Jacob Henry Becraft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1825 - NY
Christening:
Death: 20 Jul 1902 - Montello, Marquette Co, WI 1
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Occupation, Farmer
• Census, Federal, 1850 in Chatham, Tioga, PA
1850 Chatham, Tioga, PA Census Pg 13, Sept 9• Cemetery, Wisconsin Census, 1820-90, 1860 in Green Lake, Green Lake Co, WI
Jonathan Becraft 45 Farmer PA***
Catherine 45 PA
Jacob 25 laborer NY
Mary 9 PA
Robert 7 PA
Mahala 5 PA
Jacob Becraft• Physical Description, 1861
Jacob’s physical description at the time of his enlistment was 5’ 6 ½” tall, dark complexion, black hair and hazel eyes.• Military, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company A, 19 Apr 1861 in Fox Lake, WI
• Pension, Pension Application, 3 Sep 1872
Selected pages• Pension, Pension File, 20 Oct 1873
From the Pension File of
Jacob H. Becraft
Certificate #186626
Can #3571, Bundle #19
National Archives Trust Fund, Washington, DC
Invalid Pension Claim
State of Wisconsin
County of Green Lake
On this 3rd day of September 1872 personally appeared before me, A.P. Carman, a clerk of the Circuit Court, a court of record in and for the county and state aforesaid, Mr. Jacob H. Becraft, who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is aged 47 years, that he is the identical Jacob H. Becraft who enlisted under the name of Jacob H. Becraft in the Military Service of the United States at Fox Lake, Columbia County, Wisconsin on the 11th day of June 1861 in company "A", second Regiment Wis. Infantry Volunteers in the War of 1861.
He re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer in company "A", second Wis Infantry & afterward transferred to Co. "H", sixth Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers at Culpepper, Virginia for three years or during the War. And was honorably discharged from the service of the United States at Jeffersonville, Indiana on the 14th day of July 1865.
His personal description follows - 47 years of age, 5 feet 61/2 inches high, Dark complexion, Hazel eyes, Black hair, and a farmer by occupation.
That while in the service aforesaid and in the line of his duty, he was attacked with rheumatism in his left knee and hip while encamped near Washington C.C. and doing Picket and guard duty around Washington D.C. That he was so affected by it that he was unable to perform any duty for about three months, after which time he was detailed as cattle guard for the Brigade or Regiment to which he belonged; of which was the only duty performed by him while with the service, after being taken with rheumatism as above stated. That said disease was contracted on or about the month of October 1862 at Arlington Heights, Virginia.
He also was ruptured near the navel, at the Battle of Bull Run, Va. July 21st 1862, by jumping down the bank of Bull Run Creek, some 10 or 12 feet, and striking upon his feet in the bottom of the stream upon solid bottom, he being in a bent position, his head and shoulders thrown backward, and the strain and jar tore his abdomen across near the navel causing a large breach, & had it not been for the water splashing up in his face, he doubtless would have fainted but the Rebels were on close pursuit and had been for about a mile, and he revived, and pushed on, and escaped capture in a dense wood. He had become separated from the company at this time, and found part of them that same day on the street towards Washington. That said rupture was very painful and after caused diarrhea. That it still exists, but somewhat smaller than at first.
That he was treated in General Hospital at City Point, Va from about the middle of October 1864, until about the 15th of April 1865;
That he has not been employed in the military or naval service of the United States since July 14, 1865;
That since leaving the service he has resided at Green Lake in the County of Green Lake, and State of Wisconsin, and his occupation has been a farmer;
That he hereby appoints Addison J. Parker of Marquette, Green Lake County, Wisconsin, his true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim;
That he has never received or applied for pension;
That his residence is in the township of Green Lake in the County of Green Lake and the State of Wisconsin;
His Post Office address is Markesan, Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
Jacob H. Becraft [X, his mark]
(Claimant's signature)
S.W. Smith
Albert Long
(Signature of witnesses)
Also personally appeared Samuel W. Smith, residing in Town of Green Lake and Albert Long, residing in the town of Brooklyn in the County and State first above written, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say they were present and saw Jacob H. Becraft, the claimant, sign his name to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of the said claimant and their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
S.W. Smith
Albert Long
(Signatures of Witnesses)
State of Wisconsin• Pension, Pension File Extract, 5 Jun 1875
County of Green Lake
Personally appeared before me J. V. W. Severson of Green Lake in the town and county above written who on his oath deposes and says that Jacob H. Becraft labored upon his farm in said town and county from about 1858 until he enlisted into Co. "A", 2nd Regt. Wis. Infty Vols. In the War of 1861. And that said Becraft lived at his house during this time and that he was a very remarkably strong, healthy and rugged man to work and to all appearances, and that there was no sign of or complaint from him of any Rheumatism, breach, or other bodily injury or ailment during this period, and that he was considered by my neighbors and myself as the best working man in the neighborhood for several miles around me, where it was and is thickly settled and is nearly all tilled land and very many hands employed.
