Description
“92-Year-Old Civil War Veteran Still Active” Wadsworth, Kansas - Thomas Jefferson, 92-year-old Civil War veteran, Is the oldest Negro resident of the Soldiers’ home here. He is the only Civil War veteran here.
Mr. Jefferson entered the home 37 years ago from Weston, Missouri, in Platte County. He will be 93 years old on November 27, 1937. The aged man is as active as a man of 50. He smokes a pipe and eats his meals in the dining room, asking no special favors because of his age.
Born in Shelby County, Kentucky, Mr. Jefferson at 2 was brought to Missouri by his mother who was a cigar maker in slavery days. Jefferson, himself a slave for 15 years, was one of the few who came out of slavery with the ability to read and write.
At the age of 16, Mr. Jefferson enlisted in the army in September, 1863, and fought in the Civil War in the 83rd Regiment. He once served as first sergeant.
(Researcher's note: Thomas Jefferson enlisted at Olathe, Kansas, on August 10, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 83rd USCT Infantry, Company H. On November 24, 1866, Jacob Busey of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #26 for enlisted slave Thomas Jefferson. Busey claimed he had acquired title to Thomas Jefferson by “…the mother of said Thomas Jefferson was owned by claimant and the said Thomas Jefferson, for whom compensation is claimed, was born the property of claimant Jacob Busey.)Date(s) of Creation
1/22/1937
