Mary Jane (Curfman) Matheny (1835 - 1903)

Born 30 Jul 1835 in Barkers Grove, Fulton, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Wife of David D Matheny — married 24 Dec 1856 in Fulton, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Feb 1903 at age 67 in Fulton, Illinois, United States

Biography

She was born in a cabin around Marietta, IL. Buried Brock (Baughman) cemetery, Smithfield IL, with husband and parents. She was the mother of 12 children.

When her husband died after a long decline resulting from a crippling injury received in the army, Mary Jane had 6 children still at home. She was entitled to a $8 a month pension.

Mary Jane got younger with every census. By 1870, with the older children out of the house, she said she was 11 years younger than her husband. She was actually 6 months older. A researcher who did not know this family would think he was dealing with a second wife.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45818229/mary-jane-matheny

From unattributed clipping:

"Mrs. Mary J. Matheny, died at the home of her son, David Matheny near Etherly, Knox County, Thursday, February 26, in the 68th year of her age. The funeral was held at Smithfield Saturday, the 28th, conducted by Rev. Mathews of Canton, and the interment made in the Brock cemetery. (Psalm 17-15 penciled in).

Mrs. Matheny's husband died twenty-one years ago. He was a soldier in the war of the rebellion. Mrs. Matheny spent the mostof her life in Cass township and had many warm friends. She was for many years a member of the m.P. church and a consistent Christian."

Sources

On May 21, 1884, Mary Jane applied for orphan pensions for her six children under the age of 16. She applied again under the Act of 1890 for widows, for herself and Eva May. She received a widow's pension of $8 until her death in 1903. It was evidently necessary to hire a Washington lawyer to shepherd these applications through the bureaucracy, as each document names an attorney.

• Marriage cert.

• Census records

• Bible record

• Pension record