Pvt. Mathew
James McCullough
Mathew James McCullough was born December 12, 1843 to Thomas M. and Eleanor (McCormick) McCullough in Prospect, Butler Co., Pennsylvania. According to Mathew's pension records no birth certificate was ever completed to recognize his birth. The only written record held by the family was that which was written in the front of the family bible. Mathew was unable to locate the bible to prove his birth to the government. In a letter to Major J.L. Davenport, Commissioner of Pensions, Mathew writes, "I am unable to furnish evidence indicating in the enclosed letter (1) as there is no public or church record of my birth. The family bible containing the record fell into my youngest brothers hands on the death of my parents and I presume he let his kids destroy it. My sister went to look it up for me and that was the result. Further that date of my birth was 12th of Dec, 1843 to which I am willing to be qualified to". He doesn't state which sister he was speaking of but the record shows he had two, Mary (Kiskadden) and Margaret (Bayley). They would later be named on an affidavit found in the pension records.
Nothing in his pension records show what type of childhood Mathew may have had, or of any major events that would have been note worthy later in his life. In numerous Declaration for Pension forms contained in the pension file, Mathew stated that he was a farmer by trade.
Mathew enlisted in the Union Army on August 31st, 1864 at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in the 212th Pa, 6th Heavy Artillery and was assigned to Company A that was commanded by Captain William R. Hutchison. Shortly after it's organization, the company was transported to Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburgh, Pa, on the 15th of September to unite with the other companies of the 212th. Two days later they moved toward Washington City, and upon their arrival, were assigned to the Second Brigade of DeRussy's Division, which was garrisoning the defenses of the Capital. (2)
Mathew's life as a civil war artillerist at and around Washington City was far from exciting. There were no major battles that took place by the forts or batteries to which they were assigned. Early on, the unit had the assignment to guard sections of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad that lay between Alexandria and Manassas, Va, with their headquarters at Fairfax Court House. It is at Manassas Junction in October that Mathew stated he became ill and developed piles. There is nothing in the medical records of the unit's surgeon that substantiates this illness. This lack of evidence caused him to be turned down in 1913 for additional pension money. Mathew did in fact develop dysentery, as did many of his fellow soldiers during the war.
The rest of the War of the Rebellion was spent at various batteries and forts around Washington City. The headquarters for the unit was at Ft. Ethan Allen on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. This is where, on 13 June 1865, he and his fellow soldiers were mustered out of service. They were then transported by way of train cars back to Camp Reynolds and on the 17th of June, 1865 the 212th was disbanded.
After the war Mathew married Margaret A. Tebay (3) on November 14, 1865. The wedding took place about a mile east of Prospect, Pa by Rev. James A. Clarke. (4) This event was also hard to verify for Mathew later on in the pension process, because there was also no written record. Mathew had to fill out numerous questionnaires and have people that were present at the wedding sign affidavits stating that they were, in fact, present at the wedding. This is where the two sisters mentioned previously, submit their affidavits stating that they were indeed at the wedding and that they and Mathew had known Margaret Tebay since childhood. Margaret's brother James A. Tebay also submitted an affidavit stating that he was present at the wedding. It appears that Mathew may have married his childhood sweetheart upon returning from the war.
On December 31st, 1866 Mathew and Margaret had a stillborn son. The pension records give no indication if they named the child, it only states, "Infant son." They did continue to try to have children and were very successful as records detail eight children in the following order: Fred L., born Jan 17th, 1868; Amanda W., born April 3rd, 1870; Laura H., born July 12th, 1872; Harry P., born Jan 15th, 1875; Charles A., born Dec 19th, 1876; Stella V., born Feb 13th, 1879; Thomas H., born October 1st, 1881; and lastly Nellie B., born March 31st, 1885. Nothing other about the children is noted in the pension records.
When Mathew originally applied for pension on July 14th, 1890 he stated that his illnesses that were caused by his time in service were, "rheumatism, diseases of the heart and rectum." These were very common complaints that were found in most pension records. It makes sense as the soldiers were living in deployable field conditions. Just about everyone had dysentery or some type of intestinal illness. There was no problem with Mathew's initial request for pension and the illnesses that were stated. The problems arose when he attempted to have his pension increased and stated that he had a swollen throat and piles caused from his time in service. The Pension Board rejected the increase because no proof could be provided that these problems were caused during his service to the Union.
There is a curious note included in Mathew's pension records which states the official roster of the unit, as well as other military records use the last name of McCollough, not McCullough. The numerous Declaration for Pension forms found in his pension file shows that when Mathew enlisted, it was as Mathew J. McCullough.
Mathew and Margaret lived at various places during their marriage, including 1416 Coal Street, 2 Beatty Street, and 1008 North Ave, all located in Wilkinsburg, Pa. The North Avenue address seems to be the place were both Mathew and Margaret lived when they pasted away. Mathew departed on Dec 28, 1915 with no cause of death being noted in the pension records. This is strange due to the fact that it is usually stated on the Widow Pension Forms or a death certificate is included to prove the date and cause of the veteran's death. Margaret filed for her widows pension on January 3rd, 1916. She received the pension money up until the time that she passed away on March 4th, 1921. The postmaster returned her pension check to the Bureau of Pension stating that she had passed on.
Mathew is buried in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) section of the cemetery. (5) There is no mention to where Margaret was interned.
1. Dept of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions letter, 22 April
1913, asking Mathew to furnish some type of record to prove this birth date
for his pension increase request.
2. Samuel Bates, History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, Vol. X, page 771
3. I could not find a date when Margaret was born.
4. Dept of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions questionnaire, 2 January 1915
5. Information obtained from Glenn McCullough descendant of Mathew and Margaret
McCullough
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bates, Samuel: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Vol. X
Coolin, Ben and Owen, Walton: Mr. Lincoln's Forts
McCullough, Glenn: Personal Correspondence
McCullough, Mathew: Pension Records from the National Archives
Filed July 14th, 1890 by Invalid-M.J. McCullough Application Number: 855.192
Certificate Number: 933.389
Filled Jan 3, 1916 by Wife-Margaret A. McCullough Application Number: 1058.917 Certificate Number: 804.094