Description
Dennis Perkins enlisted at Leavenworth, Kansas, on December 12, 1864, and mustered into the Independent Battery, USCT Light Artillery as a Private. On December 4, 1866, Oliver Steele of Platte County, Missouri signed claim for compensation #102 for an enlisted slave Dennis Perkins and swore an oath of allegiance before Platte County notary public James J. Hitt in Weston, Missouri.
Steele claimed he had acquired title to Dennis Perkins by "...purchase from D. C. (David C.) Hunt, Administrator of the Estate of William D. Spencer, deceased, all of Platte County in State of Missouri, on the 26th day of July 1854."
John M. Railey and George W. Alexander of Platte County testified under oath that Steele had owned Dennis for "7 years." William H. Ballard and W. G. (Wilson G.) Noble of Platte County swore that Steele was loyal to the U.S. Government and had defended it against the Confederate States of America. Platte County notary public James J. Hitt in Weston, Missouri, certified that Steele, Railey, Alexander, Ballard, and Noble had personally appeared before him and swore an oath to the truth of the claim. Platte County Circuit Court Clerk George W. Belt certified that James J. Hitt was a notary public on December 1, 1866. Steele gave power of attorney to the law firm of Chipman, Hosmer & Co., Washington, DC, to prosecute his claim.Date(s) of Creation
12/4/1866
