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Act Of Congress 1890 Essay

Decent Essays

Two Acts of Congress in 1890

The U.S. Congress passes an act that grants a pension to all wives of veterans who served in the American Civil War. On April 10, 1890, Friederike (Miko) Ruesse fills out an application to receive a widow’s pension. Her late husband, Johann Voss, had served during the war. Rike goes to Nashville, the county seat of Washington County, to see an attorney. Filling out a form, she swears to the following:

“In the state of Illinois, county of Washington, on this April 10, 1890, personally appeared before me, Friederike Ruesse. Her age is 53 years and she is a resident of Plum Hill, Washington County, Illinois. Sworn in, she makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by acts of Congress …show more content…

That no prior application has been made to her knowledge. That she hereby appoints T. S. LeCompte of Nashville Illinois, her attorney, to prosecute her claim. Her Post Office address is Plum Hill, Washington County, Illinois.

G. G. Schneider Friederike X Ruesse
Attest-John Blumhorst Her mark

Schneider and Blumhorst are witnesses who are present at the signing. Because Rike cannot read or write, they swear that the mark made in place of her signature, is hers. (L149)
*Friederike does not mention Johann’s 3-month service in the army prior to his enlistment for 3 years in the 2nd Artillery Missouri Volunteers because it is not pertinent to this application. No pension was granted for those who signed up for a 3-month duty.
**Friederike cannot read or write. This may help to explain why many of the dates she provides are incorrect. John Voss died in 1873, not 1872, and she and Henry Ruesse married in 1874, not 1873. Her daughter, Elizabeth, is born in 1865, not 1868. Her son, George, is born not in 1872, but in 1871. Nevertheless, the documentation is accepted by the United States government and she is granted a widow’s pension. For the past 18 years, Joseph Kello has lived as a wanted man living the under the alias of Charles Lorne. On June 27, 1890, the U.S. Congress passes an act that has a profound effect on his life. It extends forgiveness to those who deserted from the army either during the Civil War or

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