Saturday, March 21, 2015

WHAT HAPPENED TO POOR OL’ SHADRICK MCGLOTHLIN?



Son of David & Jemima Corel McGlothlin

Documents tell a story!
   
8 Feb 1906       OBITUARY -  SHADRICK McGLOTHLIN.  Died last Sunday of pneumonia. The public schools were adjourned for the day in memory of Shadrick McGlothlin, who was janitor of the school building.  Born in VA April 11, 1847.  Father and family moved to KC, MO in 1849, lived there 3 years when in 1852 they moved to Kentucky.  Nickname “Shade” Spent 32 years in KY and one of his favorite pastimes was telling tales of life in old KY.  Generous-hearted and accommodating to all.  Took life easy and did not attempt big things in a business way.  Pleasure to take a hand in politics, having received his early training and desires along this line during his residence in the Blue Grass state, where politics were lively much of the time.  “Shade” had many friends and few, if any, enemies.  Married Miss Nettie Spears in Nov 1881 in KY.  In 1884 came to Kansas, lived in Pleasanton ever since.  Has wife and four children: Mrs. Cora Callins of Guthrie, OK, Mrs. Pat Liston (Julia) of Enid, OK; Mrs. Louisa Hull of CA, and Henry, at home.  One child died.  Mrs. McGlothlin extends sincere thanks for kindness of friends.
* Cora and Julia were children by his first wife, Martelia Preston, who died about 1878.


Feb 9, 1906         OBITUARY – Sick one week with pneumonia.  Funeral service Monday at 3 held at home.  Officiant Rev.
R. M. Cullison, pastor of Methodist Church.  In attendance were the school board, teachers, members of the city council, Knights and Ladies of Security, Jewell post, G.A.R., citizens, relatives and friends.  Born in Virginia, April 14, 1847.  Died February 4, 1906.  Father and mother moved to KC, Missouri in 1849 and resided there until 1852 when they moved to Kentucky where Shadrick grew up.  He joined in the 45th Kentucky Cavalry where he served three years.  He married Miss Nettie Spears Nov. 23, 1881 and in 1884 they came to Pleasanton.  “Known as an upright and honorable gentleman, a whole-souled, kind and charitable, honest, cheerful and always happy – one of the boys whom everybody liked and respected for his excellent traits of character.”  Was member of the city council, M.E. church, Jewell post of G.A.R., Knight & Ladies of security, in which order he carried a policy of $1,000.  Leaves loving wife, son, three daughters and a brother, H.H.McGlothlin.  Says brother is inconsolable. 

MILITARY                        
31 May 1879   Resident of Paintsville, Johnson Co., KY.  Enlisted at Catlettsburg, Boyd Co., KY
                        on 1 August 1863 as Private in Co. F of the 45Th KY Mounted Infantry commanded
                        by Thomas Russell; discharged Catlettsburg 24 December 1864.  He is 34 years
                        of age, 5’6” tall, light-complexioned, with light eyes and light hair.  That at Catlettsburg
                        on 20 Sept 1863 he took a severe cold caused by exposure, which settled in his left*
                        shoulder.  It now affects in such a degree that he is unable to use his right arm, and
                        can hardly provide support for himself and family.


This file was not held at the National Archives but rather was at the Veterans Administration headquarters in San Diego, California.  The original claim for pension (above) was filed but subsequent investigation revealed the injury may not have occurred as presented.  Below is a letter sent from the examiner to Hon. John C. Black, Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, D.C. dated April 27, 1886

Sir

I have the honor to return herewith the claim #293,837 of Shadrick McGlothlin, late Pvt. Co. F, 45 KY Infantry whose P.O. is Pleasanton, Linn Co., KS

The claim is for lameness in right shoulder, resulting in rheumatism, contracted at Ashland, KY about November 25, 1863.  It was examined in Kansas, then referred to F.C. Griffin, Special Examiner for further examination and subsequently to me, for yet further examination.

I gave a verbal notice to Judge J. F. Stewart, of Paintsville, Johnson Co., KY as requested by claimant.  He was personally present only during the interrogation of the witnesses at Paintsville, KY.

Original witness, Dr. John Hinkle is dead and Dr. W. G. Wells, who had testified to prior soundness could not be reached by reason of the destruction of roads by flood.  They are both of good reputation.

This claim is a palpable fraud.  I recommend its rejection on two grounds.  First that the disability to his shoulder is not due to the service but is due to the hurt he got while climbing Emanuel Spence’s apple tree, either just before or just after enlisting.  (See statement of Spence and his wife Zilpha) and second, because as long as this evidence pursues him, he is not found to be suffering from any pensionable disability but is engaged at some of the hardest kind of work.

I am of opinion that this man should be prosecuted for attempt to practice fraud on the government.  He enlists in August of 1863.  In September  ’63 complains of his shoulder and charges it to rheumatism, when he knew, as well as this evidence shows, that it was the same disability he received by having his shoulder strained in Spence’s apple orchard, either just before, or just after he enlisted and he knows that he spoke to the Spence’s about it.  His intent is guilty and plainly so, and I recommend that he be selected as a suitable person to make an example of.

The claim was denied.  In the pension file there are appeals and declarations and supplementary claims dating right up to his death.  Apparently at some point he was given a small monthly pension.  The man was truly in poor physical shape, but his early indiscretion haunted him and the government was not overly sympathetic to his ills.  The examinations are very inconsistent in their findings as well. 

Considering that Shadrick is a very collateral relative, I do not find it necessary to sort through all these files and get a blow-by-blow description of what transpired.  Suffice it to say, whether he was simply lazy and didn’t care to work, or couldn’t work hard because he was sick, what the obituary stated – “Took life easy and did not attempt big things in a business way” was surely true.





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