January 1888 Widow's Declaration for Pension State of Indiana, County of Blackford Personally appeared, Margaret E. Minor who declares: That she is the widow of John Minor who enlisted under the name of John Minor of Brooklyn, New York in 1861 in 1st Reg't, Long Island, Lonaves ?, (Col. Ellsworth) in the war 1861 - 1865; who contracted disease of the lungs in the above service, which caused his death in Grant County, Indiana on the 10th day of March 1878; that she was married under the name of Margaret E. Capper to said John Minor on the 19th day of Sept 1868 in Grant County, Indiana; that neither had previously been married; that she has to date remained a widow; that the following are the names of surviving children who were under sixteen years of age at their father's death: Michael Minor born July 24, 1870; Arthur C. Minor, born July 23, 1874. That the claimant's post office address is Montpelier, Blackford County, Indiana. Signed; Margaret E. Minor; Witnesses: William Turibell ?, Hugh R. Wilson
Sept 1888 State of Indiana, County of Wells In the matter of the application for pension of Margaret Miner, widow of John Miner. Personally appeared, Meredith Capper, aged 41 years a resident of Jackson Twp. in the County of Wells, State of Indiana, whose post office address is Dillman, Wells County, Indiana; and James Capper, aged 43 years, a resident of Jackson Twp., Wells County, Indiana, and whose post office address is Dillman, Wells County, Indiana, declare as follows: That they have been personally and well acquainted with John Miner for thirteen years and that the period dating from the year 1866 until the year 1879. That he was troubled with a cough during the entire thirteen years, sometimes worse than at other times. That I, James Capper, attended the said Miner during his last sickness and administered cough remedies to him and he told me that he contracted his cough while in the line of duty, and as I was troubled with a cough, he advised me not to neglect my cough so long as he had done. That the said Miner was troubled frequently with chronic diarrhea during the 13 years prior to his death, which knowledge we obtained by observation by being in his company. And that the said Miner was not able to perform more than an average of about one half days manual labor in one days time duirng the 13 years above mentioned, and during the last 13 or 14 months of his life he was entirely unable to perform manual labor but confined to his bed which knowledge we obtained by being with him frequently. Signed, Meredith Capper, and James Capper
January 1888 Affadavit that Pensioner has not remarried " We, Henry Balsey and Elmira J. Balsey of the town of Montpelier, County of Blackford, State of Indiana, do swear that we are neighbors of Margaret E. Minor, who is the widow of John Minor, and for the past nineteen years to the present date, we have been well acquainted with the said Margaret E. Minor; that she has not remarried since the death of the above mentioned John Minor. Signed: Henry Balsey, Elmira J. Balsey.
October 1888 State of Indiana, Grant County, Personally appeared, Margaret Hillman, aged 60 years, a resident of Upland in the County of Grant, State of Indiana: That I have been acquainted with this claimant Margaret E. Minor for 30 years. I was with the said claimant on the 23rd day of July 1874 at which time she was delivered of a male child and said child is still alive and his name is called Arthur C. Minor. At the time of the birth of the child, this claimant and John Minor were living together as husband and wife an that on or about the 10th day of March 1878, the said John Minor died leaving this claimant a widow and at the time of his father's death, the said Arthur C. Minor was not sixteen years of age. Signed by her mark X, Margaret Hillman; witnessed by signature of Michael Capper.
