Story
In reviewing David See's Civil War Pension file, I was able to learn that by the fall of 1862 David was in a hospital in Springfield, Missouri with typhoid after drinking creek water. He spent over a month in the hospital before being released to return to his unit. In an Affidavit to Origin of Disability, filed in Story County, Iowa in the matter of the Pension Claim of David See, Private, K Co. 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, a John Fry stated he served with David and knows that David "on or about the 20th of September, 1862, while in the line of duty, and without fault or improper conduct on his part, at or near Gad Fly (Gadfly), State of Missouri, said soldier incurred disability. That while on the line of march with his company to Springfield, Mo, drank freely of water having been without food or drink for some time and became suddenly sick and complained of great pain in his breast and side. I was with him at the time and during all his sickness, except-about two weeks while in the hospital at Springfield Mo. until his discharge, and he was so ailing, I was personally and well acquainted with the above-named David See." The affidavit goes on to say that he was an able-bodied man prior to his enlistment but afterwards continually had pain in his chest and stomach area and could no longer do a full days worth of work. He did not last long with his unit after becoming ill and ended his military career on 24 Feb. 1863 in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri.
David was successful in obtaining a pension for himself, his wife, and three children under the age of 16. In a document dated 29 November 1893 and titled Widow's Declaration for Pension, Anna M. See personally appeared before a notary public in Polk County, Iowa and stated that David See died at Kirksville, Missouri on the 24th day of April, 1893. In addition, a General Affidavit was also filed in Polk County, Iowa on the same date stating "There is no public records of Deaths kept in Adair County, State Missouri. There was no attending physician on David See during his last sickness and death. I therefore request that the affidavit of Aaron Burges and John W. Wirick be accepted in lieu of Public record. I cannot write good and this affidavit is written in my presence by [notary] at my dictation."
The family had resided in Iowa until shortly before his death when they relocated to Kirksville, Missouri. It is clear from the pension files that he was not of clear mind, going as far as saying he was insane, in his later years, and the family barely survived on the pension they received for his service in the Civil War.
As to why birth information has been impossible to find on their children, an Affidavit was filed in Polk County, Iowa on 5 Sept. 1899 by the legally appointed and acting guardian of the minor children of "David See deceased, and since children are still living and under the care of Anna M. Roush Mother. I am informed that there is no family bible or other record of said births and am unable to furnish additional proof of birth of said minors."
As to where in Kirksville, Missouri he is buried, a clue can be found in a letter dated 27 Jan 1940 from the Department of Iowa Grand Army of the Republic to the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. The letter is asking to secure the dates of birth and death of two Civil War veterans, one of them being David See. The letter provided the following information, "Enlisted a Private in Company K, 18th Iowa Infantry Age 25 at date of entry into service July 11, 1862. Died at Kirksville, Mo, in the 90s after 1891 and before 1899. Buried in the G. A. R plot at Kirksville, Mo." It is unclear what cemetery in Kirksville this is, and I am assuming there is no headstone.
The question remained what drew the family to Missouri?
I did find some See family members buried at Bear Creek Cemetery in Adair County, not far from the Fry/Frye Station area. Research on these Sees goes back to William See (1784-1813) and his wife Elizabeth "Betsy" Auxier (1786-1858). Unfortunately, I have been unable to tie this William to David See, though I am sure they are probably related.
I found a website on the City of Novinger, (https://www.cityofnovinger.com/novinger-history/nineveh-connelsville-mo-dr-william-keil-founder/) where I found the following: "A few little shanties were put up in the town for the temporary use of the tie (railroad ties) workers but when the timber around the place had been cleared off and the tie business was closed up, the tie workers left and their shanties were torn down or converted to other uses. This industry was at its height from about 1885 to 1895." I found this interesting and a possible reason why the family was in this vicinity in 1893. David See was not in good health and was unable to adequately support his family. When he died in 1893, he had six sons ranging in age from 13 to 26. Could the family have moved to the area for the sons to work in the tie industry, supporting the family of 12 (of which only three children qualified for pension)? Of course, I have no way of knowing how many of the family members had relocated to Adair County. But the timeline is perfect. The family was in Story County, Iowa in 1885 and by 1893 the family is living in a tent at "Fry Station" in Adair County.
Blytha was a great help in my research of this area. She contacted Glenda Young, who is head of the Novinger, Missouri, Renewal Committee. Glenda referred to her to the following book: "Novinger (Adair County), Missouri: The People, the Town, and the Surrounding Communities." published by Novinger Renewal, Inc., Novinger, Missouri, April 2001.
According to this book, Fry was founded because the railroad needed coal to fuel its steam engines. The coal industry was a long time in the future, although coal was being mined in the area that was to become Stahl and also along the Rye Creek and Hazel Creek bottoms. The railroad sunk a shaft near the track on Rye Creek about two miles east of Novinger. This mine was called the Fry Mine and was said to have had a shaft only 50 feet deep. The railroad built a coal chute there so that coal could be loaded on the train from either direction. This was the only coal chute between Novinger and Quincy, Illinois before the railroad reached Stahl. A boarding house existed for the miners between 1885 and 1892. The track still existed in 1903 according to an article in the Kirksville Democrat on January 9, 1909, stating that a coach of the westbound passenger train left the track east of the "Frye Station."
After reviewing this information about the coal chute, I also have to wonder if the family moved to this area for the sons to work as miners.
I will probably never know why the family was residing in Adair County, in 1893. Was it to find work for the older sons in the family? Was it to be by family? Was it for health reasons? I do need to try and find more information on the other Sees living in this area.