Harmon/Hiram Stapp's Civil War Pension - has information on other Stapp families
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In reply to:
Re: Breakthrough in the Southern Stapp Families - VA, GA, TN, AL, TX
amy parvin 7/10/04
Thanks for your information.I have constantly been running in to this family when researching my own.I have found the exact relations for the older folks in this line, but I was having sort of a problem telling who belonged to who further on down the line.As a matter of fact, I have just recently received a pension for my 2nd great grandfather, Harmon/Hiram Thomas Stapp.He served on both sides of the Civil War, but put in a pension in Iowa where he eventually settled.In his younger life, he lived maybe 20 miles from your Stapp family in Georgia, and he also lived in Talladega, where John T. Stapp of your family settled, and so you can see that our pairs of Stapps lived in the same places.
About my Stapp family though, they resided mainly in St. Clair County, Alabama, right next to Talladega.But Harmon married there in Talladega.He went off to the Civil War and deserted, came home and found that his wife was cheating on him, and then turned himself into the Yankees.He signed the Amnesty Oath, then went to Indiana and joined the 140th Ind. Inf. there.He later changed his name after the war to Hiram instead of Harmon.His pension said that he came home to find his family about thirty years after the war, and that's where one of your Stapp family remembers hearing of him "coming through the country"But all of his family was either dead or had moved away.
Well, when Harmon/Hiram's wife put in for a pension, there was an investigation to his life during and before the Confederacy.The investigator, W.R. King actually wrote to and visited your side of the Stapps there in Talladega and Morgan County, Georgia trying to figure out if my Harmon/Hiram was related to them.This is what your Stapps had to say:
Case of Juliette Stapp (widow of Harmon/Hiram)
2 Nov 1909
Talladega, Talladega, Alabama, before me WR King, personally appeared James B Stapp, Age 62 years, I am a farmer, livery man and coutny commissioner, residence PO address Talladega, Alabama.I was born in Campbell County, GA.My parents were John T. & Bethiah Philips Stapp.They moved to near Rochford, Coosa Co, Al about 1848.No it must have been about 1850 or 51 for I was born in 1847 and I was four years old when they moved to Alabama.After living in Coosa County Alabama for 2 or 3 years my parents moved hear near Talladega and continued to live here during their life time.Father had two brothers back in Morgan County GA they were named Jones and Stephen Stapp.I think they were older than my father.They died back there in Morgan County after raising families.I don't know the names of their children.I never knew many of them.One of their sons is now on the police force of Birmingham.His name is Bill Stapp and I think he is Jones Stapp's son.
I have heard you tell about Hiram T. Stapp and of his brothers and sisters and will say that those are family names but I don't know anything about him.I have never known nor heard of a Stapp family in which there was a Hiram, George, Minnie and Latitia.I have never known any Hiram T Stapp.I have known of a Stapp by the name of Tom but he could hardly have been the man of whom you inquireBill Stapp of Birmingham had a brother Tom but I don't know anything of his history.Ihave never known nor heard of any one by the name of Stapp who has lived in Iowa and come back here some years ago on a visit.
I have a brother Milton C. Stapp now 94 years old who lives at Caddo, Stevens Co., TX his memory is good and I think he wouldremember this man if he ever knew him - I have an older sister Mrs. Sarah Bishop Farburn, Campbell County, GA and a sister MRs. Matilda Freeman of Caliva, Ala they are all older than I am and may know of this Hiram Stapp of whom you enquire.I have understood your questions and my answers are correctly recorded in this dispotions as read to me by you.
(Signed)J.B. Stappdeponant
3Nov 1909
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, before me WR King (the pension investigator), personally appeared William C. Stapp.I am 50 years old, I am a policeman, I live at 608 Lucy Ave. Birmingham, Alabama.My parents were William and Jane Stapp.They were both named Stapp but were no kin.I was born in Morgan County, Georgia.I have never known nor heard of the Hiram T. Stapp of whom you enquire.I do not know where he could probably have come form.My father came from Virginia to Georgia wehre my mothers people had lived for a long time and married her.None of his people by that name came to Georgia.Mother has a brother Thomas J. Stapp, who ives at Rutlege, Morgan County, Ga. Who is about 75 or 80 years old.He has a nephew living near him by the name of John (Solomon John Stapp) who was a soldier in the Confederate army.I hear that there was another family by the name of Stapp who used to live in Pickens County, Ala.I do not know where they came from nor anything abou them.I met some young fellow here in Birmingham who said that his name was Stapp and that he was raised in Pickens County.I do not remember whereabouts in Pickens County he was from.
