“Anxious To Get Away From Here”

The Tragic Lives of John Franklin Champion’s Parents

My grandfather, John Franklin Champion, believed that he and his younger brother William were placed in an Indiana orphanage as young boys after their parents died of typhoid fever.  He also believed that he and William were the only children born to their parents. John thought his father was from “back east,” probably Massachusetts, and, to the chagrin of his family, his father married an Indian girl on his travel westward.  Those who knew John well would tell you that John was not one to tell tall tales or embellish the truth.  If John said it, then you could bank on it being true or at least that John thought it was true.  For greater detail on this, see the John Franklin Champion Mystery.

Records obtained from the National Archives, as well as Federal Census records for the years 1850 through 1880, paint a somewhat different picture, a picture unknown to John.  While it is probably true that John and William were placed in an orphanage, their father died from the effects of a Civil War injury, not typhoid.  Their mother was still living when they would have been placed in the orphanage but I’ve not yet determined her cause of death or her date of death.  I’ve also not established whether she was a Native American Indian.

Here is what I do know based on the documentation.  John and William’s father was Francis A. Champion, who was born to James and Elizabeth Champion in Perry County, Indiana on June 7, 1835.  Little is known about Francis until 1859 when he married Delilah Ann Phillips.  Delilah was born in Indiana (not sure if it was Perry County or elsewhere in Indiana) on June 4, 1844.  The couple married Oct. 4, 1859 on a trading boat docked at Ward’s Landing on the Mississippi River in Little Prairie Township, Pemiscot County, Missouri, which is near present day Caruthersville, Missouri.  It is not known why they married in Missouri but the 1860 Federal Census shows them living back in Perry County, Indiana the following year.  The 1870 Census also shows them living in or near the community of Derby in Perry County.

Civil War

The young couple had two years of married life before their lives would be turned upside down.  The year 1861 saw the outbreak of Civil War and in August of that year Francis enlisted in Co. F, 26th Indiana Infantry Regiment.  The unit left for St. Louis in September and then to central Missouri, eventually joining Major General John C. Fremont’s forces for the Springfield campaign.  On the march with his unit to Springfield, Francis was initially injured in a fall near either Boonville or Ottoville, Missouri.  While recovering from the injury, he contracted the measles which damaged his heart, lungs and liver.  He was hospitalized at a Union medical facility in Tipton, Missouri, and, as his condition worsened, he received a disability discharge in January, 1862.  It was believed that he would not survive the trip back to his home in Derby, Indiana.  Although severely disabled, he somehow beat the odds and lived another eighteen years.

Records show that in August, 1863, Francis filed an application with the Department of the Interior for a disability pension.  I’ve found a document dated in September, 1863 which states “rejection affirmed” so it seems his pension was turned down.  On February 25, 1871, Francis wrote a letter to the Department of the  Interior’s Pension Office asking to be sent his discharge if he is not entitled to a pension.

Civil War - Round Two

I am positive that this Francis A. Champion is the same person as the Francis A. Champion from Derby, Perry County, Indiana.  The Substitute enlistment states he was born in Indiana.  More importantly, I've compared the signatures on these documents with the signatures on the Indiana pension application and, though I'm not a handwriting expert, it is obvious even to the untrained eye that it is the same signature.

Delilah must have been the main breadwinner for the family.  One of her letters indicates that Francis was unable to provide any support.  Some of the older children may have been able to supplement the support but that is unclear.  The oldest child, Mary, was born in 1861; Cicily in 1862 but died in 1864; Frederick, the oldest son, in 1864; Elizabeth in 1867; Elennora in 1870; John F. (my grandfather) in 1872; William in 1873; and Henry in 1875 but died the same day.

In 1875 the family moved to Little Prairie Township, Pemiscot County, Missouri, the area where they had been married.  I’ve theorized that the family thought they could better support themselves there because Delilah’s mother lived nearby.  After arriving in Missouri, Charles was born in 1877 but died the next year while James, the last child, was born in 1879 but only lived two months.

Francis’ medical condition continued to worsen.  He returned to Perry County in July, 1878 for medical treatment by his doctor there, Dr. J.B. Bennett, and returned to Missouri in September where he was treated by Dr. Henry S. Palmer of Portageville, Missouri until his death in June, 1879.

Widow's Pension Application

After Francis’ death, Delilah filed her application on January 6, 1880 for a Civil War Widow’s Pension.  She was represented by Richard Evans, an attorney in Washington, D.C.  Unfortunately, no affidavits or other evidence was ever filed with this application.  In fact, there is little else in the file for almost four years (Oct., 1883) when attorney Evans wrote a letter to the Pension Office asking what evidence was needed to complete the claim.  I suspect that in the years after filing the application in 1880, Delilah and the children continued to struggle to survive.  It is my theory that she had already placed John and William in an orphanage to ensure their survival.  By June, 1884, Delilah had already seen seven of her ten children pass away. 

