The following is info I have accumulated on some of our Altom's/Altum's who served within the Spanish America War. I have not been able to link them directly to my family lines, but they are apparently branches off of my line and hopefully they will be of use to others of indirect descent.
DECLARATION FOR PENSION
STATE OF: Tennessee
County of: Loudon
On this 30th day of April 1921, personally appeared before me, a notary public within and for the County and State aforesaid, Samuel C. Altum who, being duly sworn by me according to law, declares that he is 42 years of age; that he was born June 26, 1878, at or near Clinton, Tennessee and that his is an actual and bona fide resident of Lenoir City, Loudon County, State of Tennessee.
That he is the identical person who enlisted at Rockwood, Tennessee under the name of Samuel CAltum on the 25th day of April, 1898 as a private in C.M 3rd Tenn. Vol. Regt., and was honorably discharged January 31st, 1899 at Camp Shipp, Ala.. having served ninety days or more during the war with Spain the Philippine Insurrection, or China Relief Expedition.
That he also served (NONE EXCEPT THE ABOVE)
That otherwise than herein stated he was NOT employed in the United States Military or Naval service.
That his personal description at time of enlistment was as follows: Height 5ft 9in.; complexion WHITE; color of eyes; BLACK; color of hair; LIGHT; that his occupation was FARMER.
That since leaving the service he has resided at STATES OF ILLINOIS AND TENNESSEE and his occupation has been FARMING AND MOULDER IN FOUNDRY.
ADDITIONAL INFO FROM MILITARY SERVICE PAPERS
Name: Samuel C. Altum
Date of Birth: June 26, 1878(Written by Claimant) June 16 listed on Death Certicate.
Place of Birth: Clinton, Tennessee
Father: James F. Altum
Military Service: Spanish American War - Private Co. M 3rd Tennessee Vol. Regt.
Wife: Mary (Hayner)
Married: May 4, 1905 in Anderson County, TN by Esq. Marshall, J.P.
Children: Rushia A.(born 1898 and married James J. Williams)
Died: 5/19/1960
Place of Death: VA Hospital, Mountain Home, Tennessee
Burial: Lynnhurst Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee by Weaver Funeral Home
In a questionaire by Samuel completed on 10/25/1930 , he state that after leaving the service he had resided at Gridley, Ill., Richmond, VA., Lenior City, Tennessee and Flanagan, Illinois
In a questionaire by his daughter, Rushia, filed in April 1960 just prior
to his death she states that he owned no real estate, "his only brother lives
out of the State and he, too, is in bad health." She also goes on to
state that she is "a widow and the only child".
DECLARATION FOR PENSION
On this 30th day of June 1931, personally appeared Edward Altum before me the undersigned, who makes the following declaration as an application for pension under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 2, 1930.
That his is 56 years of are; that he was born Feb 25, 1875 at Frankfort, Ind.. That he is the identical soldier who ENLISTED April 26, 1898 at Indianaplis, Ind, under the name of Edward Altum, in Co. C. 158th Ind. Inf., and was honarably DISCHAGED Oct. 1898, at Indianaplis, Ind. having served during the WAR WITH SPAIN, THE PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION, OR CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION between April 21, 1898, and July 4, 1902.
That otherwise than herein state he was not employed in the United States military or naval service.
That his personal description at time of first enlistment was as follows: Height 5ft 81/2inches; complexion light; color or eyes Hazel; color of hair dark b.; that his occupation was Structural Iron Work.
That since leaving the service he has resided at Frankfort, Ind -New Orleans, LA.
ADDITIONAL INFO FROM MILITARY PAPERS
Name: Edward Altum (also referred to as Altam and Altom on war records)
Born: 2/25/1875
Place: Frankfort, Indiana (also listed Kokomo, Indiana as birthplace at various times)
Father: Jessie Altum
Mother: Catherine
Religion: Protestant
Military Service: Indiana National Guard and Spanish American War
Private of Captain David Allen Co "C" of the 2nd Regt. Inf. Indiana National Guard
Private of Co. C 158th Regt. Indiana Inf. Vol. US Spanish American War
(Note: Released from State Guard to enter US Army)
Dates of Service: 4/26/1898-11/4/1898
Later occupation: iron worker
Died: 11/27/1953 VA Hospital Indianapolis, Indiana (heart failure)
Place of Interment: Mount Hope Cemetery by Fisher Funeral Home, Logansport, Indiana
(NOTE: A SECOND REPORT WITHIN THE FILES STATES THE BURIAL LOCATION TO BE DAVIS CEMETERY, Cass Co., Indiana)
FIRST WIFE: Lenna Morrison 8/2/1899 New Orleans, LA.(married only 3 months)
SECOND WIFE: Ida Schlott married 4/6/1920 in Brooklyn, NY Marriage dissoved by her death on: 12/3/1937 had one step son, August Chester Elsner born 1/17/1912 (son of Ida Schott and Maximmilian Elsner)
(Note: Edward married Ida under his stepfather's name: thus the marriage was listed as James Edward Rockenfield to Ida Schlott) Ida's parents were: John Schlott and Eva (Cook) Schlott both born in Germany. Ida is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
THIRD WIFE: Lula Dorn ( Warren ) Medbourn (12/4/1896-10/18/1979) Married 9/1/1938. Place of burial: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Indiana. Children: Edna May Altum born 1/9/1940 in Monteray, Indiana Died: 10/9/1940 (pnemonia) Buried Marshall County, Indiana Zion Cemetery. Lula was the second born child of Adriel Monroe Warren(Indiana) and Amanda Melvina (Wiser)Warren (MO) Her first husband was Wilfert E. Medbourn She had 5 children by that marriage ....Edward had one stepdaughter from this marriage that he supported: Mildred Leona Medbourn(1/7/1921-1/22/1965) had Parkinsons disease/invalid
Lived in : Brooklyn NY in 1934 till about March of 1938 when he moved back to Indiana living at different times in Galveston, Monterey, Kokomo, Logansport, Young America, and Peru
Other mentioned relatives:
One sister Jennie (Altum) Harris of Kokomo, Indiana who stated they were reared near Frankfort, Indiana where her brother at one time worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a brakeman
In a letter written to the government by his third wife, Lula, she states:
"his mother had children by 3 men and was only married once to her last"
and "she and Ed's father were not
married."
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