(signed) William C. Stapp
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(written in pencil)
Sylacauga, Talladega County, Alabama
November 23, 1909
Mr. W.R. King
Dear Sir,
I have received your letter today inquiring about Hiram Stapp and do not know much about him.Heard of him coming through this country about 20 or 25 years ago.I remember having a cousin by the name of Hiram Stapp and he had a brother by the name of Jim Stapp and they was raised in Georgia and were my uncle's children.I know Jim very well I left Ga when I was quite young but I have go a sister still living there yet and I will write to her and find out all about him.
Yours,
Mrs M.E. Heard
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25Nov 1909
Near Talladega, Alabama, before me WR King (the pension investigator), Mrs. Margaret E. Heard.Age 65 years.I am the widow of John Heard, PO Address R.F. D. #2, Sylacauga, Alabama.My maiden name was Stapp.My parents were John T. and Bethia Philips Stapp of Campbell and Putnam Counties, Georgia.And moved to Coosa County this state then to this county.Jas Brewster Stapp of Talladega is my brother and Mrs. Matilda Freeman of Calvera is my sister.Mrs Sarah Bishop of Fairburn, Georgia is also my sister.I do not know any Hiram T. Stapp.I used to have a cousin Jim Stapp a son of Nancy and Tom Stapp who was raised somewhere in Georgia who used to come to see us and I thought when I wrote you that the man you were inquiring about was a brother to cousin Jim for used to speak of his brother Hiram whenhe visisted our home.Cousin Jim's father was dead and his mother was lving somewhere in Georgia and as well off but cousin Jim was a sort of wandering fellow and went from place to place.Mother who is dead knew of the different children in that family and used to ask Cousin Jim about them and I remember that they used to speak of Hiram but I don't remember a thing about what they said about Hiram .Don't remember that they ever said anything about him having deserted the Confederate Army nor that he served in the Northern Army nor that he lived in the State of Iowa after the close of the war.No sir I don't remember that Hiram Stapp ever came into this Country on a visit after the war.I don't know what has become of cousin Jim Stapp or his people.They moved from Georgia to some place in Green County, Alabama.Cousin Jim would be about 80 years old if living now.No sir I don't remember that Aunt Nancy had children named George, Minnie, or Latitia.I don't remember that cousin Jim ever said anything about whether his brother Hiram was married.I don't know the whereabouts of any members of cousin Jim Stapp's people.Don't know how you would locate any of them unless some of them could be found somewhere in Green Co., Ala when Aunt Nancy moved after Uncle Tom died.
(signed: Mrs. Margaret E Heard)Witnesses:Samuel Heard, Minnie Heard
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(written in pencil)
Fairburn, Georgia
November the 26
Mr. King
I would be more than glad if I could tell you of Hiram T Stapp.Momma was a Stapp before she was married and she says she does not know anything of him.She says she never did hear of him.She has two brothers one in Texas, the other one here, Milton and Bruster.She has 3 sisters.She says her cousin John Stapp(Solomon John Stapp) lives in Atlanta if you want to write to him he might tell you something.I don't know we don't know his no just know he lives there than say the Stapps all left the Country just before the war she said her father had two brothers named Tom and Jones.Said it might be some of their boys though she doesn't know where they are and would have been glad to have known him.
Sarah Bishop
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(apparently the Investigator did try to contact some of the Pickens County Stapps too.)
Gordo, Ala
Nov 8, 1909
Mr W.R. King
Dear Sir,I have no recollection of any Stapps by the name you give in the enclosed letter.If you will write to Elizabeth Strickling at Pleasant Grove, PO Pickens County, Ala in care of JR Strickling she may be able to inform you if there was any by that name as she is the oldest Stapp that I know of.
Respectfully,
J.M. Stapp
I have copies of these documents and I would be more than happy to scan them for you.
David Alan Stapp
[email protected]
More Replies:
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Re: Harmon/Hiram Stapp's Civil War Pension - has information on other Stapp families
Thomas Stapp Sr 12/23/11
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Re: Harmon/Hiram Stapp's Civil War Pension - has information on other Stapp families
Annette Bradford 7/12/09