John Mulford Raymond (b. 09 Aug 1847, d. 02 Feb 1941)
John Mulford Raymond563 was born 09 Aug 1847 in Wabash, Wabash, Indiana563, and died 02 Feb 1941 in St. Cloud, Osceola, Florida563. He married Marguerite May Saunders on 04 Mar 1875 in White Pigeon, St. Joseph, Michigan.
Notes for John Mulford Raymond: "He was the youngest of the seven children born to Oliver Raymond and Eunice Bates Elliott. When he was 2, his father left to pursue the California Gold Rush in 1849, so John lived at the home of his uncle Dr. William Elliott, a physician and surgeon, in White Pigeon, Michigan. His mother lived there too, along with his older brother William Elliott Raymond, and older sister Helen Raymond. About 1860, Oliver finally returned from California, only to find that his wife Eunice had died the year before at the age of 51. Oliver stayed on at Dr. Elliott's home until he also died a year later at the age of 61. Thus both of John's parents had died before his 14th birthday. The Civil War broke out soon thereafter. On December 5 1861, at the age of 14, John Mulford Raymond enlisted in Company H, 11th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned detail as Drummer Boy. It was no doubt at this time he acquired the nickname "Kid". His uncle Dr. Elliott also enlisted in the same regiment as the 1st Surgeon. While on duty in Bardstown, Kentucky, John became very sick and was sent to the hospital on April 25 1862 for "debility". An affidavit, made years later by Alexander Ennis who served with him, states knowledge of John being sick with black measles, then typhoid fever. Their regiment left Bardstown and marched south, and later John caught up with it. The marching was very hard on him, and caused severe varicose veins. At times he was permitted by the artillerymen to ride on the caissons. At the front at Atlanta, he contracted scurvy which damaged his teeth. In Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 5 1864, he was honorably discharged, and returned to White Pigeon. Around 1866, John became a brickmaker. At the time of the 1870 Census, John was living in White Pigeon as a boarder with Daniel Mapey, who was also a brickmaker. On March 4 1875, John Mulford Raymond married Marguerite May Saunders of White Pigeon. He was 27 years old at the time, she about 18. The next year their first daughter Hattie May was born. The 1880 Census has the three of them living together in White Pigeon. In 1884 their second daughter Alma Ellen was born. In 1886, the "Genealogies of the Raymond Families of New England" was published, compiled by Samuel Raymond of Brooklyn, NY. On page 98, John Mulford Raymond is listed as number 477 in the line of Richard Raymond, our immigrant ancestor who came from England in the early 1600s. John acquired two copies of this book from the author, and later passed at least one of them on to his children. In 1887, John filed his first claim for disability pension, which states he contracted black measles, typhoid fever and varicose veins, while in the service. His service comrades, friends, and father-in-law James Saunders all filed affidavits testifying to his disabilities. He was approved for an $8 per month pension, soon after raised to $10. John would apply for (and get) many pension increases throughout his life. Around this time the family may have moved briefly to Three Rivers, Michigan, where in 1889 son John Leroy Raymond (my grandfather) was born. Around 1893, the first year of the Chicago World's Fair, John moved to Chicago, Illinois, apparently separating from his wife at that time. His cousins Albert and George Raymond were partners there of the firm Raymond Bros., manufacturers of grinding mills. John no doubt knew them, and may have worked with them for a time. In 1896 John divorced Marguerite, the divorce decree stating that she had deserted him without good cause two years prior to the filing, and that John would keep custody of the two minor children. In a deposition made years later in 1928, John stated that his first marriage was a failure, and that "she got sick of me". He said his daughter Hattie May had married Ben Atwell by that time, who also lived in Chicago. By about 1905, his daughter Alma Ellen had also married, to Roger Coit of Chicago, and moved to San Francisco, then to Oakland, California. About the same time, his son John Leroy moved, with his mother Marguerite, to Brevard County, Florida, and soon joined the U.S. Navy. In Chicago, John Mulford Raymond became a streetcar conductor. He underwent numerous medical exams between 1900-1906 to determine whether he was totally disabled, but was denied a total disabilty pension. The 1910 census shows him living alone at 733 West 21st Place, where he resided for many years. On December 12 1912, John remarried to Emma Weeks, a widow, whose maiden name was Clark. He was then 65, and she was 39. They were married at her mother's home in Chicago, then lived together at his residence. Around this time his son John Leroy also married, to Lula Williams of City Point, Florida. Through the years John Mulford Raymond continued his interests in music, and played in street parades in Chicago. He became a National Drum Major in the Association of Civil War Musicians. He had postcards and envelopes printed with photographs comparing himself as he appeared in 1865 and in 1917, in uniform with drum and bugle (several of these were sent to me by the VA). He owned and played many musical instruments. In the 1920's John's memory began to fail him, and in November 1922 he was forced to give up his conductor job because he could no longer remember the names of the streets. In 1923, he and Emma, moved to St. Cloud, Florida, known as "the soldier city", a haven for retired soldiers. Emma's parents also moved down with them. Emma took over the management of most of John's affairs. She wrote letters to the Pension Board, and to her Congressman in 1928, attempting to get pension increases for a full-time attendant. The Congressman, named Sears, intervened on their behalf, and a special examination and depositions were ordered. A pension increase to $72 was approved. In 1938, Emma sought another increase, and with the help of a doctor's affidavit succeeded in having John's pension raised to $100 per month. On February 2 1941 John Mulford Raymond died at the age of 94. He had been sick with the flu for 4 days prior to his death. He was buried in Mt. Peace cemetery at St. Cloud. After his death, Emma had much difficulty and delay in securing her widow's pension, due to her having married John so late in his life. In 1945, this time with the help of her U.S. Senator Francis Maloney (who pushed for special legislation on her behalf), she did finally secure a pension of $40 per month. She lived on until May 7 1960, and died at the age of 87. John Mulford Raymond stood 5'9", weighed 145 pounds, and had grey eyes, light hair and complexion." Author's name unknown, although I think his surname is Howard: found on Ancestry.com.
More About John Mulford Raymond: Burial: 09 Feb 1941, Mt. Peace Cemetary, St. Cloud, Florida.563
More About John Mulford Raymond and Marguerite May Saunders: Marriage: 04 Mar 1875, White Pigeon, St. Joseph, Michigan.
Children of John Mulford Raymond and Marguerite May Saunders are:
John Mulford Raymond (b. 09 Aug 1847, d. 02 Feb 1941)
Notes for John Mulford Raymond: