Description
Oliver Deifendorf, Esq. of Leavenworth, the popular Military Claim Agent has been in our city (Platte City) for a few days as has also Mr. T. H. Uperman, representing the firm of T. M. O'Brien, Esq.
These gentlemen are collecting the claims of loyal owners of slaves enlisted in the Federal army. They have obtained at great trouble and expense the rolls of the two Kansas Negro regiments and by this means any slave can be identified.
This is a facility we believe no other agents possess, and we advise all parties interested to put their claims in the hands of these gentlemen at once as but little time will elapse before the Commissioners appointed by the Government will be prepared to audit them.
(Researcher's note: "During the Civil War, two acts of Congress - one passed in 1864 (13 Stat. 11) and one in 1866 (14 Stat. 321) - allowed loyal slave owners whose slaves enlisted or were drafted into the U.S. military to file a claim against the Federal government for loss of the slave's services. The law allowed for up to $300 compensation for slaves who enlisted, and up $100 for slaves who were drafted." A third act of Congress passed on March 30, 1867 (15 Stat. 29) suspended the claims process. https://www.slcl.org/research-learn/genealogy/north-american-genealogy/african-american/slave-compensation-claims)Date(s) of Creation
11/8/1866
