Julius was born at Mt. Morris, New York, New York in 1820 to John Mahan and Martha Alcemener Camp Mahan. He was baptized at the United Church of Mount Morris on February 2, 1822.
Julius’s maternal great-grandfather is Moses Camp who served in the American Revolution. Moses was in Captain Bostwick’s Company when he crossed the River Delaware the evening of December 25th, 1776, with George Washington. His name is on a War Department record with the other 29 men in his company.
Julius married Frances M. Olney on April 14, 1845, in Knox County, Ohio.
Julius P. Mahan was a 41-year-old shoemaker, married with three children when he enlisted to serve his country in the Civil War. He enlisted in Company H, Ohio 76th Regiment, Infantry, as a corporal, on October 2, 1861. The Ohio 76th was organized at Camp Sherman, Newark, Ohio October 5, 1861, through February 3, 1862. It moved to Paducah, Kentucky February 9, then to Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Julius participated in the investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tennessee February 13-16, 1862, Expedition toward Purdy and operations about Crump’s Landing, Tenn., March 9-14, Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6-7.
An Army of The United States Certificate of Disability for Discharge of Corporal Julius P. Mahan states he has been unfit for duty for 60 days. He says that exposures while at the Battle of Fort Donelson he took a severe cold which settled in his breast and so sinks to have but little use of himself for a long time. He also had diarrhea. He was also in the Battle of Shiloh but in a few days was sent to Hospital on account of sickness brought on by exposures while at the Battle. The examining physician reports he has had pain in his Breast and side ever since, also diarrhea, and has been unable to do any duty since that time.
Cairo, Illinois, March 30, 1863: He is found incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of Chronic Diarrhea and General Disability, thus ending his service. The pension file for Julius P. Mahan contains 86 pages. Sworn people including his son-in-law Isaac Keller Vance, a civil war veteran, wrote on August 26, 1882, for Proof of Disability that during the latter part of conquest while in the line of duty at or near Louisville, Kentucky did on or about last of August 1862 did become disabled in the following manner. He was guarding deserters; prisoners were sent ashore from the boat, by an officer in command of prisoners, to land to Provo marshal to take charge of prisoners and broke his ankle.
From the War Department, Surgeon General’s Office, Record, and Pension Division, Washington, D.C. dated June 8, 1883, to support the claim No. 421583 filed by Julius, the assistant Surgeon, Pope, wrote (from the records filed in the office): “J.P. Mahan was admitted to G.H. Camp Dennison, Ohio June 9,62 with debility and furloughed June 10 62; that he was admitted to Port Hospl. Camp Chase, Ohio Aug 7 62, diagnosis not stated and returned to duty Aug 21, 62; and that he was admitted to Port Hspl. Cairo, Ills Mch 30. 63 with chronic diarrhea and discharged from service Apl 1. 1863. Records of the regiment from Jan.1863, when they commence to Apl.1.1863 furnish no information in this case.”
Despite developing a severe cold at the Battle of Fort Donelson and developing pain in his breast and side along with diarrhea at the Battle of Shiloh, sent to the hospital and unfit for 60 days, then sustained an ankle injury while guarding prisoners, he returned home to Howard, Ohio as a shoemaker until 1875. He then moved to McCune, Crawford County, Kansas where he was farming.
By 1881 he was 61 years old and becoming unable to do manual labor due to his wartime illnesses and injury. He hired Stoddart & Co. Lawyers in Washington, D.C. to apply for a pension. It cost him two dollars May 4, 1881, three dollars Nov. 4, 1882, and five dollars July 12, 1883, a total of $10.00. On January 30, 1884, he wrote a four-page letter to Hon. WH Dudley, Commission of Pensions WA., D.C. He references the dates and years evidence was sent regarding his request for a pension. He is now providing the same evidence for the third time directly instead of through the Stoddart firm. He names the officers who are now dead.
He states, “If I cannot get my claim through honorably, I do not want it at all.” “I have simply asked what I felt I had a right to ask and obtain.” He died November 24, 1884, with no pension.
His widow Frances M. Olney Mahan applied for a widow’s pension in 1887 sending in many affidavits over three years. She is to receive a pension commencing July 18, 1890, for $8.00 a month.
She died on March 6, 1891, was never paid, and was dropped from the Pension Roll at her death according to the US Pension Agency Topeka, Kansas.
Julius P. Mahan was a highly esteemed citizen of McCune, Kansas. He was a member of the Presbyterian church that was so crowded at his funeral, that there was no room for all who attended. He was a member of the Osage Post 156 G.A.R. The lodge attended his funeral. Julius was 64 years when he died on November 24, 1884, in McCune, Crawford Co., Kansas.
Frances was born on August 7, 1824, in Knox County, Ohio. She died on March 6, 1891, in Crawford County, Kansas.
They are buried at McCune Cemetery, Crawford Co., Kansas. Plot: Section 1 Lot 13 Space 1.
This veteran is Awesahm!