Pension Record of Francis Louis Gurrad
Declaration for Invalid Army Pension, 6 January 1882
This declaration was made in Cook County, Illinois.
Francis Gurrad, aged 39 years old and a resident of Bremen, Cook County, states that he enlisted in the service at Chicago on 21 December 1863 as a Private in Company G in the 39th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. He was honorably discharged at Norfolk, VA on the 8th of December 1865. While in the service about or near a place called Andersonville Prison in GA in the month of July 1864, from unwholesome food and exposure he contracted chronic diarrhea. Also, at Savannah, GA, by a serious blow he contracted a fracture of the skull. Said disabilities continue and greatly unfit him for performing manual labor for which he now asks a pension. He received hospital treatment at Hospital at Baltimore MD from Nov 25, 1864 to 22 of December and Point of Rock VA in March 1865. Since leaving the service he resided mostly at or near Bremen, IL. His occupation has been Pedler and farmer.
This document gives Francis Gurrad’s service record:
On roll Mar& Apr 1864
Roll for May & June listed as missing from June 2 1864-missing in action
Same report made for July & August 1864
Roll for Sept & Oct indicates he is a prisoner of war since June 2 1864
Same report for Nov & Dec 1864
Present on subsequent rolls to June 30 1865
On roll for July & Aug 1865
Absent on detached service since Aug 27, 1865
On roll for Sept & Oct 1865
Mustered out with company Dec 6 1865
Prisoner of War records show him captured at Drury’s Bluff VA June 2, 1864, paroled at Savannah GA Nov 19, 1864;admitted to Hospital Div. No. 1 Annapolis MD, Nov 21, 1864, cause not given; transferred to Baltimore MD Nov 27, 1864. No other evidence of disability on said records. Name does not appear upon records of Andersonville GA on file.
Cook County, Illinois—Francis Gurrad appeared with John G. Busch and August Kornicke(witnesses) of Blue Island and stated that he was a member of Co G 39th Ill. And he was discharged Dec 6 1865.
Cook County, Illinois—Ernst Kott and S. C. Reed appeared as character witnesses. They say they know him and that he has been afflicted with chronic diarrhea and injury to the head for some years past, and that his afflictions are not the result of vicious habits.
Cook County, Illinois—Francis L. Gurrad of Blue Island states: I received a fracture of the scull(sic) from the hands of the Rebels or confederates while a prisoner of war at Savannah Prison in the state of Georgia on or about the 18th day of Sept 1864.
Cook County, Illinois—Francis L. Gurrad of Blue Island states that his name is Francis L. Gurrad and that he served in Co. G, 39th Illinois.
Cook County, Illinois—Charles H. Gardener, age 58 years of Kensington, Cook Co IL says: I first became acquainted with the claimant while in the service of US in 1863 and have known him intimately ever since to the present time. Claimant was taken prisoner of war June 2nd 1864, at Bermuda Hundreds and was a prisoner at Andersonville Ga for about six months. And was ordinarily well when he was captured but when he rejoined the Regt. some seven or eight months after his capture at Chupin Farm VA he was very weak and a complete wreck of his former self. He was suffering from a fracture of his skull, rheumatism, and diarrhea, all of which have existed ever since his discharge to the present time. And has so disabled him that he could not perform ordinary manual labor. Later fear he has been much troubled with catarrah of his head, and is now and has been ever since his return from the Rebel prison, to the present time , and his disabilities are due to his military service and life and hardships in the southern prison pens. And in no way due to his vicious habits.
Cook County, Illinois—John Goebel, aged 57, of 840 N. Halster St. Chicago, IL says:
I was a private in the same company and regiment as the claimant, and I was a messmate of his. Before his capture by the enemy, I assume that he was free from fractures of the skull, rheumatism, and chronic diarrhea. He was captured on the 2nd of June 1864, and was released some time the following February when he joined the regiment again. He was then suffering by means of chronic diarrhea fracture of skull and rheumatism, which I believe was a result of his imprisonment. He had all the common symptoms of said disability there and has suffered with them from that time until the present, as I have seen him on an average of say five or six times a year. He has been ever since war, more or less incapacitated to do manual labor; I should say that he has been disabled by means of said disability at least two thirds of the time. He is a man of good habits and therefore I am quite sure none of his disabilities is due to vicious habits.
Francis L. Gurrad East Jordan MI answered this questionnaire:
Please state your wife’s full name and her maiden name.
Rosina Caterina Gurrad her maiden name Ruff
When, where, and by whom were you married?
Oct 6th 1869 at Chicago by Pastor Mitchell
What record of marriage exists?
At County Court of Cook County
Were you previously married?
No
State the names of your living children and their dates of birth:
Emilie Korthase 14th July 1870
Mary Kline 2nd Aug 1871
Lilly O. W. Nov 15th 1872
John L. March 25th 1874
Charles Edward March 30th 1879
Fredrich L. March 22nd 1881
Anna E. April 19th 1883
Francis Louis Feb 8th 1887
Clareunix Co MI—Rosina Gurrad, aged 60 years, a resident of Wilson Twp of Clairbonix(writing is hard to read; it’s the same county, though) County MI. Besides saying she was the wife of Francis, giving the date of their wedding and dates of his service, she says that Francis died 15 May 1905 at Wilson Twp.
East Jordan MI—Dr. Fremont C. Warner states: I am 48 years old and have been a resident of East Jordan for 22 years and have practiced medicine her continuously since that date. Have known Francis L. Gurrad and his wife the claimant for the last 8 years and have acted as their family physician during this time. Have treated the said Francis Gurrad at various times and lastly during his final illness which occurred between the fifth of January and 15th of May 1905 at which latter date he died. Causes of death was chronic diarrhea, Plusso (?), pneumonia, abcess of lung and exhaustion.
Chairboix Co MI—Fred Korthase of East Jordan MI says:
I have been acquainted with the claimant for more than 22 years. Have lived near the claimant and her husband during all these years. They have been together as husband and wife and have always been known as husband and wife by everybody. They were never married before and the claimant has not remarried. Since the death of her husband Francis L. Gurrad I know that claimant has in income except from her farm home the east half of the south east quarter of section 25 Wilson Twp Chlareux Co MI. Which income does not exceed on hundred and fifty dollars a year. And the claimant has no other means of support. I know these facts to be true as I have known and been familiar with claimant and her late husband and their circumstances…My age is 41 years.
Clarleux Co MI—Fred Gurrad of East Jordan , 24 years old, states:
The 80 acre farm of the claimant is used by the claimant and is not rented. Is not managed by hire and labor. The value of all products sold from the same 80 acres was not over $160 and not less than $150, say $155…Nothing has been hired out for labor as the same farm is mostly wild land and not fit for cultivation. This farm is mostly used for a home. There being about 25 acres cleared and the balance of the said farm stump land and rest cleared for cultivation. There is $1150 Insurance on the house barn cattle grain and farm implements….I know these facts to be true as I have seen the tax receipts; the insurance and am familiar with the facts, being the son of the claimant. I know that the income from the said farm does not Suffice for the claimant who receives help from her Children.
Widow Rosina Gurrad was last paid a pension of $12 on June 4, 1913. She died Nov. 24 1913.(no place of death indicated)