Person:Elisha Conley (1)

_DCAUSE: Mouth Disease from mercury

_PHOTO:

Elisha was listed in the 1860 Virginia census, working as a day laborer for William Potter who lived near his father George's home in Kingwood. His name was listed as "Elijah M."

Elisha initially enlisted in 1861at Kingwood, VA, according to his father. He later served in Company G, 6th WV Cavalry Regiment for the Federal Service during the Civil War. He later re-enlisted at Cumberland MD, on February 29, 1864, at the age of eighteen. He was a young recruit and, like many others, became sick. By October 1864, he required hospitalization in Clarksburg, while stationed at West Union. He was apparently diagnosed with typhoid fever and was treated with "salivation" with Calimel. This was a process where mercury was slowly dripped into the mouth. It also dripped onto the soft tisssue of his oral cavity and destroyed much of his mouth. The right half of his tongue was "completely eaten away," his teeth were destroyed, and much of the soft tissue was obliterated. For the long term, he had trouble swallowing and speaking. (Dorothy Bonafield Snyder)

He applied and was granted a pension in June 1865 of $4 per month. This was subsequently reduced to 2 2/3 dollars per month on 3/10/1869. This was upgraded to $10 by 1878 after having many examinations by county physicians. (Pension Files). He made application for increased Civil War pension benefits on April 1, 1867, after his disability was attested to by Dr. James Manown and Felix Elliott. His father, George, reapplied on December 16, 1890, in Kansas, for any residual pension benefits for his deceased son. Elisha was listed as an invalid at the time of his initial pension application. He made his home in his later life with his two unmarried sisters in Kingwood, Rebecca and Julia.

Elisha went to Missouri and was living with his father in Saline County in 1871. On January 1, 1873, he filed for an increase in his pension and a "John W.Conley" served as his attorney (designated representative.) This man was living in Cambridge, Saline County, Missouri, and might have been his older brother. (Dorothy Bonafield Snyder) His brother, Martin V., was also living there at the time and witnessed his "X" on the application, since Elisha was unable to write.

He also was noted to be a member of the Kingwood Methodist Episcopal Church on 3/5/1877. (PC Methodist Church Records)

Elisha was listed as living with his sisters, Rebecca an Julia, in Kingwood District in June 1880 (1880 Federal Census)

Elisha died on July 4, 1881 of "mouth disease." (Dorothy Bonafield Snyder) He is buried in the Maplewood Cemetery in Kingwood in an unmarked grave. He was listed as one of the veterans buried in the Maplewood Cemetery whose graves were decorated on Decoration Day 5/31/1908. His grave site is listed as #230 on the Grave plot list produced in 1909.

Elisha earned a Civil War medal, currently in the possession of Fred Conley. His two brothers, Martin V. and George Washington Conley served in the Confederate Army.

1. ↑ Pension Application, Elisha Conley.
2. ↑ Dorothy Bonafield Snyder.