July 1890 Declaration for Widow's Pension Personally appeared, Margaret E. Minor, aged 41 years, a resident of Montpelier, of Blackford County, State of Indiana; declares as follows: That she is the widow of John Minor; that his personal description at enlistment was as follows: age 18 years (given age); height 5 feet 10 inches high; complexion dark; hair black; eyes black; that he is now deceased; died at Upland, Grant County, Indiana the 10th day of March 1878, and left a widow and two children: Arthur, age ? years old, and Michael, age ?? yrs old who is a permanent invalid for life. That since leaving the service the soldier resided in different places in the state of Indiana and that his occupation has been that of a RR Hand and when enrolled, no trade, a miner?. He belonged to Militia in Canada, belonged to the service under the British laws about 1860, left that service for service in our army. Signed, Margaret Minor
Sept 1903 State of Indiana, County of Delaware Personally appeared, Magaret E. Minor, widow of John Minor, who being duly sworn, declares: I am the widow of John Minor, whose service or discharge records I cannot locate for the reason that his discharge certificate was left by him in the charge and keeping of his uncle John Minor, deceased, of No. 477, Degrau St., Brooklyn, New York. Said John Minor Sr., since died, leaving three daughters, Mary, Millie and LIzzie, since married; at least one of them lives at the old home No. 477 DeGrau St., Brooklin, N.Y.. I have made repeated efforts to obtain this certificate of discharge by any honorable way I can command, and the persons I have sent to them are met with all manner of excuses to with hold it from me or to it's present whereabouts or the name under which he served or the command in which he served. My said husband has now two sisters living in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Mrs. Lizzie Quinn No. 240 Pearl St., and Mrs. Maggie McCarty, Warren Street near Wykoff St. I and my attorney have repeatedly addressed letters to them in return envelopes enclosing return postage, none of which was ever returned or answered by either of them. I know they still live at numbers above described for the reason that Mrs. W.B. Wert (or West?) who married my niece and who lives at 379 Hancock at Brokklyn, N.Y. and other relatives have gone in person to above parties and they absolutely refused to furnish any information concerning the service of my dec's husband or the name under which he served if different than that of John Minor. From the way and manner of the sisters of my husband have acted as described by those visiting them in my behalf, I am constrained to believe that they or one of them has an interest in his identity and service, that they will not disclose. I am convinced however that my said husband served honorably in the 69 New York Inf. (Irish) Regiment 3 months and afterwards enlisted and subsequently served during the war in same regiment; his partriotic service ??. Therefore requesting a status of my claim, as I am poor and without means, I respectfully ask that my said claim be detailed to special examination. Signed, Margaret E. Minor
August 1917 Declaration for Widow's Pension Personally appeared, Margaret E. Miner, aged 68 years, a resident of the state of Indiana, county of Lake, who being duly sworn, declares: That she is the widow of John Miner, who enlisted under the name of Otis M. Miner of Brooklyn, New York on the 7th day of Sept 1861 in Co. B 8th Reg't New York Volunteers, and served at least ninety days in the War of the Rebellion, who was honorably discharged Sept 13, 1864 and who died March 10, 1878 at Upland, Grant County, Indiana. That she was married to him under the name of Margaret E. CAPPER on the 19th day of October 1867, by Phineas Roberds, at Grant County, Indiana; that she has not been previously married; that she was not divorced from him; that she has not remarried since the death of the said John Miner. That she was born on May 2, 1849 at Grant County, Indiana. That her post office address is: 3447 Michigan Ave., Indiana Harbor, State of Indiana. Signed, Marget E. Miner
April 1918 State of Indiana, County of Lake Margaret E. Miner being duly sworn on her oath deposes and says: That she was married to John Miner on the 19th day of October 1867 in Grant County, Indiana. That she lived with the said John Miner as his wife, continuously from above said date until the day of his death, which occured at Upland, Indiana March 10, 1878. That two children were born to them, and that they spent all their married life in Henry and Grant Counties, Indiana. That she has never remarried and that she is his lawful widow. That her said husband, John Miner, enlisted under the name of Otis M. Miner and served in Co. B. 81st N.Y. Infantry; that the said John Miner enlisted under an assumed name because he was only 17 years of age at the time but said he was 18, for fear that his father would not permit him to serve in the U.S. as he was a