Newman's parents were included on his marriage records. His birth year was estimated on his marriage record. In his Civil War penison file, Newman is described as 5'7", with black hair, gray eyes (sometimes reported to be blue), and a dark complexion. Newman enlisted Sept. 1, 1861 in Co. C 40th Regiment of Ohio Infantry Volunteers. He was a wagoner. In his pension file statement in 1881, Newman reported that he "has resided at London, Ohio before my enlistment and after my discharge I remained in London, Madison Co, Ohio until about Dec. 1, 1865. Then I come to Wolf Lake, Noble, Co. where I have resided ever since and my occupation is working on a farm by the day and other common labor such as day laborers work at."

Newman's brother-in-law Samuel Jones, also of Wol f Lake (in 1886) describes Newman's past jobs & circumstances, "The 1st time I see Newman Whittaker after his discharge from the service was some time during the month of January 1866. He came to my house. I was living on my farm one & one half miles west of Wolf Lake, Noble Township, Noble County, Indiana . . . The winters of 1866 & 1867 Whittaker & myself run a wood saw. . . The spring of 1867, he took a job of grubbing of one James Tuttle & remained there 3 years . . . During the winters of 1870 & 1871 he run a wood saw with Jacob Pickett. In the fall of 1871 he married Jane Gray. The next summer he worked for Patrick Clark. From that time on until the spring of 1874 he worked around by days work. At which time he moved upon my farm. Remained there until the following fall. He then moved to Ohio. Remained there until the following fall of 1875 . He then moved back on my farm. Remained there one year. He then bought a s mall place of his own. Remains there at the present time."

In the 1880 Census, Newman & his wife Jane, are living with their children, Adda, Lillie, & Charles in Noble, Noble, IND. He is a laborer. In 1886, Newman petitions for a Civil War invalid pension. It is based on the fact that he spent time in th e hospital during the war with typhoid fever. At that time he developed a large bed sore on his back, near the base of his spine. It eventually healed over, but the bone & back were damaged. Byron Gray, Esq. adds a personal letter to his affadavit supporting Newman's petition for a pension, which includes a glimpse into the politics of the time: "In relation to Mr. Whitiker I desire to say that in the campaign of 1884, stump orators told the soldiers that in case of Democratic victory the pensions would be stopped. We contradicted it and especially in this case. I, of course, do not know how strong a case he has. This I do know, he is a poor man with a family of children he can hardly keep clothed & fed. And yet I believe he works as much as he is able. He seems to be in a worse physical condition than a number of men who are on the pension roll . I should be glad to see his claim speedily considered and justly determined. Please pardon any seeming presumption in this letter." Newman was granted an invalid pension. In 1890, Newman petitions for an increase in his pension , which is then $8 a month. At that time he is livng in Grand Traverse Co, MI. Newman's birth, with month, was confirmed on the 1900 Census. He is then living with his daughter, Lillie May & her husband George Smith. Newman is reported to be a farmer/laborer who can read, but not write.

In Dec. 1902, Newman made the mistake of marrying Catherine H. McCloughan. She had been married & divorced twice before including her 1st marriage to Newman's nephew, Elias Jones. A few years later, G. H. Williams, one of her neighbors, reported that he asked Catherine why she married such an old man as Newman. "She said he will die some day & I will get his pension." Catherine & Newman both agreed that he moved out in June of 1903, but that is about all they agree on. Newman reported that 2 1/2 years later, in Nov. 1905, Cather