Also that he has known said Becraft ever since his return from the army in 1865 and that he is partially crippled by rheumatism, and a breach during this period, and almost wholly unable to earn his living by manual labor, besides being much impaired in his intellect, which I firmly believe are the direct results of his army life, judging from my intimate and almost daily personal knowledge of him before and since said service.
That I am not interested in the prosecution of the claim of Jacob H. Becraft for a pension.
Signed, J. V. W. Severson
Also personally appeared S. W. Smith of the same place who being duly sworn deposes and says that he has carefully perused the foregoing afft. Of Mr. J.P.W. Severson, his neighbor, and from his own personal knowledge of the man Becraft, both before enlistment and since discharge he can and does fully corroborate the foregoing affidavit. That he is not interested in the prosecution of the claim of said Jacob H. Becraft for a pension.
Signed, S.W. Smith
Also personally appeared before me Homer Nelson and Theodore Wheeler, Homer D. Wheeler and H. R. Gardenier and Daniel Burnside and Nelson Poole and Albert A. See and Samuel Staples and Stephen C. Westgate, all of whom are residents of the same neighborhood in the town, county and state first above-written who being duly sworn depose and say that they do fully and freely corroborate the statements made in the foregoing affidavit by Mr. J.P.W. Severson regarding the health and soundness of Jacob H. Becraft therein described. And that they testify from personal knowledge, and that it is their firm belief that said Becraft contracted chronic Rheumatism and a rupture in the U.S. Army as aforesaid, and that he was entirely free from these injuries at enlistment. And that they have no interest in the prosecution of the claim of Jacob H. Becraft for a pension.
Signed:
Homer Nelson
Theo Wheeler
Homer D. Wheeler
H.R. Gardenier
Daniel Burnside
Nelson Poole
Albert A. See
Stephen C. Westgate
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of October A.D. 1873, and I certify the affiants to be credible persons to one well known; also, that I am not concerned in the prosecution of the claim of Jacob H. Becraft for a pension.
[Signed] George W. Dart
Notary Public
Green Lake Co.
Wisconsin
State of Wisconsin• Pension, Pension File Extract, 4 Jun 1878
County of Green Lake
On this 5th day of June A.D. 1875 personally appeared Jacob H. Becraft of Green Lake in the County and State aforementioned when being duly sworn on oath, states that he is the identical Jacob H. Becraft who was a private in Co. "A", 2nd Wis. Infty Vol. in the war of 1861; That he applied for pension through Addison J. Parker of Marquette, Green Lake Co., Wis. Which claim is still pending in the pension office - That he cannot obtain the testimony of any physician showing his condition prior to and at enlistment into the aforesaid service for the reason that he was perfectly healthy, lived in the same neighborhood in which he now resides and where he has resided ever since leaving the U.S. Service and that he did not make the acquaintance of any physician in that county - hence no one (physician) can make the necessary afft you (the pension office) require - and again the physician whom he called his family physician in New York State where he lived prior to 1860 is now dead & has been for years - hence he cannot obtain the necessary medical testimony in his case - That his present physical condition is such that he cannot obtain his subsistence by manual labor, and is only prevented from being a town charge by the sympathies and charities of the people in the neighborhood in which he resides.
Jacob H. Becraft [His mark]
(Signed)
State of Wisconsin, County of Green Lake• Pension, Pension File Extract, 28 May 1879
In the matter of Jacob Becraft
Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County and State, Dr. Ira Manley, citizen of the Town of Mackford, County of Green Lake, State of Wisconsin, personally known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare as follows:
I first examined Jacob H. Becraft formerly of Company A, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers in 1865. I found Ventral Hernia. His history of it was that at the first Bull Run retreat he ran and jumped from a high bank & struck heavily in the bottom of the stream. I have every reason to believe that he tells the truth. The projection is now considerable & very tender to pressure, greatly increased by pressure or any exertion; which brings on diarrhea with bloody stools - He also had at that time [???] rheumatism which he still has. I have been his family medical attendant continually since 1865 & know that his health has at no time been such as to admit of continuous labor. Mr. S.W. Smith has kept him as a tenant as a matter of charity & allow me to say that it has seemed to me there has been a great wrong in the fact that he gave his splendid health for his country & has ever since the war & is now living in poverty because he is disabled from work.
...
Ira Manley, MD
Late asst. surg. 1st WI Hy. Artillery
...
Witness my hand and official seal this Fourth day of June 1878.
William Paddock
Justice of the Peace
State of Wisconsin, County of Green Lake• Census, Federal, 1880 in Green Lake, Green Lake Co, WI
In the matter of Jacob Becraft
Personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and State, S.W. Smith and [Blank], citizens of the Town of Green Lake, County of Green Lake, State of Wisconsin, personally known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, declare as follows:
J.W. Smith became acquainted with Jacob Becraft in the Fall of 1856 at that time he commenced work for me as a farm hand, he worked one year. During the year he worked for me he never was afflicted with Rheumatism and was [an] uncommonly strong & healthy man. He worked for me at other times before he enlisted in the Service and during all of the time that I was acquainted with him before his enlistment I never heard him complain of Rheumatism.