In November, 1883 attorney William Ward of Caruthersville filed a second application for the Civil War Widow’s Pension and sent a letter with it stating that Delilah “is having to support her family herself.” There was no affidavits or any other evidence presented with this application.  In April, 1884 the Pension Office wrote to Delilah asking for information so that they can “trace the claim.”  Apparently it had been lost by the government!

In November, 1886 the Surgeon General’s Office of the War Department reported that there was “no evidence of the alleged disability” notwithstanding the affidavit of Francis’ Company Commander that he was in a healthy condition when he enlisted and was discharged due to disability incurred in the line of his duty.”

The only documents appearing in the government’s file after 1886 concerned notes from various attorneys asking for the status of the claim and interoffice notes inquiring which law firm was the attorney of record and, lastly, a November, 1898 report from the War Department to the Pension Office stating that no additional medical records were found other than that furnished in a report dated Nov. 9, 1896 (which, incidentally, was not in the file). 

Francis had signed a Declaration For an Invalid Pension in August, 1863.  It is not known whether he received the requested pension. 

DECLARATION FOR AN INVALID PENSION

State of Indiana        )

                                   )  ss.

Perry County            )

     On this 20th day of August A.D. 1863 personally appeared before me William P. Duinib, Clerk of Perry Circuit Court, a court of Record in and for the county and State aforesaid.  Frank A. Champion, a resident of Perry County in the State of Indiana, aged 25 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Frank A. Champion who enlisted in the service of the United States at Cannelton on the 26th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one as a Corporal in Company F commanded by Captain Johnson in the 26th Regiement of Indiana Volunteers in the war of 1861, and was honorably discharged on the 11 day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two that while in the service aforesaid and in the line of his duty he received the following disease, to-wit:

While in line of duty, he was ruptured so as to disable him from marching or performing any laborious duty.  First examination of my rupture was at Tipton Mo by Dr. Todd, Regiment Surgeon of 26th Regiment.  I was ruptured some days before while marching I think in Mo near Tipton.

/signed/ Francis A. Champion

     Also personally appeared Lemuel C. Langdon and Charles Mogan, residents of Perry County, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn say that they were present and saw Frank A. Champion sign his name to the foregoing declaration; and they further swear that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the applicant that their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and they further state that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. 

     We have been acquainted with applicant for at least twenty years each - Langdon since his birth.

/signed/ L.C. Langdon

/signed/ Charles Mogan

     Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 20 day of August A.D. 1863 and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim and I believe this applicant to be the person he represents himself to be.

     In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my official seal, this 20 day of August, 1863

/signed/ W.P. Duinib, Clerk

Delilah’s application for a Civil War Widow’s Pension had been originally filed in January, 1880 and was still entangled in a bureaucratic quagmire as late as 1887.  In 1884 Delilah wrote a letter out of frustration to the Commissioner of Pensions which is set out below.  The images after the letter show her envelope with  June 18, 1884 postmark and 2 cent stamp as well as an envelope from the Pension Office of the Department of the Interior addressed to Delilah with a postmark of July 15, 1884.

Commissioner of Pensions

                                                                                                                   Caruthersville, Mo          June 16, 1884

I moved from Indiana here in 1875.  I had six children when I came here and have had 2 since I came here.  Their father was not able to support them as he ought so I have worked so hard to try to keep them alive that I’m not able to work for their support any more.  If the papers are not right that I have sent, please send me more blanks so that I may get them filled out right.  I have only three living now and I want to get my claim fixed right and leave this country and go where it is healthier.  I hope you will not ignore my long letter but it is all the way I have to tell you of my circumstances.  In my first blanks my attorney forgot to send the names and deaths of my children.  If you require the names and deaths, please let me know as soon as you can for I am anxious to get away from here.

Delilah Ann Champion

Caruthersville, Missouri

Pemiscot County

In reviewing the documents in this file, it became apparent to me as a former practicing attorney for almost a quarter of a century that some of Delilah’s attorneys did not serve her well.  Her Application for a Pension had to be refiled several times due to incomplete information in the file.  In one case, her attorney failed to file a Family Record showing the composition of her family as required by the Pension Office.  Below are two images, one of her Declaration for a Widow’s Pension dated November 20, 1983 and another dated April 27, 1885.  It is interesting to note that six children are living at the time of the  1983 Declaration and only three at the time of the 1885 Declaration.

To qualify for the Widow’s Pension, Delilah needed to establish that Francis was health at the time he enlisted in the Indiana Volunteers and became disabled during his military service in the line of duty.  This affidavit is given by his Company Commander for that purpose.

AFFIDAVIT

The State of Indiana

Perry County

In the Matter of the Pension claim of Delilah Champion No 258.132, widow of Francis A. Champion, a Corporal of Co. F, 26th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, personally came before me Eugene Vance, Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid James A. Burkett, late Captain of Co. F, 26th Regiment Indiana Volunteers of the late War of 1861, fifty eight 58 years of age whose Post Office address is Cannelton, Perry County, State of Indiana, who being duly sworn according to law upon his oath declares that he as well acquainted with Francis A. Champion, late Corporal of Co. F, 26th Regiment Indiana Volunteers before he enlisted in the service of the United States in August 1861; and that he was in a health condition at the time of his same enlistment, and he further makes oath that said Francis A. Champion on or about the 15th day of January 1862 at or near Ottoville MO was then and there discharged for disability contracted in the line of his duty during the late war, and that the present applicant is his Widow and has not married since then.  I have no interest in this matter.

