Caroline Hoyer was previously married to Frank Mott on May 10, 1866 or 1865 at Monterey, Allegan Co., MI by William Bliss
Children of Thomas and Caroline (document May 31, 1898);
Ada Rachel Straub (Vanarkle) b. May 27, 1869 at Salem, Allegan Co., MI
Anna Fray Straub (Doyle) {Brown} b. Aug 5, 1879 at Monterey, Allegan Co., MI
Affidavits in support of pension claims:
Dec 4, 1890--Richard H. Henden, aged 45 years, resident of Monterey, Allegan Co., MI; stated he has been acquainted with Thomas Straub for 20 years; that he is a farmer and employed Thomas at various times to work on his farm; Franklin F. Hewitt, aged 44 years, resident of Monterey, Allegan Co., MI; stated he has known Thomas for 14 years; that he is a farmer and Thomas worked on his farm.
Mar 18, 1891--Thomas Straub, aged 46 years, resident of Monterey; stated that he was wounded in the left knee Mar 19, 1865 at Bentonville, NC; witnesses Albertus Symonds and Gilbert W. Fox.
Jun 19, 1894--Larson Daggett, aged 46 years, resident of Monterey; stated he has been acquainted with Thomas Straub for 5 years; that their farms adjoin.
Oct 13, 1894--Thomas Straub, aged 49 years, Allegan Co., MI; description: height 6'0", complexion light, hair dark brown; eyes blue; stated that in the line of duty at Graysville, GA in Mar 1864 he "Incurred rheumatism by reason of severe exposure."; that he was wounded in the left knee in the Battle of Bentonville about Mar 15, 1865; that he was "unable to march and right after Bentonville I took a boat and came by boat from some place, then North Carolina to Washington DC--and very soon after arriving at Washington was discharged and came home to Van Loo, Hancock Co., Ohio", stated that since his discharge he resided in Van Loo {sic} about six weeks, then resided in towns of Salem and Monterey,
Allegan Co., MI; witnesses William H. Goodman and John B. Stockdale, both residents of Allegan Co., MI.
Oct 11, 1894--Moses Plotts, aged 55 years, resident of Otsego, Allegan Co., MI; SEE FIRST NOTE "THE HANCOCK COUNTY BOYS" FOR HIS STATEMENT.
Feb 26, 1897--J.A. Kimmel, resident of Findlay, OH; stated that he has been practing physician for about 35 years; that he was a member of the same company as Thomas Straub; that Thomas had rheumatism at Graysville, GA in the spring of 1864.
Mar 2, 1897--William Bolander, aged 53 years, resident of Findlay, Hancock Co., OH; stated that he served with thomas Straub in Co A, 21st Ohio Vol. Inf; that Thomas was sick in the spring or summer of 1864 on the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlantic; that this affidavit was writtien by Dr. J.A. Kimmel at "my oral dictation".
Jun 12, 1899--J.A. Kimmel, P.O. Findlay; in response to inquiry from Commissioner of Pensions stated that Thomas Straub was very sick on the campaign from Ringgold to Atlantic "at about 10 to 20 miles before we reached Atlantic" July 1 to 10, 1864.
Sep 17, 1901--John Garrison, aged 71 years, resident of Valley, Allegan Co., MI; stated "I knew Thomas Straub in Hancock Co., Ohio before the war. Knew his father and the whole family. They came to Michigan right after the Civil War. I had been here several years before they came. I enlisted from Alllegan Co., served in Co A, 3rd Mich Cav. Vol, Col. Moyers. I saw him in the fall of 1866, soon after the close of the war. I did not get home till Feb 1866. I was discharged at San Antonio, Texas. His health since the Civil War has not been good. He has suffered since summer and fall of 1866 with rheumatism. I lived close by him in town of Monterey, a near neighbor. I can't say exactly how long after the war, it must have been eight or ten years, till about 1876 Centennial year. I moved to Ganges, since then I have lived in town of Ganges till now, from 1866 to 1876. He was a good deal disabled on account of rheumatism. He was not able to cut his own wood".
May 13, 1912--Thomas Straub, aged 65 years, resident of Otsego, Allegan Co., MI; stated that his birthdate is Mar 17, 1846 at Hancock Co., OH; that since leaving the service he lived in Ohio for six months and the balance in Michigan; witnesses Silas Short and Henry J. Knowles, both of Otsego.
Mar 23, 1915--Thomas Straub, of Otsego, MI, Bureau of Pensions questionnaire; his birthdate is Mar 17, 1845; his wife is Calla Straub, born Hoyer; they were married May 16, 1868 at Salem, Allegan Co., MI; Calla was opreviously married to Frank Mott May 10, 1866 at Monterey; stated names of children living and dead as Ada Rachel Straub now Vanarkle born Salem May 26, 1869, and Anna Fray Straub now Doyle born Monterey Aug 5, 1879
Mar 23, 1915--Thomas Straub, aged 70 years, resident of Otsego; here said he was discharged at Louisville, KY.
Jun 7, 1915--Commissioner of Pensions asked for explanation for discrepancy in his birthdate, given of claim forms as Mar 17, 1845 and Mar 17, 1846.
