Scott County Arkansas
Civil War Pension Application
GEORGE W. CORNELIUS, CSA
Contributed by G.W. Cornelius
Mr. George Cornelius
c/o Donald Poe
510 Wallace Building
Little Rock, Arkansas.
The records show that G.F. Cornelius, also borne as George F.
Cornelius, private, Company H, 1st Regiment Mounted Rifles, Arkansas,
Confederate States Army, enlisted November 10, 1861 at Fayetteville,
age 18 years.
Muster roll for July and August, 1864, last roll on file, shows
him absent wounded July 20 and at Hospital.
His name appears on a register of patients in Ocmulgee Hospital,
Macon, Georgia, which shows that he was admitted July 22, 1864 and
transferred July 23[?] 1864.
His residence is shown as Yell County.
No later record has been found.
C.H. Bridges
Major General,
The Adjutant General.
By J.S.J.
Full Name: Cornelius, G.F. P.O. [Blank]
If Officer, give Rank in Company, Regiment or Brigade: Private
Company in which enlisted, original name, official designation after
joining Regiment: Co. "H"
County, City, Town or Community from which Company was enlisted: [Blank]
Officer receiving Company into service [Blank]
Place and date of enlistment, length of active service, parole: Spring
of 1861. Wounded Peach Tree St., Atlanta, Ga. 7-20-'64.
Regiment to which Company was assigned, when, where, Infantry,
Artillery or Cavalry: 1st Ark. Mtd. Rifles
Name of Company commissioned officers, 1861 to 1865 [Blank]
Name of Company non-commissioned officers, 1861 to 1865 [Blank]
Names of Companies in Regiment, original names, names after joining
Regiment, Captains of each [Blank]
AFFIDAVIT
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott}
On this day personally appeared before me the undersigned a
Notary Public within and for Scott County, Arkansas, G.E. Crowley
a citizen of said County and State, and after being first sworn as
required by law, states that he is personally well acquainted with
the applicant George W. Cornelius of Harvey, Scott County, Arkansas,
and has known him 50 years in succession, and that he is a credible
person, and worthy of confidence and belief in all respects, and
that he is of good character, and a trustworthy citizen and has
lived and resided in Scott County, Arkansas, many years and that
he is incapacitated to do any kind of manual labor on account of
old age and general disability, and weakness of his eyes, and
general old age and run down condition, and that he has no income
or property of any kind known to the affiant.
That the affiant herein have no interest in this claim.
Witness our hands this the 9th day September 1930.
G.E. Crowley
Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 9th day September 1930.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public
Seal. Commission Expires 12 day of Jan 1933.
AFFIDAVIT
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott}
On this day personally appeared before me the undersigned a
Notary Public within and for Scott County, Arkansas, V.H. Brasher,
Sheriff, a citizen of said County and State, and after being duly
sworn as required by law, states that he is personally well
acquainted with the applicant George W. Cornelius of Harvey, Scott
County, Arkansas, and has known him 20 years in succession, and that
he is a credible person, and worthy of confidence and belief in all
respects, and that he is of good character, and a trustworthy citizen
and has lived and resided in Scott County, Arkansas, many years and
that he is incapacitated to do any kind of manual labor on account
of old age and general disability, and weakness of his eyes, and
general old age and run down condition, and that he has no income
or property of any kind known to the affiant.
That the affiant herein have no interest in this claim.
Witness our hands this the 9th day September 1930.
V.H. Brasher
Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 9th day September 1930.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public.
Seal. Commission Expires 12 day of Jan. 1933.
QUESTIONNAIRE
War Record
1. Name under which enlisted: G.F. Cornelius or George W. Cornelius.
2. Residence at enlistment: Nebraska, Scott County, Arkansas or
Nebraska, Yell County, Arkansas.
3. Place of enlistment: Nebraska, Scott County, Arkansas or Nebraska,
Yell County, Arkansas.
4. Date of enlistment: Spring, 1861.
5. Date of Discharge: 1864 or 1865.
6. Company and regiment in which served: "H", First Arkansas Mt'd.
Rifles.
7. Nature of duties performed: Private.
8. Names of some of company officers: Colonel Churchill and Captain
Robert Parks.
9. Names of some of enlisted men in company: [Blank]
10. If in Civil War was service rendered in Union or Confederate Army?
Confederate.
11. Purpose for which it is desired to use the information if furnished:
Pension.
Date February 10, 1931
Signed, George Cornelius
By Donald Poe
c/o Donald Poe
510 Wallace Building
Little Rock, Arkansas.
AFFIDAVIT
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott} ss.
