225 bushels of corn -$225.00

600 Binds of fodder - 12.00

300 lbs of flour - 30.00

18 pork hogs - 180.00

100 lbs of  bacon - 15.00

1 mare - 100.00

Property was removed to Ft. Smith on or about Jan 1, 1864 for 2nd Kansas Calv.

Remarks from Commisioner of Claims:  The claimant is a widow nearly 70 years of age.  Her husband died in March 1869 and was the owner of the property when taken.  They were residents of Sebastian Co., Ark.  The claim was investigated by one of our agents.  The re??? claimants ??? and Bradshaw and ??? the testimony of Wm. T. Blakemore. From their statements the old man Lewis was a confederate in sympathy and conduct.  After the Federals got possession of the country in the vicinity of his residence for the purpose of escaping them he went with his family to Texas where he remained until after the war.  The claim is disallowed.

Witnesses for other facts are Rachael Crosby, Elish Bradshaw, George W. Bradshaw age 28 He enlisted in the USA army Nov 1862 and Wm R. Bowen age 83 - all reside in Sebastian Co.

Geo Bradshaw said Joseph Lewis was taken to Major Woosley camp. They wanted him to come in the home guards but he said that he would rather die than go into the rebel army and he came home again.

The rebels came eve

Her husband died the 9th of Mar 9 of 1869. He never was in the confederate army.

He left 5 children and there are 3 now living. Lucinda Carter aged ?? years.  Rebecca Hadanp? aged now 32 years.  Rachael Crosby aged now 27 years.  They are not interested in this claim .  One of her neighbors was James Trendwell who was a captain of the Arkansas ???.  He is now dec'd.

An attorney was assigned to her in Greenwood in Feb 1873.

Witness Mr. Bowen says he had been acquainted with the claimant and her husband since 1853.

Geo Bradshaw has been acquainted with them since 1855.

From the commissioner - In this claim I have been inform by card that it is ??? ended on account of averse evidence taken last summer by Special Comm Smith.  The evidence given by one George Bradshaw  showing that the old man Joseph Lewis went south in time of the way.  Now as far as old man Joseph Lewis concerned either the allowance disallowance of his claim is concerned will not effect him as he died sometime in either 1863-4. But it does effect his widow Rurina the claimant as to Joseph Lewis he did go south as far as Polk County Arkansas and there died as ??? info but there was no rebel army any where near him.  He was very old and infirm.  His business south was to move a widowed daughter from said county of Polk back north.  She and her children were destitute of everything to ???.  The old man father like went to  his daughters relief and there died.  He went by ??? of the federals.  After his death his widow daughter came back and now resided here in this county.  Old man Lewis was a Unionist Loyal and was so regarded by his loyal neighbors.  See the evidence of Rue Bones an expe?? 2 soldier  and others so taken by  Comm W.A. Harris and now on file at commisioners of southern loyal claims at these high  ??? .  This same witness George Bradshaw testified before commissioner Harris his first deposition with the files aforesaid.  Bradshaw at that time said nothing about Lewis going south that I remember.  In relation ? Drunk Smiths work Bradshaw says that Smith. Comm and  T.H. Scott came to his house one day last summer in a buggy, both drunk and called for dinner.  And that while there Smith done some ??? and asked him Bradshaw that if he Bradshaw been acquainted with old man Joseph Lewis in time of the was of the rebellion to which witness Bradshaw answered new.  Next question was just by Com Smith did he Lewis go south at anytime during the war to which witness answered yes and that he Lewis died South.  These were all the questions he Smith. com. asked witness.  Smith com then wrote ??? and then asked witness Bradshaw to sign his name did not read over what he Smith had written.  Witness replies that he could not read or write where for Smith had witness to  make his  mark and which said Comm Smith and  all hands took a drink out of Smith's bottle it being a quart bottle about one third full of fine whiskey as witness states to  me he witness says that he felt indifferent about this transaction at that time and does not know what Comm Smith  ??? or what he witness made his mark to nor was he up to this hour.  The Comm and his sheriff got their dinners fed their horses and all hands took another drink and that Comm Smith and sheriff went their way rejoicing and that he witness has not seen or herd of Comm Smith since that time.  Now so far as these claimants  ???? in??? of Loyalty there can be  no doubt of it all of their people sons sons-in-laws were Union strong some of them serving full enlistments in the Federal army.  They all belong to the ???? church which is the best of evidence of Loyalty in this country as any here in the rebel states.  This is but a small claim and my recollection is that it is well ??? up and the witness all union soldiers and civi??? and of great  standings in the communities in which they live.  Now as to said witness George W. Bradshaw,  I believe is his name,  he has gone to the I.T. some where in the Cherokee Nation ??? and out of reach of us but he made these statements to me last fall as above written.  Wm. Crosby who is son in law to claimant herein has to support claimant, she being very poor having no means of support.  Whatever crooks in the evidence is an ???  soldier.  A big hearted ??? Republican he says that his gather??? ??? Joseph Lewis dec'd was a true ???and that the claim herein is not for half the property the deceased ??? and that the rebels took a great lot of property from claimants without  paying anything for it and on one occasion came to the residence to hang said Joseph Lewis but failed to find him he being hid out ??? the woods and mountains with some other union ??? of his neighborhood.  Use this as you wish.  J.P. Pratt