British subject and a member of the Canadian Militia. That she has not been able to recover her husband's discharge as being unmarried at the time of his discharge, he left his papers with his Uncle John Miner at 477 DeGraw St., Brooklyn, N.Y. That she often heard her husband speak of Paddy Branigan, Fitzgerald and Captain Stilwell and others she cannot recall. That her said husband John Miner was about 5 feet 10 in. high, weight about 160 to 170 pounds, that when he enlisted he was only 17 but gave his age as 18. He had black hair and large black eyes and the only distinguishing mark about him was a white spot on the pupil of his left eye. His father's name was Michael Miner and he served 24 years in the 68th Dermshire Regiment. His mother's name was Mary Ann. He had three sisters and two brothers. The sisters names were Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret. Mary lived in Leeds, England. His brothers names were Bernard and Jim. Elizabeth, who called herself "Abbie Miner" and who is the supposed widow of Otis M. Miner or John Miner, resided on Warren St., Brooklyn, NE. The number of the street we are unable to give. Signed: Margaret E. Miner
June 1918 Deposition of Margaret E. Miner Indiana Harbor, County of Lake, State of Indiana Personally appeared before a Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, Margaret E. Miner, who deposes and says: That I am 69 years of age; Post Office address: 3422 Elm St., Indiana Harbor, Indiana. I am the identical Margaret E. Miner who applied for pension as widow of John Miner. My full and correct name is Margaret Elizabeth Miner. I have been called Margaret or Maggie. I was born near Upland, Grant County, Indiana on May 2, 1849. My parents were Charles Capper and Elizabeth McKeever. I was raised in Grant County, Indiana. I have two brothers living. They are Asa Capper, of Wallace, Kansas; and Meredith Capper of Monticello, Indiana. They are both pensioners. I have three other brothers who were soldiers, but they are dead. I have no living sisters. I was married to John Minor near Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana. I do not remember the exact date of the marriage, but it was in the Fall after I was eighteen years old. That was my first marriage. After I was married to John Minor we lived in Springport, Indiana four years, then we moved to Upland, Grant Co., Indiana. We lived at Upland until he died on March 10, 1878. I lived with him up to the time of his death and was never separated or divorced from him. I had two children by John Miner that lived to be grown. They were Michael and Arthur Minor. They are both dead. I had a daughter that died in infancy. I lived in Upland for about one year after my husband died, and then moved to Montpelier, Ind., and went into the millinery business. I lived in Montpelier for as much as ten years and then moved to Muncie, Indiana. I lived in Muncie until about fourteen years ago, and then came to Indiana Harbor. I did dress making in Muncie and lived with my son who married while we were there. I lived with my son Arthur Miner in Indiana Harbor until his death three years ago. I have five grandchildren. My son was not living here at the time of his death, but he was a railroad man and was working at Detroit, Mich. when he was killed. I have supported myself in late years by doing nursing and keeping roomers and boarders. I first became acquainted with John Miner in the January before he and I were married in the Fall. He was boarding with a sister of mine near Upland, Ind., and I met him there. He wa then engaged in working on the Panhandle R.R. which was being built. He followed railroad construction work during all that time. He usually had charge of a gang of men in construction work. John Miner told me that he was born in Quebec, Canada. His father's name was Michael Miner and his father served for twenty-five years in the 68 Dermshire Light Infantry. I never saw his father but remember what my husband told me about him. He was a drill master at Toronto, Canada and my husband belonged to the militia, or at least he told me that he had drilled under his father. Michael Miner went back to Ireland and died there. My husband's mother's given name was Mary Ann, but I do not know what her maiden name was. My husband had two brothers, Bernard and James Miner. They were both soldiers in the British army. Bernard died with consumption before I ever met my husband. James Miner was in the Army in India at the time that I was living with my husband John Miner. I never saw either of the brothers and have never heard of James since my husband died. My husband had three sisters. Mary was married to an Englishman named Verie, and she lived at Leeds, England. I have never heard of her since my husband died. The second sister was Lizzie. She visited me and her brother at one time while we were living in Springport, Indiana. She was then unmarried and was living with her Aunt, Margaret Hobbins in Brooklyn, New York. I corresponded with