As the old Confederate veterans grew older, petitions were made to the Florida legislators to provide financial assistance for the veterans or their widows after honorably serving in the military. Florida began its Confederate pension benefits in 1885 whereas veterans could receive the sum of $5.00 per month. Confederate widows were added in 1889 then militia members. Different financial qualifications were added over the years as well as the amounts and distribution methods. Pensions were also set up in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The pensions were discontinued in 1955 following the death of the last veteran.
On October 14, 1990, what was believed to be the last Confederate widow passed away in Sumter, South Carolina. She was receiving $3,000 per year in pension benefits. Her husband enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862 and refused to speak of his experiences. He told her, ''He said it was just too bad,'' she said. ''He'd been through it one time and that was all there was to it.''
When the news of Daisy’s passing was received in Elba, Alabama the family of Alberta Martin protested that their relative was still living and was in fact the “Last Confederate Widow!” She had married William Jasper Martin of the 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Sadly, the state of Alabama had terminated any pension checks to all Confederate widows since they thought them all dead.
When her history was verified, the state of Alabama reinstituted her widow’s benefits in 1996 to include all of her back pay. Her husband passed away in 1931 and Alberta joined him in 2004.
Daisy Wilson Cave 1890-1990
Albert Martin 1906-2004