Description
Jasper Lewis, the 16-year old son of Austin Lewis, a colored boy, was accidentally killed at Shelbyville, Missouri, while working in a saw-mill. A log of wood fell upon and crushed him to death.
(Researcher's note: Austin Lewis was a Private in the 83rd U. S. Colored Troops Infantry, Company C. In 1890 he was living in Platte City, Missouri and no was disability noted.
Lewis's service file indicates that when he enlisted he was 23 years old, 5 foot 3 inches tall, a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. He had been born in Howard County, Missouri, and was a farmer. He enlisted in Leavenworth, Kansas, on July 19, 1863, for 3 years. Lewis enlisted as a Private but was promoted to Corporal in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on August 1, 1864, for "good conduct in the line of duty." He was mustered into the 2nd Regiment Kansas Colored Infantry (later became the 83rd U.S.C.T. Infantry) on August 28, 1863. He was mustered out in Camden, Arkansas, on October 9, 1865.
On December 1, 1866, Robert P. S. Elley of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #287 for enlisted slave Austin Lewis and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County notary public John Wilson.
Elley claimed he had acquired title to Austin Lewis by “…being the owner of the mother of said slave at the time of his birth and the said Robert P. S. Elley owned said Austin Louis from the time of his birth up to the time of his enlistment into the military service of the United States.”
Austin Lewis and Granville Willis (former slaves of Robert P. S. Elley) of Platte County swore under oath that Elley had owned Austin Lewis for “more than 15 years" and also swore oath that Elley was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. See Slave Compensation Claim Entry #SCC.0188.)Date(s) of Creation
4/10/1899
