Abstract of Civil War Widow’s Pension File

Mary McVay Lillard
 
Henry L. Lillard enlisted Aug. 9, 1862 at Garden Grove in Co. A, 34th Iowa Volunteer Infantry; mustered into service as a sergeant on Oct. 15, 1862 at Burlington, Iowa in Co. A, 34th Vol. Inf.

Henry L. Lillard, Sgt., Co. A 34th Iowa Inf., died in hospital in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 29, 1863, of smallpox.

Proof of marriage: affidavit of Thomas Waller, minister of the gospel, stating that on Feb. 8, 1862, at the home of Mrs. Rhoda Freeman, in Decatur County, he joined in holy matrimony Henry L. Lillard, age 25, and Mary A. McVay, age 24.

Mary A. Lillard dropped from pension rolls due to her remarriage to William Gibson; affidavit of John Vail, J.P., stating that on April 7, 1866, at the home of the bride’s father in Decatur Co., he joined in marriage William Gibson and Mary A. Lillard.

Affidavit of William B. McVay and Martha M. Vail stating that they were present at the birth of Henry L. Lillard on Dec. 6, 1862, son of Henry L. and Mary A. Lillard.

Approval of pension #145,071 for Henry L. Lillard, minor son of Sgt. Henry L. Lillard, at the rate of $8 per month, issued Sept. 28, 1870 and payments retroactive to April 8, 1866.

By the “Act of March 3, 1901” Mary Lillard Gibson filed for restoration of per pension, due to the death of her husband, William Gibson; a death certificate was produced stating the Mr. Gibson died Oct. 1, 1901 in Garden Grove Twp.

Mary Lillard Gibson presented proof of income and property; at the death of Mr. Gibson, who died intestate, she received 1/3 of his 175 acre farm; his other heirs, four children and one grandchild, inherited the remainder; she bought the share of one of the children for $700 and her son, Lewis/Louis purchased the remainder of the land from Mr. Gibson’s heirs. [note: unlike the original pension, restoration after a remarriage depended on the need of the applicant.]

Restoration of Mary Lillard Gibson’s pension rejected by Pension Board because she owned enough property and had other income sufficient for her support.
 
Source: Fold3; added 16 Jan 2020
 
Military Directory *** Decatur County IAGenWeb