Civil War
A GREENE COUNTY CIVIL WAR SOLDIER’S STORY
PART THREE: THOSE HE LEFT BEHIND
Had he, Joseph Feger, ever wondered how the daughter he left
behind was getting on? As he lived for a time in Missouri, I
suppose it would have been possible to unobtrusively swing by
the old home, or to discreetly make inquires after their
welfare. What were the feelings of this abandoned wife and a
child who had never came to know her father? To Fanny he must
have seemed but a dim childhood memory, based only on his short
furlough, because surely she could not have remembered much of
him from her infancy! It is difficult for us to ascertain
whether this missing husband had communicated at all with his
first wife since his desertion. Whether she knew her husband to
be alive or dead after the war we can only guess. I’ve found no
letter, no record, legal or otherwise of her thoughts or
activities on the matter. All we can be sure of them knowing is
that he hadn’t returned from the war. Most likely the
authorities had come around looking for him, so we can be sure
that they were aware that he had deserted. To return home at
that time was to risk imprisonment or worse. Did she vainly wait
and tremble with the arrival of every visitor for news of him?
Perhaps they assumed the worse and gradually picked up the
pieces of their lives to start over, but Margaret Feger never
bothered to “legally” declare her missing husband dead.
Margaret Ann Feger remarried also and although Greene County
records show “no divorce could be found in Greene Co. her second
marriage listed her as being a Miss.” Well, she was starting
fresh, as many women have under such circumstances. Perhaps she
too wanted to simply veil the harsh realities of truth? She had,
after all, waited through a decent interval of time since his
disappearance and he had taken a wife within a month of his
desertion!
State of Illinois, Greene County.
The people of the State of Illinois,
To all who shall see these presents---GREETING:
Know ye, that License and Permission are hereby given to any
regular Minister of the Gospel authorized to Marry by the Church
or Society to which he belongs: any Justice of the Supreme
Court: Judge of any Superior Court: or any Justice of the Peace,
to celebrate and certify the Marriage of Mr. John Stack and Miss
Margaret A. Fager now both of this County, according to the
usual Custom, and Laws of Illinois.
WITNESS: GEORGE W. DAVIS, Clerk of the County Court of Greene
County, Illinois, and the Seal thereof being hereonto affixed at
Carrollton, this 17th day of October in the Year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven.
GEO. W. DAVIS Clerk
~THIS IS TO CERTIFY~
That on the 17th day of October A.D. 1867, I joined in
THE Holy Bands of Matrimony,
Mr. John Stack and Miss Margaret A. Fagar according to the usual
custom, and the Laws of Illinois. Given under my hand and seal
the 17th day of October A.D. 1867
Fanny came of age and married John W. Ontis. They lived with her
mother, the Stacks, in Greene County and had four children, one
of whom died in infancy. Fanny had a short lifespan, she
supposedly died after the birth of her last child, Warren Ontis.
I don't know the exact date or where buried. They had been
living in Woodville; Greene County. Grandpa (John Ontis) then
took the three surviving children home to live with his folks
(Sophia and William Ontis) in Quarry Township, Jersey County.
They appear there on the 1900 census.
Both Fannie & her mother are yet mysterious as to their
specific dates of birth and death. We just do not know what
became of each of them. Margaret and her husband John Stack
simply vanish from the record after the 1880 census, whether
they died or moved away. Fannie also vanishes, her descendants
claimed that she died shortly after her last child, Warren
Ontis, was born in 1887, but where she was buried is not known.
PART THREE: Applying for a Pension; The truth—or part of
it--comes out!
SOLDIER’S APPLICATION
Act of June 27, 1890
Name Frank J. Feger
Service Private Co. H 22 Reg.
New York Cav. Vol.
Address Reedsville P.O.
Marshall Co. Kansas
Date of Execution July 19, 1890
(Received in Pension Office Jul. 23, 1890.)
Also personally appeared J. Bishop, residing at Reedsville and
J.B. Gatchill (?) residing at Marysville, persons whom I certify
to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me
duly sworn, say they were present and saw Frank J. Feger, the
claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing
declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the
appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him for
six years and five years, respectively, that he is the identical
person he represents himself to be; and that they have no
interest in the prosecution of this claim. …
It appears that Mr. Feger did not waste time applying for this
pension, newly enacted. The requirements, at this time, follow:
1. An honorable discharge (but the certificate need not be
filed unless called for).