/signed/ James A. Burkett

Late Captain Co. F, 26th Regiment Indiana Volunteers

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of January 1887 and I certify that the person whose name appears signed to the foregoing affidavit is the person he represents himself is a good and credible witness and that the contents of the foregoing affidavit was duly read and fully made known to the affiant before making oath to the same and that I have no interest in this matter.

Witness my hand and notarial seal.

/signed/ Eugene C. Vance

Notary Public

Francis A. Champion and Delilah Ann Phillips were married in Pemiscot County, Missouri in October, 1859.  The Pemiscot County Courthouse was subsequently burned in 1882 destroying all marriage records.  This affidavit was given by Delilah’s mother to establish that Francis and Delilah were in fact married.

AFFIDAVIT

State of Missouri        )

                                     )  ss.

County of Pemiscot    )

    Mary J. Comrie, being duly sworn before me Huia C. Schult, Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Pemiscot, in the State of Missouri, says that she is fifty six years old.  That she has resided in said county for the last 27 years.  That she was well acquainted with Francis A. Champion in his life time.  That Delilah A. Champion, an applicant for pension under the Pension Laws of the United States, is her daughter and formerly Delilah A. Phillips.

    Affiant further states that the said Delilah Champion was lawfully married to the said Francis A. Champion on the 4th day of October, 1859, on a trading boat owned by one Franklin Cunningham, lying at “Ward’s Landing” on the Mississippi River, in the township of Little Prairie, in said County of Pemiscot, by one Stephen G. Thompson, an acting and duly qualified Justice of the Peace within and for said county. 

    Affiant further states that there were several persons present at the time of said marriage, and among them she recollects one Miller Whitaker, and one Tony? Ward.

    Affiant further states that she is not interested in the prosecution of said claim for pension.

Attest:       G.W. Tindle

                  Huia C. Schult

/signed/ Mary J. Comrie

    Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiant; and I certify that said affidavit was read to said affiant, and that she was acquainted with the contents thereof before she executed the same.  I further certify that I am County Court Clerk within and for the County of Pemiscot, State of Missouri; that on the 2nd day of December 1882, the court house of said county was destroyed by fire, and all the Public Records of said county totally destroyed, among which was the “Marriage Record” of said county, including the Record of Marriage solemnized in said County from its organization in 1850 to the date of the destruction of the Court House, to wit: December 2, 1882.

    I further certify that I am in no way interested in said pension claim, nor am I concerned in its prosecuton.

    Witness my hand and Official Seal at Office in Gayoso in said County of Pemiscot this 13th day of January 1886.

/signed/ Huia C. Schult

Clerk of the County Court of Pemiscot County, Missouri

As part of the pension application, Delilah was required to establish a Family Record.  The following is a reproduction of that record along with the attestation of Huia C. Schult, the Pemiscot County Clerk.  It was filed with the Pension Office on March 5, 1886.

                                                                          FAMILY RECORD

   Parents:

F.A. Champion                  Born Jun. 7, 1835; Married Oct. 4, 1859; Died Jun. 8, 1879

D.A. Champion                  Born Jun. 4, 1844

   Children:

Mary C. R. Champion       Born Jun. 27, 1861; Married Nov. 17, 1878; Died Jan. 27, 1883

Cicily F. Champion            Born Sep. 30, 1862; Died Oct. 30, 1864

Frederick A. Champion     Born Feb. 27, 1864

Elizabeth C. Champion      Born Dec. 18, 1867; Married Apr. 9, 1882; Died May 26, 1884

Elennora Champion           Born Mar. 4, 1870; Died Jan. 5, 1884

John F. Champion             Born Feb. 3, 1872

William B. Champion        Born Sep. 28, 1873

Henry Champion               Born Sep. 29, 1875; Died Sep. 29, 1875

Charles E. Champion         Born Feb. 9, 1877;  Died Feb. 24, 1878

James H. Champion           Born Jun. 2, 1879; Died Aug. 8, 1879

State of Missouri        )

                                     ) ss.

County of Pemiscot    )

     I Huia C. Schult, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Pemiscot, in the State of Missouri hereby certify that I have examined the “Family Record” now in the foregoing of Delilah A. Champion, widow of Francis A. Champion late of said county, deceased and find the foregoing and within to be a full true and correct copy of the registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths therein.

     Witness my hand and official seat at Office in Gayoso, in said county, this 14th day of January, 1886

/signed/ Huia C. Schult

Clerk of the County Court

Delilah’s pension claim was handled at different times by attorneys in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Caruthersville, Missouri.  Below is the copy of an 1883 letter from William A. Ward, an attorney in Caruthesville acting on Delilah’s behalf.  Incidentally, it is believed that Mr. Ward was the founder of the present day Caruthersville law firm of Ward & Reeves.