. Harris who is reported to have enlisted in Company K, Regiment 2nd South Carolina Rifles in the service of the Confederate States Army.
Purpose: The widow of this person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this State, and I desire to verify his proof of service.
Very respectfully,
E. A. Bolmes, Commissioner of Pensions

War Department, The Adjutant General's Office
Washington, Nov. 14, 1910
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin
The records show that Thomas N. Harris, private, Company K, 2d South Carolina Rifles, Confederate States Army, enlisted March 29, 1864, and he was paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865.
(name unreadable)
The Adjutant General