2. A minimum service of ninety days.
3. A permanent physical disability not due to vicious habits.
(It need not have originated in the service).
4. The rates under the act are graded from $6 to $12,
proportioned to the degree of inability to earn a support, and
are not affected by the rank held.
5. A pensioner under prior laws may apply under this one, or a
pensioner under this one may apply under other laws, but he
cannot draw more than ONE pension for the same period.
Declaration for Invalid Pension.
Act of June 27, 1890.
This must be Executed Before a Court of Record or some Officer
Thereof Having Custody of its Seal.
State of Kansas, County of Marshall, SS;
On this 19 day of July, AD one thousand eight hundred and ninety
personally appeared before me, notary public of the Court, a
court of record within and for the county aforesaid
FRANK J. FEGER aged 51 years, a resident of the T. P. of Cellter
County of Marshall, State of Kansas, who, being duly sworn
according to law, declares that he is the identical FRANK J.
FEGER who enrolled on the 28th day of February, 1865 in Private
Co. H. 22 NY Cav. Vol. In the war of the rebellion, and served
at least ninety days, and was honorably DISCHARGED at Rochester
NY, on the 1st day of August, 1865. that he is totally unable to
earn a support by reason of spinal trouble caused by fall from
horse while crossing Shenandoah River Va. in 1865 while in the
serice and line of duty. …
Well and good, however, the amount given was too small and if he
had left it at this we might never have made the connection of
these two individuals. Yet, with all this time gone by since the
war he now began to feel, or was persuaded to feel, secure
enough to apply for his full allotment. He reapplied:
GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, COUNTY OF MARSHALL, SS
In the matter of Claim for Pension of FRANK J. FEGER under act
of June 27, 1890
On this 11th day of July AD 1891; personally appeared before me
a notary public in and for the aforesaid county duly authorized
to administer oaths.
FRANK J. FEGER 53 years, a resident of Center Poco (?) Township
in the county of Marshall and state of Kansas whose post office
is Reedsville. … Being duly sworn, declared to aforesaid case as
follows:
That he mustered first in Co. G. 59th Ill Inf. Sept 1861 served
about 2 years & 8 mos. & discharged Blue Springs Tennessee.
Enlisted again Feb. 1864 at City Hall New York City Co. H 22nd
N.Y. Cav. Discharged in summer 1865 at Rochester N.Y.
Since while (illegible) I have not been in military or Naval
Service of U.S.
FRANK J. FEGER
(Signature of Affiants {applicant?})
(Received) US Pension Office July 13, 1891.
INVALID.
CLAIM FOR INCREASE
FRANK J. FEGER, applicant.
H Co., 22nd Reg’t, N.Y. Cav. Vols.
(Pension Certificate not required.)
G 59 Ill Inf.
Received Pension Office Apr. 1, 1895
Law Division Apr. 5, 1890
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON D.C., March 27, 1896.
Sir:
It appears from the reports of this Bureau that you were
pensioned March 29, 1892, under certificate number 747,298,
under act of June 27, 1890, at the rate of $6 per month from
July 28, 1890, based on your service as Private, Co. “H”, 22nd
N.Y. Vol. Cav., in which you enlisted under the name FRANK J.
FEGER.
It further appears from a report from the records of the War
Department now on file, that your enlistment in the organization
above named was in violation of the 22nd (now the 50th) Article
of War, you having deserted from Co. “G”, 9th MO., afterwards
known as the 59th Ill. Vol. Inf., under the name of Joseph
Feger, on December 14, 1864 and never having been discharged
there from.
It is held by the Secretary of the Interior in 5the case of
Isaac N. Babb alias John Dunlap, under date of September 13,
1895, that to give title to pension under the act of June 27,
1890, an honorable discharge from all service contracted to be
performed during the war of the rebellion is a prerequisite.
The further payment to you of pension as above would therefore
be contrary to law.
Under the prevision of the act of Congress of December 21, 1893,
you will be given thirty days from receipt hereof in which to
file any evidence that you may wish to file bearing upon the
above stated facts. At the expiration of that time, unless the
facts are shown not to be as herein set forth, your name will be
dropped from the list of pensioners.
This letter should be returned with your reply, and the envelope
inclosing the same and all testimony, should be addressed to the
Commissioner of Pensions, and marked in the lower left hand
corner, “Board of Review,” except when the question relates to
your service or discharge in which case all correspondence
should be sent to the War Department.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Mr. FRANK J. FEGER
Shaner, Garfield Co.