Markesan, May 28, 1879
I [Blank] first became acquainted with Jacob Becraft in the fall of 1856 when he commenced work for S.W. Smith. He also worked for me the whole of the summer and fall of 1860 as a farm hand. During all of the time he was in my employ and during the time that I was acquainted with him before his enlistment I never know or heard he was afflicted with the Rheumatism.
Markesan, May 28, 1879
Signature of Affiants
S.W. Smith
J.V.W. Severson
1880 Green Lake, Green Lake, Wisconsin Census Pg 17, June 19&21• Census, Wisonsin Census, 1820-90, 1890 in Montello, Marquette Co, WI
Jacob Becraft 52 farm laborer all b. NY***
Hannah (wife) 38 PA RI RI
George (son) 12 WI
Andrew (son) 9 WI
Grant (son) 8 WI
E.D. 178, Jacob B. Becraft• Pension, Pension File Extract, 3 Jul 1898
Department of the Interior• Pension, Pension File Extract, 20 Jun 1903
Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C., January 15, 1898
Certificate No. 186626
Name, Jacob H. Becraft
Sir:
In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below.
First. Are you married? If so, state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer: Wife died June 19th 1897. Name Hannah Alford
Second. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer: Married 1865 in Tioga Co. Penn.
Third. What record of marriage exists?
Answer: Do not know
Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her
death or divorce.
Answer: No
Fifth. Have you any living children? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer: One son George age 27 years
(Signature) Jacob H. Becraft
Date of reply, July 3rd, 1898
PENSIONER DROPPED
United states pension agency
Milwaukee, Wis.
June 20, 1903
Certificate No. 186626
Class: Inv
Pensioner: Jacob H. Becraft
Service: Pri A 2nd Wis. Inf and H 6 Wis. Inf
The Commissioner of Pensions
Sir: I have the honor to report that the above-named pensioner who was last paid at $12, to July 1902 has been dropped because of death July 20, 1902.
Very respectfully,
E.D. Coe
United States Pension Agent
Parents
Father: Jonathan Becraft
Mother: Catherine Elizabeth Cornwell
Spouses and Children
1. *Hannah Alford
Marriage: 1865 - Tioga Co, PA 2
Status:
Children:
1. George W. Becraft 3
2. Andrew Becraft 3
3. Grant Becraft 3
Notes
General:
http://hamilton.nygenweb.net/bios/Becraft1.html
In 1858, Jacob moved permanently to Green Lake, Green Lake Co., Wisconsin. He worked as a farm hand and lived at the home of J.P.W. Severson until he entered the service. Jacob enrolled 19 April 1861 at Fox Lake and was mustered into service 11 June 1861 at Madison, WI. That October, Jacob's eldest son, Elias, enlisted in NY and died in Washington, D.C. the following year. Jacob's physical description at the time of his enlistment was 5' 6 ½" tall, dark complexion, black hair and hazel eyes. He served in Co. A, 2nd WI Vol. Infantry, which left the state June 20th. Jacob's unit was part of the famous "Iron Brigade". He took part in the Battle of Bull Run and was injured and separated from his company during the retreat toward Washington. Although the doctor who saw him advised that he should be sent home, he was not granted a discharge. Rather, while his unit was encamped at Arlington Heights, he was assigned picket and guard duty. When his superiors discovered he could ride a horse, he was detailed to cattle guard for the brigade, as he could no longer perform regular picket duty. Jacob suffered with Typhoid fever, Rheumatism and a rupture and was hospitalized many times during his service. In February 1864 he re-enlisted in Co. A, at Culpepper, VA. In June 1864 he was transferred to Co. B. In November, he was transferred to Co. H, 6th Wisconsin Vols. And was mustered out with that company 14 July 1865 at Jeffersonville, Indiana.
The year of his discharge, Jacob married Hannah Alford in Tioga Co., Pennsylvania. They lived there for about 2 years and then moved to Green Lake, Green Lake Co., Wisconsin where they had at least 3 children. Jacob applied for an invalid pension in 1872 to help support his family because he could no longer do the work he had done before his military service. The family was still living in Green Lake in 1880 but may have moved to Montello, Marquette Co., WI by 1890. Hannah died in 1897 and Jacob died 10 years later, in 1907.
3
Sources
1. Shane Beecraft, Beecraft/BeCraft and Eggimann Family Tree, Ancestry.com, 20 Jun 1902.
2. (http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2553780&id=I534530128).
3. Joanne Murray (lajkam@gmail.com), The Becraft Family of Morehouse (http://hamilton.nygenweb.net/bios/Becraft1.html).