Individual Details

In the 1910 Census, James is residing at the Josephine County Home in North Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon.
The following is a result of the research of Mary Ann Love/Royse and Young researcher:
In June of 1846 both Benjamin Blaisdell and James Royse enlisted under Capt. John Parker's Company of Iowa Dragoon Volunteers [editor note: subsequent to this, it was also discovered that James' father, Solomon, also enlisted]. Their duty was to guard Fort Atkinson [Iowa] while the troops were at the front. His service was for 1 month and 27 days. The company was sent home, their services no longer needed. For this, both men received bounty land. Benjamin's was 160 acres in Alamakee County. Don't know about James' land.
First of the papers:
Signed by John Parker, Capt. ..it reads "Know ye, that James G. Royse, a private of Captain John Parker's Company of Iowa Mounted Volunteers, who was enlisted to serve for one year, was honorably discharged from the Army of the U.S., on the fifth day of November AD 1846 at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, by reason of his being mustered out of the service of the U. S., and also, that he received no written discharge at such time by Bevt. Major Hooe, the officer who mustered said company out of service, and that said Bevt. Major Hooe has departed this life. Said James G. Royse was born in ________ the State of Kentucky, was eighteen years of age, five feet six inches high, fair complexion, grey eyes. Given at Dubuque Iowa, this first day of March 1849."
The above was significant, for in later years, James applied for a pension for his service. All of this is found in his file in the National Archives, Washington, D. C. I have notes that the file is marked:
1847-160-VVT 61557
James G. Royse
1844 Private
Capt Parker
Iowa Vo
Can. 2305 Bundle 57
A letter is written on the stationary of J.D. Wurtsbaugh, lawyer, Grants Pass, Oregon, dated May 1, 1911. To.- Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D.C.
"Dear Sir.- - James Royse requests me to hand you the inclosure. Mr. Royse is very old and his memory is defective, and he hopes that your office has the information as to his enlistment and discharge that has left his memory. He will appreciate the favor. Yours truly, J. D. Wurtsbaugh."
Inside in a Declaration for Pension. Actually 2 of them. The first dated 1907, the second dated 1912. That of 1907 gave the following information, signed by a notary public, Grants Pass, Oregon. To paraphrase, he enlisted in Clayton County, Iowa. He was born February 22, 1827 at Cumberland County, Kentucky. In 1853 he left Clayton County for Placerville, California (His sister, Sarah "Sally" Jane Royse Blaisdell Bolander, was gold mining with her 2nd husband there, at Mud Springs in Eldorado County, California). In 1868 went to Washington, in 1869 went Nevada, then to Oregon. He signed with a mark. X J.T. Burns and Theresa Burns appeared as witness, claiming they knew him for 16 and 4 years respectively.
His first claim for a pension was denied on the ground that his service was not in Mexico or on the way thereto. He was on the record as having already been given a Bounty Land Warrant #61.557_160_1847 however.
Then, in 1912, he tried again. This time older, and even more forgetful. He said he was born July 1828 Louisville, Kentucky. Lived in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Somehow, friends or someone contacted Senator George E. Chamberlain from Oregon. A letter with the heading Grants Pass Hotel, B.F. Banks, Proprietor. Dated May 18th 1916:
"To: Hon. G.E. Chamberlain, Washington D.C.
My Dear Senator,
I am very grateful to you for your great kindness in presenting a
bill in Congress for my relief and am also pleased that the bill
was favorably reported on by the committee but I am sorry that it
has not yet reached that stage that helps me any - I am in great
distress and need help very badly and if you can cause the bill to
be put through at once for the sake of an old man who is in dire
need do so before it is too late to help him. wish also to know
about my land warrant. Kindly have your Secty to look this up and
( ... and that is where I failed to copy the second page. I could just spit. Sorry)
(According to the records, he had already received the land in 1849.)
Then .... and typed page of the file: "Approved Aug 18, 1916. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the U.S.A. in Congress assembled, that the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on the pension roll, subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws - the name of James G. Royse, late of Captain Parker's company, Iowa Dragoon volunteer, War with Mexico, and pay him a pension at the rate of $20 per month."
Then .... the saddest part. Written on the stationery with the letterhead "City of Grants Pass, Oregon", dated Aug. 15, 1918. I left his own punctuation and spelling.
"To: Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
The county judge requested me to write you about the pension due James G. Royse who died Aug. 3 1918 he was buried by the county and expences amount to about $75.00 nursing and so on the Judge wants to know wheather or not the Bal. of Pension coming to Mr. Royse can be sent to the County Judie to apply on Mr. Royse's expence of burial and nurse hire.
Yours Respectfully
C. E. McLane
Chief of Police
Grants Pass Oregon"

Birth	27 Feb 1827	Cumberland County, Kentucky
Death	3 Aug 1918	Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon

Father	Solomon ROYSE (1803 - 1856)
Mother	Sally (Sarah) YOUNG (1805 - )
Sibling	Jane (Sarah, Sally) ROYSE (1832 - 1929)
Sibling	Amanda (Addie) Adeline ROYSE (1840 - 1908)
Sibling	William A. ROYCE (1843 - )
Sibling	Hiram H. ROYCE (1845 - )
Sibling	Noah ROYSE (1847 - )