Lucian Toon Deposition
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| Deposition E Case of Julia A Bowman, No. 327216 On this 17 day of April, 1888 at Kecks Church, County of Martin, State of Ind before me, _______, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Lucian Toon, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I am 57 years of age, a farmer, and my P.O. address is Keck's Church Martin County, Indiana. I have known client and her husband for 49 years and have never lived more than 2 ½ miles from them. Q What were his financial circumstances in 1862 and 63? They were in common circumstances. I don't know what his indebtedness was but he was a man of some property. Q What was his land worth an acre then? A It was worth $6 or $8 an acre. Q Did he have any other property? A Yes horses, principally some cattle, sheep and hogs but I don't know current. Q How much was income in a year about 1862 or 63? A I don't think he made over $400 a year to put in the bank over and above his living. Q How did he provide for his family? A He provided very well. They always had plenty to eat and dress and just as good as there was in the country. Q What did their son Pleasant do? A He worked on the farm. Q Did you know or hear of his sending any money home from the army? A No I don't. Q Was his work on the farm of any money he might have sent from the army in any way necessary for the comfortable support of client? A Yes I think it would have. The other boys were young and her husband wasn't able to work much. I don't think he has made a full hand since some time before the war as he had something the matter with his back. He gets around and does business but does not work at manual labor. Q Did Mr Bowman support his family and help his wife comfortable, in a good home with plenty to eat and wear. The same after their son Pleasant want to the army as before? A I suppose he did. Q Is he in as good circumstances now as he was in 1863? A I don't think he is. Q When did he first begin to fail any financially that you know? A I don't know that he has really failed any, still I don't think he is in quite as good circumstances. I think he was in his best circumstances along about 1861 and 1862 but I don't know much about his business. Q Have you testified in this case before? A Yes, that is my signature. Q How did you estimate his property? A I did that by the amount of horses thought he had and his land and I could say he is worth about that. I know that Pleasant was never married or left children as far as I know. Q Has client and her husband always lived together as man and wife since their marriage? A Yes sir. Q What did you know about the girls working on the farm? A I saw them help in the corn planting. Q In that estimate of his income being about $400 you mean that it was over and above his living expenses? A Well I don't believe he made quite that much clear money. Not over that any how to put in the bank. Q Did his girls work any different on the farm than other farmer's daughters in those times? A No I don't know as they did. Hands were scarce then and every body had work to raise the crops. Signed Lucian Toon |