Oklahoma Territory
U. S. Pension Agency, Topeka Kan. May 19, 1896
Hon. Wm. Lochren (?) Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir:
I hereby report that the name of FRANK J. FEGER ACT June 27,
1890, who was a pensioner on the rolls of this agency, under
Certificate No. 747.298, and who was last paid at $6, to 4
Feb’y, 1896, has been dropped because of Desertion.
Very respectfully,
G W Glick
Pension Agent.
Every name dropped to be thus reported at once.
DECLARATION FOR THE INCREASE OF AN INVALID PENSION.
The Pension Certificate Should Not Be Forwarded With The
Application.
State (crossed out) Territory of Oklahoma
County of Garfield cert No. 747298
On this 28th day of March AD one thousand eight hundred and
ninety five personally appeared before me a notary public in and
for the county aforesaid, FRANK J. FEGER, aged 56 years, past a
resident of the Township of Wood, county of Garfield Territory
of Oklahoma, who being duly sworn according to law, declares
that he is a pensioner of the United States, enrolled at the
Topeka Kansas pension Agency at the rate of (6) six dollars per
month, by reason of disability from Piles & Daorsuibium(?)
incurred in the Military service of the United States while a
private in Co. H 22nd Reg’t. N.Y. Vol. Cav. That he believes
himself to be entitled to an increase of pension on account of
Heart Disease, indigestion, Bloody Piles, Rheumatism in the
shoulder & general disability, have been treated at home, whilst
in Marysville Kansas by Dr. E.L. Wilson, and in this Territory
by Dr. Julian of Shaner P.O. Garfield County Oklahoma, that he
appoints R. H. Sterling, of Enid County of Garfield Terr. Of
Oklahoma, his true and lawful attorney, to prosecute his claim.
That his Post Office ADDRESS is Shaner county of Garfield Terr.
Of Oklahoma.
Claimant’s signature: FRANK J. FEGER
February 15, 1908.
Hon. Bird McGuire,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. (name erased)
In response to your inquiry of the eleventh instant, received
the thirteenth, relative to the pension case, certificate
numbered 747,298, of Frank J. Feger, whose address is Enid,
Oklahoma, and who served in Company G, 9th Missouri volunteer
Infantry and Company H, 22nd New York Volunteer Cavalry, I have
the honor to advise you that he was formerly a pensioner under
the act of June 27, 1890, at $6 per month.
A report from the records of the War Department shows that his
enlistment in Company H, 22nd New York Volunteer Cavalry was in
violation of the twenty-second (now the fiftieth) Article of
War, he having deserted from Company G, 9th Missouri volunteer
Infantry, afterwards known as the fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry. Under the name of Joseph Feger, on December 14, 1864
and never having been discharged therefrom.
It was held by the Secretary of the Interior that to give title
to pension under the act of June 27, 1890, an honorable
discharge from all service contracted to be performed during the
Civil War was a prerequisite.
In accordance therewith, the soldier’s name was dropped from the
pension rolls on May 19, 1896.
Section 2 of the joint resolution of Congress of July 1, 1902,
confers no benefit upon the soldier for the reason that the
provisions thereof, which follow, have no application to his
case, it appearing that he enlisted February 28, 1865 in Company
H, Twenty –second New York Cavalry, and was discharged August 1,
1865:
“That in the administration of the pension laws any enlisted man
of the Army, including regulars, volunteers, and militia, or any
appointed or enlisted man of the Navy or Marine Corps, who was
honorably discharged from the last contract of service entered
into by him during the late war of the rebellion, shall be held
and considered to have been honorably discharged from all
similar contracts of service previously entered into by him with
the United States during said war: Provided, that such enlisted
man served not less than six months under said enlistment or
appointment, that his entire service said last enlistment or
appointment was faithful, that he did not receive by reason of
said last enlistment or appointment any bounty or gratuity other
than from the United States in excess of that to which he would
have been entitled, if he had continued to serve faithfully
until honorably discharged under any contract of service
previously entered into by him, either in the Army, Navy or
Marine Corps during the war of the rebellion.”
There is nothing now pending in this case.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
I found this placed into his service file:
Washington, Feby. 29, 1908.
The charge of desertion of December 14, 1864 against this man is
removed and he is discharged to date December 14, 1864, under
the provisions of the act of Congress, approved March 2, 1889.
