Cerro Gordo County Iowa
Part of the IaGenWeb Project
Cottrell Pension
Three letters concerning Hepsibah
Cottrell application for her son's Perry Cottrell Civil War Pension
Joseph Molsberry
letter concerning Mrs. Hepsibsh's Cottrell
I J. M. Molsberry do solemnly swear that I was personally acquainted with
Hepsibah Cottrell as well as her husband George B. Cottrell and have been for
some thirty years and was acquainted with the son Perry Cottrell deceased in the
state of Michigan where they resided at the time of the War Of the Rebellion of
1861 and I do know that the deceased was the son of Hepsibah Cottrell or was so
treated and regarded by her from infancy up to the time of his decease that he
always called her mother and the fact was never disputed in the neighborhood
where they resided which was the town of Buchanan state of Michigan. I was not
present at the time of birth but made their acquaintance shortly afterwards that
the son Perry enlisted in the Company of my brother and had notice immediately
when he was wounded and to the best of my knowledge he was ata the time of his
death unmarried as we never heard it claimed by anyone that he had a wife and I
am certain in y own mind that he had none and I make this affidavit of my own
free will and I further swear that I have no personal interest in the claim No
226072 of said Mrs. Hepsibah Cottrell for widows or mothers
Pension. J. M. Molsberry
Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence by J. M. Molsberry on the 7th
day of August 1878.
M. P. Rosecrans Notary Public
~ Mark Cottrell Kensett, Iowa
NOTE: MOLSBERRY
This Joseph Molsberry came to Cerro Gordo County from Berrien County Michigan
also after the Civil War. He farmed north of Plymouth, Iowa and can be found on
some plat maps there. He did have descendents living in the Plymouth area not
too very long ago. His brother William F. Molsberry was a Lieutenant in the Army
and recruited Perry Washington Cottrell for duty in the Civil War against his
father George B Cottrells wishes.
~ Mark Cottrell Kensett, Iowa
I.C.H. Day letter concerning Mrs. Hepsibah Cottrell
I C. H. Day do solemnly swear that I was well and truly acquainted with Perry
Cottrell son of Mrs. Hepsibah Cottrell from childhood up to the time of his
death in the service of the United States. That he was always reputed to be the
son of the said Hepsibah Cottrell and I do not believe that any person ever
claimed him to be otherwise that we were raised as boys in the same town
together in state of Michigan. That to the best of affiant's knowledge the said
deceased died unmarried. I further testify that I am acquainted with Mrs.
Hepsibah Cottrell and I know she has no visible means of support her said
husband being old feeble and in poor healt hand I further swear that I have no
personal interest in her claim for Pension no. 220072. C.H. Day Sworn to before
me and subscribed in my presence by C. H. Day on the 7th day of August 1878. M.
P. Rosecrans Notary Public
~ Mark Cottrell Kensett, Iowa
George F. McDowell letter concerning Hepsibah's death, leaviing the way open for
George B. Cottrell to receive Perry's pension.
George
F. McDowell M. D. being first duly sworn deposes and says that he was well
acquainted with Mrs. Hepsibah Cottrell who was the applicant for Pension No
226072 and was at times her family physician for some years prior to and up to
the time of her death. That I know of my own personal knowledge that she the
said applicant is dead that she died at Plymouth in the county of Cerro Gordo in
the state of Iowa on the 19th of March of 1879 and that I performed a
Post Mortem examination on the body of the deceased on the 20th day
of the same month assisted by Dr. Waller of that place and I know that she left
a husband whose name is George B. Cottrell who is to my knowledge an aged and
infirm man over seventy three years of age and whose application for Pension I
believe is now on file before the Commissioner of Pensions. And I further swear
that I have no interest whatever in his application for Pension now on
file.
George F.
McDowell
Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence by G. F. McDowell M. D. on the
5th day of July 1880
M. P. Rosecrans Notary Public for the State of Iowa
~ Mark Cottrell Kensett, Iowa