Andrew Jackson Obenchain-- the government said he wasn't a solider. Yet he applied for a pension several times (denied) and his wife applied after his death (denied). Can anyone shed any light on his story? Born June 28, 1837 in Ohio, died Jan 1892 in Iowa. Union. (He is sometimes seen in other records as Jackson, and of course, there are various spelling of last name.)

In his various pension applications, Andrew indicated he enrolled on Sept 22, 1861. On his first Pension application in 1880, he says he enrolled with the Kansas Volunteers. In an 1882 statement, he indicated he volunteered as a Wagon Master at St. Louis MO and served for three years, and was mustered again in Sept 1864 to serve for about six months.
On a later Pension application in 1891, he gives more detail -- says he enrolled as a Teamster, Company F, 2nd Regiment Kansas Infantry.

From the various pension documents are the following events:
June 26, 1863: Andrew (Obenchin), Wagon Master Wash Army is admitted to Post Hospital Waynesville MO
December 10, 1863: Andrew is injured in Rolla, MO (horse accident)
September 22, 1864: Andrew is honorably discharged near St. Louis MO. He Re-enlists for six months as teamster, 17th Army Corp.
March 18, 1865: Andrew is honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn

Andrew filed for a pension, several times but didn't receive one. His wife Nancy did receive a widow's pension ---but for her first marriage to Albert Vargason.

The government couldn't find any record of Andrew's service, and finally determined he was a civilian employee. Maybe he was -- but since he applied several times, and Nancy applied again after he died, it would seem like he believed he had enrolled!

Family stories give this detail: “Wounded in the head at Lone Jack, MO, wound in right leg at Kane Hill, MO. The injury on Dec 10, 1863 was received when he was riding to the quartermaster to get a requisition for rations for men and team to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas. I had twenty five men and twenty teams under my charge at that time.. my horse slipped and fell on me, causing rupture”

Background:
In 1850, the Obenchain family lived in Fulton, Illinois. In 1856, the Obenchain family was living in Fayette county, Iowa. Andrew was 18.

I don't know where he was living between then and 1861, but family stories also say that he was a guide on the Oregon trail in the Little Blue river area in Nebraska and Kansas. He left his family at some time prior to the 1860 census. He is not on the 1860 census record for his parents and siblings (who are still living in Fayette County). I don’t know where he is between his discharge and 1867.

In 1867, he married Nancy King Vargason. The marriage took place in Fayette County. In 1880, he and his wife Nancy lived in Buchanan County, Iowa. In the mid 1880’s they move to Osceola. Per Nancy’s application (denied) as his widow, he died in 1892 in Danbury, Crawford County, but I have found no other record of his death.

His father and younger brother also enlisted, but much later – Feb 26, 1864 --and his father was quite old to enlist (born in 1813). Philip Peter (his father) and brother William in Bremer county, Iowa, but the family still lives in Fayette.
April 19, 1864: Philip Peter and William die of chronic diarrhea in the hospital barracks at New Orleans, on their way to join Co. F, regiment F Iowa Vol.They had become ill on the river boat down before even joining the regiment.

I look forward to your thoughts.
Janel Obenchain