On this 9th day of January 1912 at Oakland, County of Alameda, State of California, before me, E. G. Hursh a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Levina L. Cherry, who , being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says
I am 81 years of age; my post office address is 2224 - E 16th St., Oakland, Alameda County, California. Occupation, none as am invalid.
I am the identical Levina L. Cherry who has applied for a pension as the widow of William M. Cherry, who served during the late civil war in Co. C. 14th Ill. Vol. Inf. I think he held the rand of Sgt. He enlisted in the spring of 1861, and was discharged in June 1864, and he died in January 1898 at the Government Hospital for the insane, Washington D.C.
I was born January 14, 1830 in the State of Tennessee, Maury County, I think. My father's name was Williamson Brown, my mother's maiden name was Lucinda Thurman. She died, as I was informed, when I was about one year old, my father and mother moved with their family to Carlinville, Illinois and that's where my mother died. My father was twice married after my mothers death. When I was about five years old, father moved about 9 miles out into the country from Carlinville on a farm. I lived there with father until I was about 17 years old, then I went to Alton, Ill. where I went to school first and then worked and supported myself until I was married to William M. Cherry at Alton, Ill on March 27, 1856 by Rev. A. J. Norton, I have heretofore filed a certified copy of my marriage in the pension office at Washington D. C. in my pension claim. I was married to him by my maiden name of Levina Brown. He nor I had ever been married before my said husband's aunt was my second step-mother and I know that he had not been married before. I had met him first quite a number of years before our marriage, and at intervals after my first meeting. He and I lived together as husband and wife until, I think the fall of 1892, since then I have not seen him. We were then living at Calistoga, California when he went east. Of course he was off some times before that on business, and at work. He used to buy and trade in livestock. He was a good judge of livestock. Before he left me at Calistoga, Ca. he had taken up some water rights in Lassen County, California and had sold out, and had some money then as he had not seen his mother for a very long time who was getting old he wanted to make her a visit for which purpose he left Calistoga and went east and never came back. His mother was then living in Parsons's in La Bette County, Kansas. He just went off to make a visit. He did not say when he expected to return and did not say whether he expected to return. No sir we had no quarrell, no he did not say that he would never return. He was a man whenever he had any money he would spend it in sprees and I apprehend he spent his money and then had no means by which he could return.
No he never sent me anything after he left Calistoga in 1892 for my support, and never wrote to me directly but he wrote to our son Luther S. Cherry who lives here now. He used to write to his mother and through her we kept posted of his movements part of the time. He then had three brothers, two of them are still living John H. Cherry, of Little Rock, Ark. a lawyer, and Peterson H. Cherry, last address Kansas City. can't say whether MO or Kansas, but can't say whether he there now. My said husband has two sisters living, Matilda E., she married a shoemaker, first name not known. I believe she is a widow and has a son Luke P. Mayfield, by her first husband who was a druggist at Kirksville, MO. I can't say whether his mother is living with him or not. His second sister is Mrs. Zena or Ceci A Craw, she is a widow and lives with her son Sylvester Craw at Wichita, Kansas or did when I last heard from her.
I had four children by the soldier William M. Cherry, three of whom are still living, namely. Luther S. Cherry, born March 6, 1857 near Maricopa, De Witte County, Illinois. Carry G. Cherry, unmarried, born July 24, 1858, near Marion, DeWitte County, Illinois. She lives here. I live with her. Hallie is now the wife of George H. Larrabee of 2242 8th Ave., old address 1626 8th Ave., born October 30, 1861. After my marriage to the soldier we lived with his parents for a few months near Scottville, Macoupin County, Ill., then we moved to near Marion, DeWitte County, Ill., from there we moved to near Girard, Macoupin Co., Ill, that is where we lived when he enlisted in the army. Then his father moved me and my children to his home in the town of Girard where we lived until the soldiers return. After his return we lived near Girard, on his fathers farm. In 1867, fall, we moved onto a farm in La Bette County, Kansas. We lived there until 1874. Then we came to near Calistoga, CA and that was our joint home and the town of Calistoga until he went east in the fall of 1892, as I said before he was away from me some time on business or off at work for several months at a time, but he always returned home to me until he went east as before stated. After he left I remained in Calistoga for about a year and then came down to San Francisco, Ca, and lived there with my daughter Hallie Larrabee, until August 1893. Then I went with my daughter and her husband to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I lived with my said daughter and her husband George H. Larrabee, until the spring of 1899. Then they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and I went with them, where we lived until the spring of 1902 when I returned to San Francisco, Cal, and I and my daughter Carrie G. Cherry lived together until September or October 1902, then Mr. and Mrs. Larabee came back here and settled in Oakland, CA at 1626 - 8th Ave. E Oakland, California and I went to live with them again. Mr. Larabee has been a travelling salesman all these years which accounts for their different moves. I lived there on 8th Ave E Oakland until January 6, 1911. Since then I have lived here with my daughter Carrie G. Cherry and my son Luther S. Cherry who lives here whenever he is not employed outside of Oakland, Ca.
I have never applied for a divorce from my said husband William M. Cherry. He told me once that I could get a divorce from him on account of drunkenness. I never was served with notice or any papers of divorce proceedings instituted by him. I never have married again since he left Calistoga and went back east as before stated. I learned of his death through his mother who had been notified by the hospital authorities of his death and then she informed me of it. She used to correspond with him, or at any rate kept posted of his movements whether directly or through his brothers.
Witnesses to signature
Cora Hawkins Carrie G. Cherry
Levina L Cherry by her mark
Picture of daughter Carrie G. Cherry, front and back
Contributor's Note: The story is that Levina's husband William married another woman while still married to her after they had moved to California where he left her. William is referred to as a drunken, ner do well. There is also some reference to William being an unpleasant party in the bushwackers.
Contributed by Joanne Brown Peyton, copyright reserved on transcription 2010
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