Jasper Byer Affidavit, 1896

Last week I identified the last name of Henry Trisel’s young ward, John F. Bahn, the son of Henry’s wife Elizabeth (Feldman) Trisel and her first husband Johann Bahn. Johann Bahn served in the Civil War and perished in the Sultana explosion on his way home from the war in April 1865. Young John, their son, is buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery, but his tombstone does not indicate his real last name.

Young John’s mother Elizabeth (Feldman) married Henry Trisel in September 1865. Henry Trisel also served in the Civil War. Young John Bahn, Elizabeth (Feldman) Trisel, and Henry Trisel were all eligible for Civil War pensions at one time or another.

These events, as well as proof of pension eligibilities, generated quite a few documents, which I ordered from the National Archives to research the story of young John and his family.

Among the documents were affidavits from some of Henry Trisel’s Mercer County neighbors.

Below is the transcription of one of those documents, the affidavit of Jasper Byer.

Jasper Byer and Henry Trisel lived about a mile apart. Both lived on route 707, Henry east of route 49 and Jasper west of route 49.

Henry Trisel died 16 February 1896 and Jasper Byer’s affidavit was taken 27 March 1896, taken for Elizabeth Trisel’s [Henry’s widow] Widow’s Pension Application. The affidavit was taken by attorney Albert G. Stewart, age about 68, who lived on South Main Street in Rockford.

Jasper Byer affidavit, Elizabeth Trisel widow’s pension application, 1896.

The affidavit:

State of Ohio, County of Mercer
In the matter of Widows Orig No. 629.450 of Henry Trisel, Ind Battery Lt Artillery Ohio vols.

On this 27th day of March, A.D. 1896, personally appeared before me a notary public in and for the aforesaid county, duly authorized to administer oaths, Jasper Byer, aged 55 years, a resident of Black Creek Tp in the County of Mercer and State of Ohio whose Post Office address is Chattanooga Ohio well known to me to be reputable and entitle to credit and who, being duly sworn, declares for himself, in relation to aforesaid case, as follows:

That he had been acquainted with Henry Trisel the above named soldier and Elizabeth Trisel his wife and now widow, since the month of January 1870 at which time they moved from Cincinnati Ohio to Liberty Township in Mercer County Ohio. I lived then a near neighbor to them and have lived near to them ever since to the present time and my acquaintance with them has been very intimate, although I am not in any way related to either of them.

I know that said Henry Trisel died on Saturday February 15th 1896 for the reason that I was at the house on the same day and saw the corpse and attended the funeral on the next day and saw him buried. I remember the date and the circumstances very distinctly.

I also know that said Henry Trisel and Elizabeth Trisel have lived together as man and wife since the time I first knew them in 1870 and have raised a family of children. That Henry Trisel when he died was the owner of and Eighty acre farm in Black Creek Township, Mercer Co Ohio and he owned no other real estate and had no money at interest but was in debt for a small amount probably about one hundred dollars or a little more.

From my intimate acquaintance with the said parties I know that the said Elizabeth Trisel has no income whatever and possessed no property of any kind except her interest in her late husband’s farm, that her interest in said farm is only that of a Widows Dower to wit the use of one third of said farm during her lifetime, and furthermore that she has no one who is legally bound for her support and is dependent on her own daily labor for a support.

This affidavit as written by A.G. Stewart at Rockford Ohio on the 27th day of March 1896 in my presence and from my oral dictation alone and I was not aided or prompted by any written or printed statement on recited prepared or dictated by an other person whosoever.  [1]

Jasper Byer affidavit, 1896.

Another little piece of Chattanooga-area history.

[1] Affidavit by Jasper Byer, Elizabeth Trisel’s widow’s pension appl. no. 629,450, 27 Mar 1896, service of Henry Trisel (Pvt., 4th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, Civil War); Case Files of Approved Pension Applications…, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

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