Description
Louis Jesse enlisted at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, on October 31, 1863, but deserted on December 5, 1863. Jesse was not mustered into military service. On December 1, 1866, Wylie Cooper of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation ##296 for enlisted slave "Jesse" and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County notary public John Wilson. Cooper said that Jesse had enlisted at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, "about August 15, 1862" into the 1st Kansas Regiment, Colored Troops, Company A.
Cooper claimed he had acquired title to Jesse by “…inheritance from John (Y.) Cooper, which said John Cooper (now deceased) was the father of claimant herein.”
Austin Louis (Lewis) and Granville Willis of Platte County (USCT soldiers and former slaves of Robert P. S. Elley) swore under oath that Cooper had owned Louis for “more than 15 years" and also swore oath that Cooper was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. B. R. (Benjamin R.) Vineyard attested their signatures. Platte County notary public John Wilson certified that Cooper, Louis, and Willis had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Cooper gave power of attorney to the law firm of James Craig of St. Joseph, Missouri, to prosecute his claim for compensation.Date(s) of Creation
12/1/1866