Discharge certificate furnished by War Department February 29,
1908.
So now the record has been cleared, or altered to fit the
present need. The act of “desertion” from his Regiment in the
Union Army has become merely a “discharge” date!
Act of February 6, 1907.
DECLARATION FOR PENSION.
The Pension Certificate Should Not Be Forwarded With The
Application.
State of Oklahoma
County of Garfield
On this 7th day of March AD one thousand nine hundred and eight,
personally appeared before me a notary public within and for the
county and State aforesaid, FRANK JOSEPH FEGER, who being duly
sworn according to law, declares that he is aged 69 years of
age, and a resident of City of Enid, county of Garfield State of
Oklahoma; and that he is the identical person who was enrolled
at St. Louis MO. Under the name of Joseph Feger, on the day of
Fall of 1862, as a Private, in G Co., 59th Illinois Inft., in
the service of the United States, in the war of the rebellion
and that he also served in 22nd New York Vol. Cavalry Co. H and
was honorably discharged, fourteenth day of Dec. 1864. That this
enlistment was under his full name Frank Joseph Feger.
That he was not employed in the Military or Naval service of
the United States otherwise then as stated above. That his
physical description was as follows: height, 5 feet 11 ½ inches;
complexion, light; color of eyes, hazel; color of hair, brown;
that his occupation was farmer; That he was born Grand Duchy of
Baden Germany, 1839, March 15th according to family record.
That his several places of residence since leaving the service
have been as follows:
Poughkeepsie New York until 1866, St. Joe MO until 1882, then
Marysville Kan. From 1882 until Sept. 1893, in Garfield County
to date.
That he was a pensioner. That he has heretofore applied for a
pension and was stopped.
That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed
on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of
the act of February 6, 1907.
That his post office address is Enid, county of Garfield State
of Oklahoma.
FRANK Joseph FEGER
Claimant’s signature in full.
…
U. S. BUREAU OF PENSIIONS, LAW DIVISION, RECEIVED MAR 10, 1908.
On March 26, 1908 the Pension Office recapitulated his service
in 9th Missouri and 59th Illinois, noting that his initial
enlistment name’s spelling was “Joseph Fegar” and “Name is also
borne as Joseph Feger but the name Frank J. Feger has not been
found on rolls of Co. G, 59th Ill Inf.” Then: “The medical
records show him treated as follows. As Joseph Fegar … March 31
to April 9, 64, laryngitis, returned to duty. Nothing additional
found.”
State of Oklahoma
Garfield County
Personally appeared before me JM Fillebrown(?) clerk of the
district court in and for Garfield county State of Oklahoma,
FRANK J. FEGER who being duly sworn, does upon his corporal oath
depose and say: that he is the identical person who served in H
Company 22nd New York Cavalry during the war of the rebellion
and was DISCHARGED at Rochester NY
That his true and correct name is FRANK J. FEGER, and any other
way of spelling his last name, FEGER, is error, his family name
correctly spelled has always been spelled FEGER.
That he, FRANK J. FEGER, is applicant for under pension
certificate 747298. H Co. 22nd N. Y. Cav. For reinstation to
pen. Roll.
FRANK J. FEGER
Signed in my presence by said FRANK J. FEGER with whom I am well
acquainted and hereby certify to be the identical person whom he
claims to be, and I further certify that I have no interest
direct nor non-direct in the collection of this claim.
JM Fillebrown(?)District Clerk
(Received May 5, 1908, Chief’s desk. Eastern Division, Pension
Bureau.)
It seems that he made a big deal out of the spelling of his
last name to obscure the fact that he suddenly was using a new
first name!
Act of February 6, 1907.
DECLARATION FOR PENSION.
The Pension Certificate Should Not Be Forwarded With The
Application.
State of Oklahoma
County of Garfield
On this 16th day of March AD one thousand nine hundred and nine,
personally appeared before me a County Clerk within and for the
county and State aforesaid, FRANK J. FEGER, who being duly sworn
according to law, declares that he is aged 70 years of age, and
a resident of Enid, county of Garfield State of Oklahoma; and
that he is the identical person who was enrolled at City Hall
Park, New York City under the name of Frank J. Feger, on the
28th day of February, 1865, as a Private, in Co. H, 22nd New
York Vol. Cavalry in the service of the United States, in the
Civil war and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Rochester NY, on the
1st day of August, 1865. That he also served (left blank here).