George W. Cornelius, on oath, states he is the applicant of the
within pension application; that he is 87 years of age and has been a
bona fide resident of Scott County, Arkansas, for the past 61 years;
that he has lived at Harvey, Scott County, Arkansas, for the past 61
years; that he lived in Yell County, Arkansas, before moving into
Scott County, Arkansas; that his post office before moving into Scott
County, Arkansas, was Nebraska, Yell County, Arkansas, now called
Nola, Yell County, Arkansas; that he enlisted in the Confederate Army
in the company of which Captain Robert Parks was captain; that he
enlisted sometime in the fall of 1861 and his first encampment was at
Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas; that he served as orderly
and messenger for Captain Robert Parks' company; that when Parks'
company was transferred across the Mississippi River he went with
them; that Captain Robert Parks' company was in the regiment under
the command of Colonel Churchill; that the regiment was known as the
First Arkansas Mounted Rifles; that he received a flesh wound in
his right leg just below the hip while fighting around Atlanta,
Georgia, in the summer of 1864; that he was transferred to a
hospital in Macon, Georgia; that he recovered in two weeks and
rejoined his company; that he was honorably discharged sometime in
May, 1865.
That he enlisted either as George F. Cornelius or George W.
Cornelius, for he sometimes signed George F. Cornelius and other times
George W. Cornelius; that the reason why he had an "F" in his name
was because his folks and people in the community called him Franklin
Pierce because as a child when Pierce was elected President he talked
considerably about Franklin Pierce and consequently the folks and
people of the community nick-named him "Franklin" and he bore that
name "Franklin" until several years after the war; that his christened
name is George W. Cornelius; that Captain Robert Parks always spoke of
him as George Franklin Cornelius; and that he served under the name of
George F. Cornelius in the Confederate Army.
That his father did not serve in the army; that he had only one
brother whose name was Joe Cornelius and who served in the army as Joe
Cornelius; that he had another brother, Tau Cornelius who died after
the war, but never served in the war; that there was no other
Cornelius other than his brother, Joe Cornelius, that ever served
in the army either from Scott County or Yell County; that if there
had been another Cornelius serving in the army from either Yell or
Scott County he would have known about it; that there was no other
Cornelius living either in Yell or Scott County that he knew of
whose[sic] was either young enough or old enough to serve in the
Confederate Army; that he is the only George Cornelius that ever
lived either in Scott or Yell County.
G.W. Cornelius
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of February, 1931.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public.
Commission Expires Jan. 12, 1933.
AFFIDAVIT
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott} ss.
Lee B. Jones, on oath, states he is 76 years of age; that he
has been a resident and citizen of Scott County, Arkansas, all of
his life; that he has known George W. Cornelius or George "Franklin"
Cornelius all of his (Jones) life; that George W. Cornelius was
several years older than he was; that George W. Cornelius was in
the Confederate Army; that he (Jones) does not know what company
or regiment he (Cornelius) served in, for he (Jones) was not old
enough to know or remember when Cornelius left for the army, but
does remember when Cornelius returned from the war; that Cornelius
served under Captain Robert Parks while he was in the Confederate
Army; that after Cornelius moved to Scott County, Arkansas, he
(Jones) has lived in the same community and before Cornelius moved
to Scott County, Arkansas, Cornelius lived just a few miles from
where he (Jones) and his father's family lived and neighbored with
them.
That he has been well acquainted with the Cornelius family
and knew there were no other men by the name of Cornelius of or near
the age of George W. Cornelius living within Yell or Scott County
except George W. Cornelius and Joe Cornelius, a brother called Tau
Cornelius, each now deceased; that George W. Cornelius was called
Franklin Cornelius in the community where he lived shortly after the
war and later the name was dropped; that he (Jones) feels sure that
George W. Cornelius is the same as G.F. Cornelius who served under
Captain Robert Parks.
Lee B. Jones
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of February, 1931.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public
VETERAN'S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott}
I, George W. Cornelius, do solemnly swear that I was born on
the 7th day of April 1844 and that I served as a soldier in the
army (or sailor in the navy) of the Confederate States, being a member
of Colonel Churchill Regiment of First Arkansas Mounted Rifles from
the State of Arkansas, called [blank]; that I was honorably discharged
from such service on or about the [blank] day of May, 1865 and did not
desert the same; that I am now, and for the past 61 years have been,
a bona fide resident of this State; that I do not myself, nor does my
wife, nor do we both together, own property, real or personal, or
both, or money or choses in action, in excess of the value of $500.00
(not including the value of homestead, or household goods, owned by
either or both) nor has either of us conveyed title to any property
to enable me to draw a pension, and that neither I nor my wife is in
receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any services,
the emoluments of an office, in excess of $250.00 per year; that I am
incapacitated to perform manual labor in any of the ordinary
avocations of life (or am totally blind), and that such incapacity
(or disability) is the result of wounds received in the service,
being wounded in service but it is not the cause of the present
disability, or of age, accident or disease, and that such disability
is not the result of my own vicious habits still persisted in, so
help me God.
G.W. Cornelius
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25 day of Feb. 1931.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public
Proof of Indigency
(By Comrades if possible, or copy of War Record)
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott}
On this day personally came before the undersigned, a Notary
Public within and for the county of Scott and State of Arkansas, O.S.
Bird and G.E. Crowley citizens of Scott County, Arkansas, whom I certify
to be credible persons and worthy of confidence, who, being duly sworn,
state that they were each personally, well acquainted with applicant
George W. Cornelius and have known him for 25 and 50 years, respectively.