her for a time after my husband died, but then she quit writing and I never heard from her again. She lived with her aunt at the cor. of Hoyt and Warren Sts., Brooklyn. The aunt owned property at that address and had some kind of store there. The third sister of my husband was Margaret McCarthy. I do not recall her husband's first name but he was a Hatter and Cigar Maker and lived someplace in Brooklyn. My husband told me that when he first came to New York CIty from Toronto, Canada about six weeks before Ft. Sumpter was fired on, and that he was then seventeen years old. He was in New York and Brooklyn during that summer. He said that when Col. Cochran came to New York and offered his services to this country and started to raise a regiment, known as the 69 N.Y. Inf. There was more than enough for a regiment and a while brigage was made up. While in Brooklyn in the summer of 1861, my husband met a cousin, Willis Miner. Willis wanted him to enlist, but my husband told him that he was not old enough, and besides he belonged to Canada, and that if he enlisted, his father would come and take him out. Willis told him to say that he was eighteen, and to change his name and say that he was born in Oswego, New York and then his father would not be able to find him. He did that, and he took the name of Otis M. Miner. He and Willis Miner enlisted together and served together. I do not remember the regiment he was in but it was in the Irish Brigade. His colonel's name was Nugent and he often spoke of Capt. Stilwell. Bennett was his Captain when he came out. He spoke of one named Sweeney who was killed in some battle. He spoke of a comrade named Fitzgerald and one named Paddy Branigan. Yes, he told me he took the name of Otis M. Miner and he told me that his couson's name was Willis. I do not know that there ever was an Otis M. Miner. I understand that the name was just made up. Willis Miner's father was Patrick Miner and he lived in Ireland. Willis Miner died soon after the war..... About sixteen years ago I had my niece in Brooklyn make some inquiries. My niece is Mrs. Ollie West, wife of William B. West. Mr. West was a traveling man and when they were in New York and Brooklyn I had my niece try to find out something for me....My niece is now living in New Orleans or she was two years ago and her husband had charge of the Oliver Type writer agency.... My husband John Miner died of consumption and it is likely that his service left him weaker than he was when he enlisted. He was in some pretty hard fights in Gettysburg, Pea Ridge, Stone River, Murphysboro, the battle of Wilderness. He served for three years. I do not have any picture of my deceased husband and I do not have any speciman of his handwriting. My husband had his right arm taken off a short time before he died. That was caused by his getting his hand hurt and blood poisoning setting in. Signed, Margaret E. Miner
November 1921 State of Indiana, County of Blackford Affadavit of Lacey A. CAPPER I, Lacey A. Capper, aged 70 years, a resident of Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana, being duly sworn, on oath, do say: that I was well acquainted with John Miner, sometimes called Otis Miner, during his lifetime. That the affiant and her husband lived in the same house with Mr. Miner and his wife Margaret E. Miner at Upland, Indiana in 1873. That affiant frequently heard said John Miner say that he was in the Civil War in the Irish Brigade and frequently heard him telling his army experiences. That one time a Captain Crawford came to Upland, Indiana and that day in 1876, Mrs. Miner and I cooked dinner together and Captain Crawford remained to eat dinner with us and my husband Mike Capper now deceased, and Mr. Miner were all there. I heard Captain Crawford and Mr. Miner converse greatly about their army experience together and after dinner the two conversed a long time indulging in reminesces of thrilling war stories and experiences. Those facts I remember vividly as if I had in recent years. The two families were warm friends and quite intimate and it was a very common thing to hear Mr. Miner narrate Army experiences, who he knew, saw and heard and of his own experience while in the army. Said Captain Crawford, Mr. Miner and my husband Mike Capper are all dead and Mrs. Miner and myself are the only remaining witnesses to these frequent conversations and to all the declarations of Mr. Miner as to his army experiences. The conversations were so frequent and common and I cannot remember exact words, but as my husband Mike Capper and Mr. Miner were both soldiers of the civil war, it was really a custom to hear them exchange experiences. This affadavit I make voluntarily and of my knowledge and insomuch as Mrs. Minor and I have been warm intimate friends for so many years and our husbands were soldiers and it was common talk to hear these veterans at diverse times indulge in conversing about army experiences. Signed, Lacey A. Capper
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