That he was not employed in the Military or Naval service of the
United States otherwise then as stated above. That his physical
description was as follows: height, 5 feet 11 ½ inches;
complexion, light; color of eyes, hazel; color of hair, brown;
that his occupation was Blacksmith; That he was born March 15th
1839, at Grand Duchy of Baden Germany.
That his several places of residence since leaving the service
have been as follows: New York, MO, Kansas, Oklahoma.
That he is a pensioner. That he has ____ heretofore applied for
a pension 747298.
That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed
on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of
the act of February 6, 1907.
That his post office address is Enid, county of Garfield State
of Okla.
FRANK J. FEGER
Claimant’s signature in full.
…
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16 day of March, AD 1909…
VALIDITY ACCEPTED S.A. CUDDY, CHIEF LAW DIVISION. CONGRESSIONAL
U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS MAR 31 1909.
…
U. S. BUREAU OF PENSIIONS, LAW DIVISION, RECEIVED MAR 10, 1908.
In his service file:
Washington, Feby. 29, 1908.
The charge of desertion of December 14, 1864 against this man is
removed and he is discharged to date December 14, 1864, under
the provisions of the act of Congress, approved March 2, 1889.
Discharge certificate furnished by War Department February 29,
1908.
So now he has a brand new “Discharge Certificate” and he is
completely rehabilitated, all is forgiven and the war is long
over. On March 26, 1908 the Pension Office recapitulated his
service in the 9th Missouri and 59th Illinois, noting that his
initial enlistment name’s spelling was “Joseph Fegar” and “Name
is also borne as Joseph Feger but the name Frank J. Feger has
not been found on rolls of Co. G, 59th Ill Inf.” Then: “The
medical records show him treated as follows. As Joseph Fegar …
March 31 to April 9, 64, laryngitis, returned to duty. Nothing
additional found.”
I assume that was the only time he had been hospitalized. If he
was ever wounded I’m sure it would show up here.
Part Four: Revision, putting a new face on the past
From GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY – OKLAHOMA, Chapman Pub. Co.
Chicago, IL, 1907. Pages 481-482.
FRANK J. FEGER. Few of our foreign born citizens are better
entitled to an honorable place beneath the stars and stripes
than Frank J. Feger, who devoted four years of his early manhood
to the defense of the Union, and on scores of battlefields
proved his love for the Land of his adoption. His history is
unusually interesting, and his hosts of friends in Garfield
County and elsewhere will heartily endorse this little tribute
to his worth and ability.
The cares and serious troubles of life fell upon our subject
when he was at a tender age, but, with rare devotion and
heroism, he proved himself equal to fortune’s vicissitudes. He
comes of a sturdy race, whose motto might well have been
“conquer or die,” for he and his forefathers were ever ready to
offer their lives on the alter of their principals. His paternal
grandfather, Lawrence Feger, fought under the leadership of the
great Napoleon, and went on the long and disastrous march to
Moscow. He was the owner of large estates in the vicinity of
Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany, and there his son, Peter J., father
of our subject, and the later also were born. Peter J. Feger was
a man of prominence in his community, and for many years
represented his people in the German Reichstag, holding an
office equivalent to that of a member of congress of the United
States. Indeed, he was yet occupying that honorable position at
the time of his death, when he was seventy-five years old. He
owed his long life to his son, Frank J. Feger, for when the
Revolution of 1848 was in progress, he joined the party of
patriots who were endeavoring to throw off what they deemed to
be an oppressive yoke, and when the government gained the
mastery Mr. Feger was arrested and sentenced to be shot. His
little son Frank, then a lad of about ten years, circulated a
petition and worked so hard and earnestly on behalf of his
unfortunate father that he finally secured his release, though
his property was confiscated. The father, though thus
handicapped in life’s race, bravely took up his burdens again,
and by intrinsic ability, rose, as previously stated, to a
position of honor in his community; nor was he without influence
in the councils of his country. His wife, whose maiden name was
Francisco Cipher, was a daughter of Lawrence Cipher, a farmer
near Karlsruhe, Baden. She lived to the advanced age of
eighty-nine, her death occurring in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Two of
her six children are deceased, and our subject is the only son.