That he is now and has been for the past 50 years a bona fide
resident of Arkansas. That he is incapacitated for manual labor by
reason of old age and total disability, and that such incapacity (or
disability) is not the result of his own vicious habits still
persisted in. That to our personal knowledge all property now owned
by him is not worth exceeding $500.00 (not including the value of
his or her homestead, or household goods), that neither he nor his
wife is in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for any
service, or the emoluments of an office, in excess of $250.00 per
year. That we have no interest in this claim. That our knowledge of
all these facts comes from personal acquaintance for many years. These
facts are known by association with the applicant. Not married.
O.S. Bird
G.E. Crowley
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25 day of Feb. 1931.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public
EVIDENCE OF PHYSICIAN
(Original Application)
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott}
I, Dr. B.W. Duncan, a duly registered and practicing physician
in Scott County, Arkansas, do hereby certify that I am personally well
acquainted with George W. Cornelius of Harvey, Scott County, Arkansas
who is an applicant for a pension under the Statutes of Arkansas.
That at his request I have made an examination of his physical
condition and find [blank.] Physical condition and to what cause is his
incapacity for manual labor attributable: Old age and general disability,
weakness of eyes, and general disability caused from old age and that
said disability is not the result of his own vicious habits still
persisted in. Extent of disability: Totally disabled to do any kind of
manual labor.
B.W. Duncan, M.D.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 27th day of February 1931.
W.A. Bates, Notary Public
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott}
We, the undersigned members of the County Pension Board for Scott
County, do certify that we have examined the application of the within
named George W. Cornelius for pension, under Act of General Assembly
of the State of Arkansas, approved March 11, 1901 and subsequent
amendatory Acts and the proof in support of same, and find that said
applicant is a wounded Confederate soldier, is in indigent circumstances,
and wholly or partially incapacitated for manual labor, and that his
claim is just, and that he should be allowed a Confederate pension.
L.D. Duncan (Seal)
T.R. Harrison (Seal)
QUESTIONNAIRE
To Supplement Pension Application on File in the Auditor's Office.
It is necessary that this Questionnaire be properly filled out,
sworn to and filed in the Auditor's office in order that your name
may remain on the Confederate Pension Roll. Under authority of
[illegible] of the State Pension Board and Advisory Board appointed
by the Governor at a meeting of said Boards on the 7th day of January
1932.
1. What is your full name? George W. Cornelius.
2. Your present address? Nola, Arkansas.
3. When and where were you born? On the 7th day of April 1844, County
of Yell, State of Arkansas.
4. To whom, when and where were you married to the Veteran whose war
record you are now drawing your Confederate Pension? (To be answered
by widows only.)
5. With whom do you make your home? John Garrett. Address Nola,
Arkansas.
6. What relation are they to you? None.
7. Have you lived continuously in Arkansas for the past five years? Yes
8. Do you own any property, or interest in any property? No If so,
give value of same None.
9. Do you have any income other than Arkansas Confederate Pensions? No
If so, how much per month? None.
10. How much of your pension each month is spent for your benefit? All
CERTIFICATE OF CONFEDERATE PENSIONER
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott} ss.
I, George W. Cornelius, a resident of the County and State
aforesaid, do solemnly swear that I fully and clearly understand the
questions above set forth and that I have truthfully and to the best
of my knowledge and ability given the answers set opposite each
question.
George his "x" mark Cornelius
Attest:
Norman Goodner
Albert Oller
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of February 1932.
V.H. Brasher
CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY CLERK
(Of Pension Due Estate of Deceased Pensioner)
State of Arkansas}
County of Scott} ss.
I, Gene Davidson, Clerk of the County Court within and for the
County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Geo. W. Cornelius
was a Confederate pensioner, residing in said State, that the
application of the said Geo. W. Cornelius was originally filed in said
County; that said George W. Cornelius died on or about the 6th day of
December 1934; that the last allowance or issuance of a pension warrant
to said deceased pensioner was made in August 10, 1934, and there
being no administrator of the estate of said Geo. W. Cornelius,
therefore, W.W. Austin, sheriff of said county, as public administrator,
is entitled to receive, under the provisions of Section 8193 of
Crawford & Moses' Digest, and to be disbursed by him under authority
of Section 8194 of said Digest, the pro rata amount accruing from
August, 1934 to date of death of said pensioner, subject to the
apportionment of the pension fund made by the State Board of Pensioners
for the present year.
Given under my hand and official seal this 4th day of February
1935.
Gene Davidson
Waldron, Ark., March 29, 1935
Estate of Geo. W. Cornelius
In account with [blank]
1934
Dec. 7 casket 45.00
" 7 shroud 12.50
" 7 St. Unions .95
" 6 pr. Hose .25
I, W.F. Cornelius, solemnly swear that the above is true and
correct of the expenses of the funeral of Geo. W. Cornelius, deceased.
Will Cornelius
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29th day of March, 1935.
Gene Davidson, Clerk.
Return to Scott County Civil War Records