Bruce,
Thank you for responding to my question. I have some additional and new information for you to ponder: I contacted a cousin last night whose deceased father had done a lot of research on our Noss lines. Although she has no interest in this research, she offered to lend me some of the papers her father had accumulated. The information I posted was basically from what my grandfather had passed down to his children, his youngest being my late mother. My grandfather was the grandson of David and Sarah. He remembered his grandmother and had spent time with her before her death in 1920. You asked about my source in reference to the 'sudden death' of David: I guess you could say this was family lore. The situation regarding David and Sarah and their children had been passed down the generations mainly by word of mouth. My mother and many of her siblings knew names and dates and had heard about their ancestor that served in the Civil War and the story relating to his death, but not much more.
My late uncle apparently had gone down to Washington, D.C. some thirty years ago to the National Archives and had researched the military records for David. I believe he was able to photocopy most of them: I have some of that collection from my cousin. Even though this may not be the entire collection, what I have is very informative. There were seven service cards, the first states that David mustered in on January 1862 and joined for duty and enrolled Feb. 19, 1862 in Rolla, Missouri for a period of 3 years as a Pvt., Co. D, Union Rangers, Woods Batt'n. Mo. Vol. At the bottom of these cards is a notation which reads " This organization subsequently became Co. I, 6 Missouri Cav."
The third card reads, Date: March and April 1862. Absent. Remarks: -----?-----and appointed 1st. Sgt. April 1, 1862. Absent on sick leave. Card four: May-June 1862. 1st. Sgt., Co. D. Woods Batt'n. Absent. Remarks: At home on sick leave since April 30th.,62. Card five reads: July-Aug 1862. Remarks: Died at home Aug. 3, 1862.
There is a Casualty Sheet stating the following: Rank: 1st. Sgt. Company: I Regt. 6 Arm: Cavalry State: Missouri Nature of Casualty: Death Date of Discharge,Death: August 3, 1862 Place of Discharge,Death: At Home From what source this information was obtained: Muster Roll of Co. dated Aug. 18, 1862 Remarks: Muster out roll of Co. dated Jan 30th., 1865 reports " Died in Houston, Missouri in April 1862."
After the death of her husband, Sarah appeared before the county clerk of Miller County on September 29, 1862 for the purpose of applying for a pension. She stated that she was at that time a resident of Richwood Twp., Miller County, and that she was the widow of David K. Noss, a 1st. Sgt. in Co. D, commanded by Captain T. J. Spillman of the 6th. Regt. of Mo., Vol. Cav. She also states that David died on Aug. 3, 1862 in Miller County, Missouri, and that the cause of his death was Consumption.
There is one last paper which I found interesting: the photocopy shows a lined sheet of paper that has been folded at least four times. Many crease lines throughout. It reads: April the 26th., 1862 David K. Noss ( something ) Sargeant for Company D, Woods, 6th, Mo Cavalry having made application for a certificate on which to grant leave of absense. I therefore certify that the sade (said) Noss is unfit for military duty. Rendered so by the following disease, very bloody hemorages of the lungs. I further certify that the said Noss has been unfit for any duty assigned him as ( Ordly ?) of said company for the period of fifteen days. And I further certify that in my opinion he will not be able to perform the duties of a soldier for a less period than twenty days. ( The signature can not be read as one of the crease lines runs right through it and there appears an ink stamp over the signature which reads: Department of the Military Washington Office Jan 25, 1865 ) At the bottom: " Leave of absense is granted for 20 days on the Surgeons Certificate." There is a second signature here: ( looks like ) Mark J. Cole Adjutant
I hope this additional info will shed some light on my situation. The two contrasting death dates are a bit of a concern for me. Hopefully, you can make more sense out of this than I can. Even if you can't, please let me Thank You for trying to help me solve this problem. Bruce Johnson