The birth of Frank J. Feger took place March 15, 1839, in
Karlsruhe, Germany, and, strange to relate, the feeling and
party strife which was so prevalent in Baden about the time of
the Revolution ran so high that the lad was under great censure
by many of the people because he had secured his father’s
pardon. He was a youth of spirit, it is needless to say, and
when he was only thirteen years old he determined to cast in his
lot with the great republic across the sea, where the right of
men to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is
unquestioned. Leaving Havre for New Orleans, La., in 1852, in a
sailing vessel, “The Statesman,” he reached his destination
after a voyage of eighty-two days. Then he proceeded up the
“Father of Waters” to Ste. Genevieve, Mo., and for four years
worked industriously on farms, in the meantime attending school
during the winter terms. In 1856 he went to St. Louis, and,
having learned the trade of a blacksmith, followed his calling
in different states for a few years.
September 1, 1861, Mr. Feger, then only twenty-two years of age,
volunteered in Company G, Ninth Missouri Infantry, and was
mustered into the service as a private at St. Louis Arsenal.
Sent into the Iron Mountain region in Missouri, he was under the
leadership of General Grant, then Colonel of the twenty-first
Illinois. In 1863 the remnant of his regiment was placed in
other organizations, and Mr. Feger and many of his comrades were
transferred into Company G, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry. The
limits of this sketch will not permit a detailed account of the
almost innumerable engagements and important campaigns in which
the young man took part, but the mere mention of some of them
will carry a thrill of reminiscence to the minds of many of the
veterans of the war. One of his first experiences as a soldier
was the skirmish of Boonville, Mo., and then followed those of
Otterville and Springfield, Mo.; pea Ridge, Cape Girardeau,
Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Iuka, Holly Springs, Florence
(Ala.), Lawrenceburg, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Louisville,
Perryville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Dallas, Resaca,
Hoover’s Gap, Tallahoma, Lost Mountain, Big Shanty, Pine Knob,
Peach Tree Creek, Buzzards’ Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, the siege
of Atlanta and Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville. At Lookout
Mountain, in the “battle above the clouds,” Mr. Feger was the
young man who enthusiastically started the famous song, “Rally
Round the Flag, Boys,” and the inspiring strains were taken up
by the entire Union Army, from Lookout Mountain to Orchard Knob.
During the singing, which the forces can never forget, Mr. Feger
received a flesh wound in the neck, and, though temporarily
disabled, the part which he had played that day undoubtedly was
instrumental in the achievement of victory and peace. His four
long years of active service was terminated in September, 1865,
when he was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn. He had been
commissioned lieutenant of his company by Governor Yates, but
did not serve as such, being in the ranks throughout the war.
When his country no longer needed him Mr. Feger went to St.
Joseph, Mo., and engaged in merchandizing there until 1867, when
he settled upon a farm in Center township, near Marysville,
Marshall county, Kans. For over a quarter of a century he was an
industrious, respected agriculturist of that community, for
fifteen years serving on the local school board and for a period
acting as its president, and also being a justice of the peace
for four years. Since October, 1893, he has been a resident of
Garfield county, Okla., and for five years he conducted a farm
situated twenty-two miles east of Enid, the county seat. He made
valuable improvements and developed his land into a model farm.
A favorable opportunity presented itself, he sold the homestead
December 17, 1898, and removed to Enid, where he has since
resided. Here he bought the business of William Nick, one of the
pioneer merchants of the city, and is carrying on a good trade.
He is a dealer in agricultural implements and machinery,
representing well known firms of Milwaukee, Wisc., and other
cities, and having a full line of Buckeye mowing machines and
binders, Schuttler wagons and Bradley’s implements. He belongs
to the Kansas City Implement Dealer’s Association and is rapidly
expanding his business in this locality.
In 1866, in New York City, the marriage of Mr. Feger and Miss
Emma Seeler, a native of Saxony, Germany, was solemnized. They
have the following named children now living: Louis, who is
employed by the Buckeye Machinery Company, and makes his home in
Enid; Mrs. Mary Barrett, of Perry, Okla.; Otto, who is the local
agent for a Milwaukee business house, his home also being in
this city; Charles, a farmer of Otto Township, Garfield county;
Frank J. Jr., who is in business with his father; and Emma who
is at home.
Politically, Mr. Feger is a Democrat, and for two years he
has served as a deputy sheriff under James Bishop. He is a
member of Blue Lodge No. 19, A.F. & M., at Enid, the Odd Fellows
order, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Woodmen of America, and
Improved Order of Red Men.
