IA-CIVIL-WAR-L Archives

Archiver > IA-CIVIL-WAR > 2003-06 > 1055615801


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-CIVIL-WAR] William H. Dorman (Lisper and Bigamist??)
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2003 13:36:41 -0500


Would appreciate a lookup in Roster of Iowa Soldiers...for William DORMAN (I
think he was born in CT) and here is some info from his pension file. Oh, and
obviously trying to find when William died so as to find out if my gg grrandaunt
was a bigamist!

Application for Civil War Pension made by Phoebe Lorinda Smith Dorman VanTassell
(my gg grandaunt):
William Dorman
2 IA Infantry Co. E Private In-Private Out
Com M 4 Iowa Cavalry, Private In-Private Out

Salt Lake City, Utah, December 19, 1919

The Commissioner of Pensions:
Here is my report and all papers in the claim for pension W.O. 786203 of Phoebe
Lorinda Van Tassell as widow of William H. Dorman.
This case was sent to the field to determine whether the claimant's former
husband was the soldier on whose service the claim was based, whether they were
ever divorced, and whether she has contracted more than one remarriage since his
death.
As far as I can learn the reputation of the witness who has testified before me
is good. He seems to be an intelligent man and seemed to testify truthfully.
As to the death of William Dorman it seems like it is a case of "the captain
told the mate, the mate told the crew, the crew told me, so it must be true"
witness is not able to give me any data or any information relative to Dorman
before he came to Bonanza, Colo. He says it was talked that Bill had a wife
before he came to Bonanza and that the girl was loose in her morals, and that he
had another wife after he left Bonanza, but he cannot recall the places.
The attorney mentioned is now Judge Stephenson. I went to Ft. Morgan and he was
holding court but I happened there when there was a ten minute recess and the
judge came out and I interviewed him. As he is a judge I did not feel warranted
in taking his deposition under the circumstances. All he could tell me was that
he knew Bill Dorman lisped in his talk, and that he married a girl at Bonanza
named Mary Casteel. He says that that marriage must have been about 1883. He
says Dorman was just an everyday miner and that he thinks the Exchequer Mine was
the last one he worked at. He says he has no idea as to where Bill Dorman came
from, or where he went. The Judge says he does not remember ever hearing that
Bill Dorman died or was killed in a mine. Judge Stephenson could refer me to no
one except a man named Dobson who works for the Denver Gas and Electric Company.
He says Dobson ought to remember Dorman.....
....The object in the case is to ascertain when and where Bill Dorman died, or
if he is living to locate him...If Dorman cannot be traced and the marriage
records show that he was actually living as late as 1883, it will be necessary
to try and ascertain whether he and claimant were divorced. They evidently were
not. It is shown that the claimant went through a marriage ceremony with Van
Tassel in 1875. If Dorman was then living and undivorced her "marriage" to Van
Tassell could not have been legal and as the Bureau has held in some cases that
a remarried widow must show that she was actually legally remarried, it will be
a question of whether claimant was remarried to Van Tassell by common law after
the removal of the impediment.
...Dorman was just called Bill Dorman and the Judge and Mr. Vance both tell me
he was a sort of a joke. That he appeared simple in a way and lisped when he
talked. He is not described as a drinking or gambling man. If there is much
question as to whether the Bill Dorman at Bonanza was claimant's husband, the
soldier, she might be asked later if he lisped. That would be a very good point
as to identity, as other personal descriptions vary and never amount to
anything... T. Quinn Jones, Special Examiner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And here is a little more info on the woman who filed for pension...
Descendants of Phoebe Lorenda Smith

1 Phoebe Lorenda Smith b: Jan 28, 1846 in Hancock County, Indiana d: Jul 12,
1922 in Fairfield,Jefferson,Iowa Burial: Evergreen Cemetery/Fairfield,
Jefferson, Iowa
. +William Dorman b: in Connecticut m: Dec 17, 1865 in Henry County, Iowa
........ 2 Alva E Dorman b: 1868 in Iowa d: Feb 17, 1916 in
Fairfield,Jefferson,Iowa Burial: Evergreen Cemetery/Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa
............ +Elizabeth Worley
*2nd Husband of Phoebe Lorenda Smith:
. +Rufus VanTassell b: 1823 in Ohio m: Jun 17, 1875 in Henry County, Iowa d:
Jan 31, 1899 in Pierceton, Kosciusko, Indiana Burial: Feb 2, 1899
........ 2 Nellie VanTassell b: Sep 1876 in Iowa d: Nov 8, 1900 in Columbia
City, Whitley, Indiana
............ +Ulyssus Grant Strieby m: Jun 10, 1893 in Kosciusko County,
Indiana d: Jun 22, 1946 in St. Joseph County, Indiana
................... 3 Ralph W Strieby b: Jan 1897 in Kosciusko County,Indiana
................... 3 Herbert Paul Strieby b: Dec 19, 1899 in Kosciusko
County, Indiana
........ 2 Hiram Bert VanTassell b: Abt. 1879 in Kansas
............ +Daisy Davis b: 1878 in Fairfield,Jefferson,Iowa d: 1946
................... 3 Elsie VanTassell b: 1899
................... 3 Hiram Bert VanTassell b: 1901
................... 3 Walter Edmond VanTassell b: 1906
................... 3 Dennis H VanTassell b: 1916
........ 2 Walter Edmund VanTassell b: Mar 1882 in Kansas d: 1935
............ +Laura Hoaglin b: 1881 d: 1967
................... 3 Marine VanTassell b: 1907
........ 2 Bessie A VanTassell b: May 31, 1877 in Mankato, Kansas d: 1964 in
Fairfield,Jefferson,Iowa Burial: Maple Hill Cemetery/Birmingham, Iowa
............ +John E Martin d: 1949
................... 3 John Hurley Martin

Cathy Joynt Labath


This thread: