Submitted by Joan McKinley Williams jomcwil@aol.com No 33752 Widow’s Application For A Pension Name of Applicant: Mrs. M. E. Spears Upshur County, Texas Post office: Gilmer, Texas Filed Jan 20, 1917 Approved Feb 9, 1917 Pension allowed from Mar 1, 1917 THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF Upshur I, Mrs. M. E. Spears, do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension, to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved April 7, A. D. 1913, on the following grounds: I am the widow of J. L. Spears, deceased, who departed this life on the 2nd day of May, A.D. 1915, in the county of Upshur in the State of Texas. I have not remarried since the death of my husband, and I do solemnly swear that I was never divorced from my said husband, and that I never voluntarily abandoned him during his life, but remained his true, faithful and lawful wife up to the date of his death. I was married to him on the 3rd day of January, A.D. 1869, in the county of Hill, in the State of Texas. My husband, the said J. L. Spears, enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that he did not desert the Confederate Service. I have been a resident of the State of Texas since prior to January 1, A.D. 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in the value to the sum of $300.00 per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does anyone hold in trust for my benefit or use, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of “the value of one thousand dollars, exclusive of the home of the value of not over $1000.00; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true: 1. What is your age? 67 yrs 2. Where were you born? Hill County, Texas 3. How long have you resided in the State of Texas? All my life 4. How long have you resided in the county of your present residence? And what is your postoffice address? 25 yeas. Gilmer, Texas. 5. Did your husband draw a pension? If so, give his file number. No 6. What was your husband’s full name? John Luther Spears 7. What was the date of his death? May 2nd 1915 8. In what State was your husband’s command originally organized? Texas 9. How long did your husband serve? If known to you give date of enlistment and discharge. 3 years ending at time of surrender of Texas army in May 1865. 10. What was the name or letter of the company, or number of the battalion, regiment or battery of artillery in which your husband served? If he was transferred from one branch of service to another, give time of transfer, description of command and time of service. I do not know. His Captain’s name was Maynes or “Mains” and Lieut Hagler 11. Name branch of service in which your husband served, whether infantry, cavalry, artillery, or the navy, or if commissioned as an officer by the President, his rank and line of duty, or if detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, the nature of such service, and time of service. Cavalry. He served as a private. He was in Montague County, Texas, most of the time of the service. I have tried to find out some one of his old comrades but have failed to locate them. 12. Have you transferred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? No Wherefore your petitioner prays that her application for a pension may be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. her (Signature of Applicant) Mrs. M.E. X Spears mark Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 27th day of December A.D. 1916 /s/ W. H. McClelland County Judge Upshur County, Texas Subscribing Witness for such Application were: R. H. Strong and C. M. Davis Affidavits dated 30 December 1916 [Handwritten note on first page of this Application saying that applicant Mrs. M. E. Spears was deceased by 10 Feb, 1932]