Walter Mills: After the Civil War

Most of our information about Mills after the war comes from Pension records. His records are still stored in this building, where he or a representative would have repeatedly filed his and his widow's requests for a pension and pension increases.

Description of Mills' injury and treatment.

Walter P.C. Mills was honorably discharged from the Union Army of the Civil War on July 27, 1865.  On August 13, 1865, he married Anna Maria Callahan at St. Malachy’s Church in Philadelphia.  They had five children and lived at 1418 Stiles Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He applied for a pension after his service and was approved for $4 per month. The pension readily increased over his lifetime to $12 per month before his death. Doctor reports describe him as a white male with grey hair, grey eyes, and weighing 139 pounds.  These reports describe him as having issues with increasing nervousness, signs of senility, rheumatism, and vertigo, which were related to his war service.  Records show that in 1907, he was unable to write his name and had to use an X when asked for a signature.  Mills died on April 8, 1909, and was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery.  Evidence shows that bodies buried at this location were later disinterred and moved to Lawnview Cemetery in Rockledge, Pennsylvania, and placed in a mass grave.  After his death, his wife Anna petitioned for widow’s pension on April 17, 1909, and was approved.  She requested several increases over the course of her life and was receiving $30 per month at the time of her death in 1924.