Today, I want to begin writing about the children of James and Cynthia (Casteel) Corbin. James Corbin was born on May 15, 1813 in Clermont County, Ohio. He was the son of Nathan and Mary (Anderson) Corbin. His father died when he was young and Mary (Anderson) Corbin married a second time to Elijah Lindsey.
Cynthia Ann Casteel was born October 8, 1819 in Clermont County, Ohio and her family were neighbors with and knew the Corbin and Lindsey Families. I don't know why, but these families decided to move to Lake County, Indiana where James Corbin and Cynthia Casteel were married on February 5, 1837. According to the U. S. Census, both families were farm families.
Over the next twenty-two years, James and Cynthia Corbin would become the parents of nine children. Eight of the nine children would like to become adults, marry and have large families of their own. The one exception is their second child, Griffin Corbin, who was born on December 7, 1839 and died seven days later on December 14, 1839. He was born and died in Lake County, Indiana.
The firsts five children born to James and Cynthia Corbin, would be born in Lake County, Indiana. According to an oral history interview given on her 95th birthday, Mary Elizabeth (Corbin) Wilder, their fourth child, states the family moved from Lake County, Indiana to Texas in 1848 and 1849. Unfortunately, she does not give the exact location and that information seems to be lost among other family members. Mrs. Wilder does say that they didn't like Texas and moved to Putnam County, Missouri in 1849 when she was about 10 years old.
The James and Cynthia Corbin farm in Putnam County, Missouri was originally 80 acres and they later added 40 acres. The U. S. Land Patents for the 120 acres were issued in 1851.
The Corbin's first child, was William T. Corbin. I have not been able to find what his middle name was. William Corbin was born on February 2, 1838 in Lake County, Indiana. He traveled to Texas with his family in 1848 and 1849, and settled with them in Putnam County, Indiana. Amazingly, William and his father, James Corbin, would both enlist in the American Civil War.
James Corbin enlisted on August 11, 1864 at Unionville, Missouri for one year. He was listed as 44 years of age and his occupation was given as "farmer." The enlistment officer noted that he was of fair complexion, had blue eyes, dark hair, and was 5'8" tall. If these records had been correct, James would have been born in 1819 which means either there was a mistake made or he intentionally distorted the records for some reason. He was actually born in 1813, a six-year discrepancy. James Corbin was nearly 50-years-old when he enlisted. In either case, it was highly unusual to find a man of James' age serving in the war. He was much older than most enlisted men.
On September 11, 1864, he was promoted to Sergeant from the ranks and marched south with Company "C" of the 42nd Regiment of Missouri Infantry. He was discharged at Nashville, Tennessee on June 28, 1865 because of ill health. I ordered copies of all of the Civil War records of James Corbin from the National Archives and I have tried to scan them so that they are readable but have not been able to get satisfactory scans. Therefore, I'm going to provide a few pertinent transcriptions that will provide some insight into his service.
DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENSION
On this 26th day of December, A. D. on thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, personally appeared before me, Clerk of the District Court, a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid, James Corbin, aged 58 years, a resident of the county of Adams, State of Nebraska, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical James Corbin who was enrolled on the 11th day of August of 1864, in Company C of the 42nd Regiment of Missouri Volunteers commanded by Peter Thompson and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee on the 28th day of June, 1865; that his personal description is as follows: age, 58 years; height five feet eight inches; complexion is fair; hair is dark; eyes blue and that while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the personal service and in the line of his duty at Talahoma, Tennessee in the State of Tennessee on or about the 20th day of January, 1865, he was afflicted with a carbuncle on the neck and took a severe cold, in wading through a river which cold settled on his lungs, and a severe fever resulted which injured his eye-sight, so that for several days he was entirely blind.
That he was treated in hospitals as follows: Talahoma, Tennessee, Cumberland Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee by Surgeon Newell and Gray from January 20, 1865 until May 1, 1865. James Corbin has not been employed din the military or naval service otherwise than he stated above and since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the county of Putnam in the State of Missouri and in the county of Adams in the State of Nebraska and his occupation has been that of farmer. Prior to his entry into the service, the above named was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a farmer. He is now totally disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States, and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.
He lists his post office address as Hastings, County of Adams, Nebraska. The document is signed by James Corbin in a clear and legible handwriting. It is witnessed by Russell D. Babcock and Loren H. Wilder. Loren Wilder was his son-in-law, husband of Mary Elizabeth (Corbin) Wilder.
PERSONAL DECLARATION
James Corbin
May 15, 1880
James Corbin, being duly sworn on his oath, says that he is the James Corbin mentioned in Claim for Invalid Pension No. 337580; that for five years prior to entering the United States Service he resided near Unionville, Putnam County, Missouri and his occupation was that of a farmer; That his residence since discharge until 1873 was near Unionville, Putnam County, Missouri and from 1873 to the present time was near Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska where he now resides. His disability was incurred on or about January 20, 1865, and was Erysipelas, Carbuncle on the back of the neck and yellow jaundice, for which he was treated in the hospital at Talahoma, Tennessee by Surgeon Gray and was removed from there to Cumberland Hospital in Tennessee where he remained until about May 2, 1856 when he joined his Regiment.
