Treasurer’s team finds great-grandson of Battle of Gettysburg soldier

(Columbia, SC) – State Treasurer Curtis Loftis will be available Monday at 11am to help send off rare civil war documents to the great-grandson of a Battle of Gettysburg soldier. The documents of Union Soldier Col. Ira W. Cory were found in a safe deposit box after Cory’s grandson passed away in Charleston in 1987. For years, the documents had been sitting in a vault.

Now, with the hard work of the unclaimed property division and some willing assistance from a genealogist, the Treasurer’s Office has found the great-grandson of Col. Cory. The documents will be returned to Robert Cory of Columbus, Ohio on Monday.

“I am proud of my team for not giving up on this case,” Treasurer Curtis Loftis said. “These are precious documents and to know they’re going back to the family to which they belong is a true testament to the dedication and hard work our staff does each and every day.”

Click here to see a link of Col. Cory’s obituary from the March 4, 1904 New York Times.

MONDAY EVENT:

WHAT: Civil War document viewing and mailing back to descendant

WHEN: Monday January 24, 2011 – 11am

WHERE: SC Treasurer’s Office, 1200 Senate Street, Wade Hampton Office Building (directly South of SC Statehouse)

The documents include an original Civil War discharge paper dated from 1865, a muster roll and a paper outlining various battles. Treasurer Loftis will be available to show the documents and
describe how the family member was located. In addition, Goose Creek, SC genealogist Jeanette Simkins will be available by phone for questions.

The purpose of South Carolina's Unclaimed Property law is to protect the interests of the owners of the lost property. Examples of unclaimed property include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten insurance policies and unclaimed shares of stock. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, accounts totaling $12.2 million were returned to the rightful owners.Treasurer Loftis and his team are working hard creating the most transparent, accountable and efficient Treasurer’s office in the nation.