This would seem to be quite an informative and impressive
biography. However, I find that as it reveals certain parts of
our ancestor’s life, it also blows smoke to conceal certain less
favorable or laudable events that we have seen were not quite as
portrayed here. I shall go over this rather flattering piece of
journalism part by part and examine its claims in the light of
other source material with a mind to determine the facts as far
as they can be known.
First of all, he never mentions his first marriage or baby
daughter, although he now brags, as he has every right to, of
his first enlistment in Greene County Illinois—without having to
mention his residence in that county! The fact that his
enlistment was technically in a Missouri Regiment at the time
lends itself to this slight of hand and we would certainly not
expect him to mention his desertion. The local histories of this
era were usually produced by community boosters, who glossed
over unpleasant facts and their assertions must always be
verified by reference to other, more objective sources. He also
never mentions his enlistment in the New York Cavalry, but
allows the reader to assume that he mustered out with his
comrades of the first unit.
As for his “flesh wound” and being commissioned by Governor
Yates, I can find no evidence in his service file or in the
histories of that Regiment. Must we therefore assume it to be
false? We must now ask ourselves how much of the rest of this
Oklahoma Biography can be taken at face value? Some I have
verified and that is mixed with falsehood, whether by “Frank” or
his exaggerating editors.
Enough of it checked out for me to be able to trace his roots
in Baden, even though his birth was far from the city of
Karlsruhe. His second marriage to Emma Seeler or Seiler, cannot
be verified by the records of marriage in New York City, so
whether it is entirely “legitimate” or not, it does contain the
actual name of his birthplace and I’ve there obtained
considerable background on the Feger family.
Here is a translation of his original birth record from
Petersthal, a town near Freiersbach, in Baden’s high country.
Freiersbach.
In the year 1839 the fifteenth of March in the morning at 7
o’clock was born in Freiersbach, and before noon at eleven
o’clock from the undersigned in the church was baptized, Joseph,
legitimate son of Peter Feger, Mayor and day laborer and of
Franziska Zeferer in Freiersbach. The witnesses of the birth and
baptism were Christian Weber, schoolmaster in Petersthal, and
Joseph Boersig, citizen and farmer in Baestenbach. These and
Maria Anna Zeferer, wife of the citizen and day laborer Andreas
Roth in Baestenbach are the godparents.
Petersthal, the 15 of March 1839, Bauer, Pastor.
We see here no mention of a middle name in use by Joseph at this
time. His father was indeed a prominent man—Mayor of Petersthal!
In fact Peter was indeed arrested and imprisoned for his part in
the failed 1848 Revolution, which was particularly bloody in the
Duchy of Baden. Joseph’s grandfather was also named Lorenz, as
the above declares, but there seem to be no records of the many
soldiers raised there for Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812.
However, it remains plausible or even likely, the Baden troops
were well disciplined and a higher percentage of these levies
survived this disastrous campaign.
Then we have the sad news:
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of May, A.D. 1912
… (Received May 25th.)
BUREAU OF PENSIIONS, office of the Disbursing Clerk, May 18,
1914.
To the chief, Finance Division:
You are hereby notified that check No. 1727738, for $75.00 dated
May 4, 1914 in favor of FRANK J. FEGER has been returned to this
office by the postmaster with the information that the pensioner
died Apl. 14, 1914, and said check has this day been canceled. …
May 19, 1914.
PENSIONER DROPPED
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
May 28, 1914
Certificate No. 747298
Class ACT OF MAY 11, 1912.
Pensioner Frank J. Feger
Service H. 22 N.Y. Cav.
The Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir:
I have the honor to report that the name of the above-described
pensioner who was last paid at $25, to Feb. 4, 1914 has this day
been dropped from the roll because of death, Apr. 14, 1914. …
Well, I shall not trouble the reader further, the rest is
another story, the Feger family, this branch of it, continued on
knowing nothing of the earlier life, loves and family of their
war hero ancestor. Not until we all made contact and
successfully filled in the gaps! I have no intention of
insulting the living or dead, nor of entirely dispelling
anyone’s illusions of their past, but I do have a love affair
with honest truth and hope that all concerned can appreciate
that. We have enough lies and deceptions masquerading as
history; let’s find the truth and accept it for what it can
teach us about ourselves and the world we all live in. I would
appreciate any persons having additions or corrections to this
to please contact me. All history here, as I find, is a
continuing work in progress!
Ron Schultz