June 24, 1915--Thomas Straub, aged 70 years, P.O. 634 Allegan St., Otsego, MI; "Replying to letter of Jun m7, 1915 as to date of my birth. I was living in my folks' family in 1850 at Van Loo, Ohio on Swamp farm three miles out. I think it was the town of Marion. Father's name was Benjamin Straub. My mother's name was Elizabeth. The children were in order of their ages: Benjamin (oldest), then 2nd Samuel, Aaron, Hiram, Sheldon and Thomas. And was three girls: Susanna, oldest of the girls, she next after Benjamin, then Mary born next after Susanna, and Hester next after Aaron. I think I have it right. When I was a boy I worked out here and there and all over, memory is not quite clear. I was born Mar 17 and when I enlisted I was 18 years old past. There is no public record of my birth, not to my knowledge. I was not baptized when a chld and never knew anything of any private or family record. We did not live in a city when I was a boy. My folks lived on a farm. But I an unable to state more closely. Mr. Taylor the Justice fixed out my papers for me--I can't explain how the discrepancy occured;" witness W.W. Warner.
Jul 15, 1915--Commissioner of Pensions requested Director of Census to report the records of the 1850 and 1860 censuses as regards the Straub family. Sep 3, 1915 the Director of the census Bureau wrote back with finding; he stated that the censuses for 1850 and 1860 have been examined, but only provided the record for 1850, Amanda Twp, District 48, Hancock County, Ohio, enumerated Sep 9, 1850: Name/Age
Benj. Stroup 48
Elizabeth 47
Benj. Jr 16
Saml 13
Aaron 10
Hiram 8
Sheldon 6
Thomas N [sic] 3
Juliann Grimes 22
Oct 4, 1915--Commissioner of Pensions told Thomas Straub that his correct birthdate is March 17, 1847 based on the 1850 census...."As the said records was made by an authorized and accredited agent appointed for the purpose form statements made by your parents who are supposed to have known your age it is regarded as reliable and entitled to greater weight then verbal or written statements made for memory" [!!!!!]. Because Thomas allegedly did not meet the age requirement, his pension was docked to recover the increase he had been erroneously paid.
Jan 16, 1923--Thomas Straub, aged 75 years; born Mar 17, 1847; this document gives his discharge as Jul 25, 1865 at Louisville, KY; witnesses O.D. Hudnutt, MD and Gladys L. Hart, both of Otsego
Feb 17, 1923--Fray A. Brown, aged 42 years, resident of the City of Otsego, MI for the past 11 years; stated that since Julo 1, 1921, thomas Straub has been unable to dress himself or attend to the calls of nature unaided; that for the past year she has cared for him, and before that time he was assisted by his wife.
Jun 22, 1925--Mrs. Guy Brown, 634 E. Allegan St.; letter asked if she can receive compensation for caring for her father, Thomas Straub who had a "Stroke of apploxey" two years ago.
Jun 26, 1925--Caroline (Calla) Straub, widow of Thomas Straub, age 76 years, resident of Otsego; stated her maiden name was Caroline Hoyer, Married May 16 (no year) at Salem Twp; that there was a former marriage "but anulled by divorce"; that she was born Jul 7, 1848 at Hancock County, Ohio; witnesses Fray Brown and Ada R. VanArkel.
Jun 26, 1925--Caroline Straub, 634 E. Allegan St, Otsego; witnesses, her daughters, Fray A. Brown, resident of Otsego and Ada R. VanArkel, resident of Kalamazoo.
Jul 22, 1925--Death certificate for Thomas S. [sic] Straub born Mar 17, 1847; age 78 yr 3 mo 5 days; birthplace Ohio; Father--B. Straub born Penn.; Mother--Eliz born penn.; died Jun 22 1925 at Otsego, MI; buried Jun 25, 1925 at Allegan, MI; undertaker Benson; informant Mrs. Guy Brown, Otsego.
Sep 5, 1925--Letter to Commissioner of Pensions from Anne E. Taylor, notary public, Otsego, MI, daughter of G.W. Taylor {attorney for Caroline Straub}; stated that since the pension edeclaration for Caroline Straub was filed "I have found out by the proceedings of the Circuit Court that this Divorce was gotten in April 1868 and there is no marriage proff that they were married and that they had a child born 1868 which shows they were living illegally...In my father's opinion there is no way of getting it only by the common law of their living together all those years ane recognized as man and wife. She claimed that she had a marriage certificate on writing paper and that was destroyed and that was why we took up the case."
Jul 11, 1925--Lettr to Winfield Scott, Commissioner of Pensions from Mrs. Guy Brown, 634 E. Allegan St. Otsego; "The late Thomas Straub who passed away Jun 22nd being my father was an invalid for two years. I had to care for him as a little child till his death. Can I rec.l a nurse's pension for such care."
Sep 17, 1925--Letter to the Pension Office, signed Mrs. Thomas Straub but said she is writing "in regards to my mother's pension...she needs her pension as we have to have the Dr. for her every few days as she has cancer of the stomach and bowels
Nov 24, 1925--Wilson Hoyer, aged 75 years of Monterey Twp, Allegan Co., MI; stated he is the brother of Caroline Straub.
Apr 2, 1926--G.W Taylor, Otsego, MI; stated that Caroline Straub had no marriage record and was "divorced from her first husband one year after the birth of the first child her and Straub".
