Conroy, John (Civil War Pension)

CONROY, MCCOY, GILROY

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 3/18/2011 at 17:33:37

LeMars Globe
12-28-1901

Most Welcome Christmas Gift.
Mrs. Catherine Conroy who has made her home with her daughter Mrs. John McCoy for some time was the recipient of most welcome news the day before Christmas in the shape of a letter from the pension department apprising her that the pension for which she had waited for twenty year had at last been granted and that she would be allowed back pension to the date of her application about twenty years ago. This will give Mrs. Conroy about $2,000 in cash and a monthly pension of $8.00 during the remainder of her life. Surely to her and her relatives and immediate friends Christmas was a merry one. Her husband, John Conroy, being under age and fearing the opposition of his parents, ran away from his home in Pennsylvania and enlisted in the civil war under the name of John Gilroy. After many months of fighting a shell took off one leg and be drew a pension under the name under which he had enlisted until his death which occurred twenty years ago. Mrs. Conroy made application for widow's pension under the name of Conroy and as the names were different it was denied. Many pension attorneys worked on the case to secure for her that which they knew to be her right and though they may have made progress they were not able to secure the welcome news of its allowance.

Geo. M. Smith took up the matter several years ago and like his successors was confident that he would secure it in time and persisted in his efforts through many years and followed the claim through many channels until it was awarded. It was finally secured for her through a special act of congress. Mr. Smith of course is quite as happy as the recipient of the pension to be able to succeed.

Civil War Record
 

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