Prior to his being sent to the hospital, as stated, he was compelled, on or about January 12, 1856, to ford the Elk or Duck River in Tennessee and took cold which settled on his lungs and resulted in a fever. This was a few days prior to his being sent to the hospital where he was treated by Dr. Gray; on or about the 15th day of June, 1865 he was attacked with Diarrhea in a chronic form for which he was treated by Dr. Spencer Collins, of West Liberty, Putnam County, Missouri from July 12, (I think) to September 12 or 15, 1865. Corbin was also under treatment from the same physician during the same time for pneumonia or lung fever which was caused by cold contracted in fording the Elk or Duck River as stated above. He was also treated during the year 1867 by Dr. Jefferson Williamson of Unionville, Missouri for lung complaint, said Doctor Jefferson Williamson has since died. He was also treated by Dr. A. H. Sowers of Hastings, Nebraska from December 19, 1878 to January 10, 1870 for Pleurae Pneumonia with Typhoid type fever, leaving adhesions in the right Pleurae which remain to some extent to this day. He was also treated by Dr. Thomas H. Urquhart of Hastings, Nebraska during the fall season of 1879 for lung complaint. He further says that he has not been able to perform any manual labor since discharge and he has been compelled to rent out his farm during that time on account of not being able to work it himself. It is impossible for him to perform an hour of labor at one time during twenty-four hours.
Again, the document is signed by James Corbin in a clear and legible handwriting.
Affidavit of Abraham L. Gray
March 2, 1880
In the matter of the application for invalid pension of James Corbin, personally appeared before me, a clerk of county court in and for the County and State of Missouri, Abraham L. Gray, age 54 years and a citizen of the town of Unionville, County of Putnam, State of Missouri, well known to me and to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case as follows:
That during the year 1864, and a portion of the year 1865, he was Assistant Surgeon of the 42nd Regiment of Missouri Infantry Volunteers. That during the month of January 1865, said James Corbin was sent to the hospital at Tallahoma, Tennessee and was treated by me first for jaundice and then for Erysipelas of the face and head in the hospital. When I was relieved from duty in said hospital, he was still sick in said hospital with Erysipelas and in very bad condition. I was acquainted with him for several years after his return home from the service and during that time he was in delicate health. I further state that I have no interest in said case, and am not concerned in its prosecution, and am not related to said application. Signed: A. L. Gray, March 2, 1880.
Affidavit of G. J. Evans
March 9, 1880
In pension claim No. 337580, of James Corbin, Company C, Forty Second Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, personally appeared before me, within the County of Adams, in the State of Nebraska, G. J. Evans, whose post office address is Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska who being duly sworn declares in the above case as follows:
I have known James Corbin for six (6) years and during that time I have sold him medicines continually for heart trouble and sore eyes. I believe that during the past six years he has not been able to perform a full day's work because of said disabilities. His reputation and character in the community are good.
Signed: G. J. Evans
James Corbin was granted a pension of $6.00 per month, which he received the remainder of his life. He died at his home at Ayr, Adams County, Nebraska on January 18, 1890. His wife, Cynthia Ann (Casteel) Corbin applied for a widow's pension soon after.
Declaration For Widow's Pension under Act of Congress approved June 27, 1890:
State of Nebraska, County of Adams: On this 12th day of July, 1890, personally appeared before me, a Clerk of the District County, the same being a court of record within and for the County of Adams, State of Nebraska, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of James Corbin, who enlisted under the name of James Corbin on the 11th day of August, 1864 and served at least ninety days in the late War of the Rebellion, who was honorably discharged on June 28, 1865 and died at his residence in Adams County, Nebraska on January 18, 18890. The deponent states that she was married under the name Cynthia Ann Casteel to said James Corbin on the 5th day of February, 1837 by James F. Smith, Justice of the Peace at LaPorte County, Indiana there being no legal barrier to said marriage.
She states that she has not remarried since the death of the said James Corbin and that she is without other means of support than her daily labor, that there are no children under the age of sixteen in her household.
She states she has applied for a pension under the former Invalid Pension Law and her claim is #417-793 and that she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of June 26, 1890. She hereby appoints C. D. Taylor of Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim, that her post office address is Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska.
Cynthia Casteel Corbin was apparently not able to sign the document because she made her "X." It was witnessed by Jeremiah Barnett and his wife, Margaret I. Barnett and both stated that they had personally known Cynthia and James Corbin for 35 years. Margaret (Casteel)Barnett was the younger sister of Cynthia (Casteel) Corbin.
Affidavit from James L. Martin in Proof of Incurrence of Disability for James Corbin, Ayr, Adams County, Nebraska, September 30, 1890.
Personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths, James L. Martin, aged 64 years, a resident of Genoa, Wayne County, Iowa, who being duly sworn according to law, states that he was acquainted with James Corbin, whose widow is applicant for a Widow's Invalid Pension, and knows that the said James Corbin was the idential person of that name who served as a private in Company C, 42nd Regiment of Missouri Infantry Volunteers and who was discharged at Tallahoma, Tennessee on or about the first day of March 1865, by reason of his term of service ending.
That the said James Corbin, while in the line of his duty, at or near Sturgeon, in the State of Missouri, did, on or about the first day of November 1864, become disabled in the following manner, Viz: The said James Corbin gave out while on the march from Sturgeon to Columbia in the State of Misssouri. He had a chill and complained about his heart so that it disabled him from duty and remained afflicted for some time so that he had to be sent to the hospital at Tallahoma, Tennessee and while at the hospital he took the Erysipelas in his head and was very much afflicted.
And the deponent further states that he was well acquainted with the claimants having known him for about 28 years; and further, that his knowledge of the facts above stated was derived from having serviced as a Lieutenant in Company C of the 42nd Regiment of Missouri Infantry Volunteers from August of 1864 until July of 1865 and the deponent further states, that the claimant was a sound, able-bodied man at enlistment, so far as he knew and could judge, and that he has no interest, direct or indirect, in this claim, and is not concerned in its prosecution. The deponent's post office is Genoa, Wayne County, Iowa.
Signed: James Lee Martin
I believe I will quit there for today and pick up the story of James and Cynthia (Casteel) Corbin's oldest son, William T. Corbin with my next blog. Happy Trails!
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