Federal pensions to Texas Rangers for various Indian wars

“Through the years the United States government has granted pensions to its military veterans who served in defense of their country. It was not until the twentieth century, however, that-a pension Act was extended to include Texas Rangers who had honorably served against Indians on the frontier of Texas.

“Traditionally, the protection of the frontier was an acknowledged responsibility of the Federal government but it often was left to Texas to provide the necessary protection after her entry into the Union in 1845, just as had been done during the days of the Republic of Texas. In 1902 the provisions of an 1892 pension Act were extended to include Texas veterans of the Indian War of 1849-56 and their widows and, thereafter, in 1908 and 1917 the provisions subsequently were extended also to include the veterans who served ‘in defense of the frontier’ against Mexican and Indian depredators from 1855 to 1860, inclusive. The latter Act also specifically included those Rangers who saw service against the Kiowas, Comanches and Cheyennes in 1874 and 1875. Qualification was based on active service of at least thirty days or for the entire period of the campaign if its duration was less than thirty days. Widows of the veterans also were included, but the 1917 Act stipulated that the marriage to the veteran must have occurred prior to March 4, 1917.

“Belatedly, the generous Act of March 3, 1927, granted pensions to those survivors who had served at least thirty days in any Indian War or campaign from January 1, 1817, to December 31, 1898, inclusive, and who suffered "from any mental or physical disability of a permanent character not the result of his own vicious habits which so incapacitate him for the performance of manual labor as to render him unable to earn a support." Some claims also were covered by the Act of March 20, 1933.

“For all intents and purposes, the Federal government classed the Rangers as military veterans in acknowledging their rights to pensions. After the necessary legislation was enacted, the State of Texas was reimbursed by the Federal government for its expense in maintaining the Rangers on the frontier.”

Diversity in the Rangers -- Hispanics, Indians and at least one Prussian

GUAJARDO, Santiago J. {Ind. Sur. No. 13467) Born September 30, 1848, in Condela, Mexico, died May 17, 1919, in Bandera County, Texas. Married Mrs. Maria Calloway November 16, 1876, in Boerne, Texas; she was born July 25, 1853, died December 5, 1927. Application based on service in Captain Neal Coldwell’s Company F of the Frontier Battalion from June 7, 1874, to August 31, 1876. Application approved.

GUERRO, Aleyo {Ind. Sur. No. 14718} Born January 18, 1845, in San Antonio, Texas, died August 19, 1923, in San Antonio. Married Josefa Perez; she died in 1897. Application based on service in Company H from August 29, 1870, to May 31, 1871. Application approved.

NAH-AS-TOE (Ind. Sur. no. 15543} Born in 1834 at Medicine Bluff {location not further identified.} Married first Gee-so-ne-do near Guthrie, Indian Territory. Married second How-wa near Anadarko, Indian Territory. Application based on service as an Indian Scout in 1855. Application rejected. In traditional Indian fashion, the applicant signed his pension papers with his thumb print. He served under the name Naistor but was unable to furnish details concerning the name of the Captain in whose company he served or otherwise identify the unit. According to his application, he also served as a scout in 1874.

NIEMANN, Henry {Ind. Sur. No. 12977} Born June 29, 1848, in Hanover, Prussia, Germany, died May 3, 1927, in New Braunfels, Texas. Married Minna Boenig December 8, 1872, in Geronomo, Texas; she was born August 22, 1852, in New Braunfels, died July 27, 1940, in Refugio County, Texas. Application based on service in Captain H.R. Von Biberstein’s Company G from October 10, 1870, to May 30, 1871. Application approved.

http://www.texasranger.org/E-Books/Texas_Rangers_Indian_War_Pensions.pdf