Deposition of William T (F?) Blakemore.  47 years old and a practicing physician.  I located here in 1857 and remained here until 1861 when I  went into the Confederate Army.  I was well acquainted with Joseph Lewis the husband of the claimant.  Joseph Lewis died along about 1869.  The claimant lived about 2 miles from here? with her husband before and during the war.  Joseph Lewis had only three sons that I had any knowledge of.  They ??? each ?? turn in the confederate army.  My recollection is that one of them was in the infantry and two in the calvary and each of them served until the end of the war.  ?? sons Joseph Lewis ??? claimants husband in??? South inside of ?? confederate lines in 1864.  I think it was ??? he was there coming after his family to take them to Texas.  He told me that was his business at the time.  I was there going after my family to take them South.  Joseph Lewis took his family to Texas and remained until after the war.  I did not see him again until I saw him moving back here in 1866.  Joseph Lewis was a quiet man and did not talk a great deal.  At that time his sympathies feelings were all with the confederate.  At the time he came after his family he told me he was going to take his family South ?? cause he could not live here.  That the federals were in possession of the country. ??? nor his family could stay here.  I have read the forgoing deposition and ??? is correct and is written just as I have state it.

Deposition of George W. Bradshaw taken at his house in Washburn Township Sebastian County Arkansas August 30, 1878.  I am here to testify for the government.  I am intimately acquainted with Ruina Lewis the claimant and with her husband Joseph Lewis in his life time.  I was a witness for the claimant when this ???? out.  I have ??? I can recollect.  When the ??? before and during the war I lived  ??? to the claimant.  I was there living at home with ??? Gatters.  I enlisted in the Federal Army in Nov 1863 and served until the end of the war.  Joseph Lewis and the claimant had two sons.  Both of them were soldiers in the Confederate Army.  I think they both joined in the army in March 1863.  One of these sons of theirs was named Francis.  He was a ??? man and ??? to himself.  The other one was  named James.  He was the youngest and was living south with his father when they ??? the army.  Francis was in the infantry and died in the Confederate Army at Little Rock soon after he ??? into the confederate ???.  James served until the end of the war  and came back after the surrender.  I couldn't state whether he was in the infantry or calvary A short time before Francis died Joseph Lewis and the claimant went to Little Rock to see the boys.  They sons ??? stationed there.  The claimant and her husband furnished James with clothing while in the service I am confident.  In the winter of 1863 and 1864 Joseph Lewis claimants husband took all his family consisting of his wife and one daughter and moved south to Texas.  The claimant and her husband said  they went to Texas when they came back. They  remained in Texas until after the war.  These two sons now the only boys Joseph Lewis and the claimant had that I know of.  The claimant a short time after he husband and her self came back here after the war, told me that they moved South to Texas because the Federals now getting control of this country and they wanted to be with ??? their sons as much as possible.  Joseph Lewis was too old to be conscripted.  Joseph Lewis nor claimant ??? done anything to aid the Union cause or Union? P??? that I ??? heard of.  At the time the claimant and her husband moved South, they could  hear gone ??? ??? sofly if they had  ??? after their sons ?? into the Confederate Army.  Joseph Lewis and the claimant both sympathized with the confederate cause.  They ??? to see the boys and done what they could to aid them and the confederate cause. Joseph Lewis and the claimant both told me they had a son in Colifonsed? when the war began and I think he went into the Confederate Army.  I have heard the foregoing deposition read and ??? is ??? and is written first as I have stated it.

Archives Dept War Department May 1, 1877 - Case of Joseph Lewis (Estate of) Sebastian Co Ark and Washington Co., Ar.  Mar. 24, 1862 one J. Lewis sold to Confed. Quartermasters Department 840 lbs of corn for $15.00.  (See Abstract of Purchases  Qr. ending Mar 31, 1862 by Capt W.H. Elstness, A.Q.M. - Envelope in case of J.D. Arbuckle) Note - Place of purchase not stated.