Summary: Mary Bobo's Pension Claim based on the Civil War Service of her son, Granville C. Bobo (as written by Susan Sharp):
After his father's death in June of 1859, Granville C. Bobo, the only son of Mary and Joshua Bobo, was the sole support of his mother and younger sisters. Because of her age and poor health, Mary was unable to work and to provide for herself or her family. She relied solely on the income her son generated by performing odd jobs for local farmers. Granville worked by the, day, week, month, or job. He was paid in money or provisions. Granville volunteered for duty in the Civil War even though, as the sole support of his family, he was in little danger of being drafted because he felt he would be better able to provide for his mother and sisters while he was in the military.
Granville C. Bobo was mustered a Private on November 8, 1861 in Co. D of the 2nd Regiment West Virginia Cavalry, Vols. One of the affidavits in the pension file indicates that Granville performed extra work for the boys in the unit to earn a little more money to send home. During a skirmish at Poca Talico, West Virginia, he was wounded in the upper part of the thigh by a ball and after being wounded remained exposed to the cold for a day or more before being taken by ambulance to General Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia. After a stay in the hospital he returned to his regiment at Camp Piatt near Charleston, but about two weeks after he rejoined his regiment he 'took sick with some sort of a fever' (he was on the rolls for December and January 1863) and was taken back to the hospital on February 22, 1863. He died of consumption in the hospital on March 23, 1863.
Affidavits in the pension file indicate that before his war service Granville was, as his sister stated, 'never sick a day in his life.'
Mary Bobo's personal property at the time of her application for this pension consisted of 5 sheep and the wool off the same, a few chairs, a table, beds and cooking utensils. The total worth of this property was not more than $100. After the death of he rson she was completely destitute and forced to rely on the generosity of her friends and was even a township charge part of the time. As a result of her son's Civil War Service, Mary Black Bobo was granted a pension of $8.00 per year, commencing 23 March 1863. Pension No.133646. Pension file from The National Archives obtained by Helen Sharp Morris. Mary Black Bobo was living in Prattsville, Ohio (in Vinton County) when she was granted this pension. Book: "Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion,1861-1866, and in the War with Mexico," 1846-1848, Vol. XII, Page 337 & 578.
2nd Regiment West Virginia Cavalry. Bobo, Granville C.; Rank, Private; Age, 18; Date Entered Service, 1 September 1861; Period of Service, 3 years; Remarks, Died May 23, 1863 in Hospital at Charleston, West Virginia; Buried, Winchester, Virginia. This regiment was organized at Parkersburg, West Virginia in November 1861 to serve three years. The roster here given contains the names of soldiers who went from Ohio and were accredited to that State by the General Government. The organization was mustered out of service June 30, 1865 as a Battalion in accordance with orders from the War Department.
Note: Some of the terminology here is not correct in terms of the period covered. Prior to West Virginia becoming a state on 20 June 1863, the Union regiments in western Virginia were referred to as Virginia Loyalist Regiments or just as Virginia (USA) regiments. And, Parkersburg was still part of Virginia when he enlisted in 1861. Not a big deal, but just striving for accuracy. -- CJD