GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
Affiant: JAMES C HUFF
Case of: Charles N Nichols
25 Oct 1886
State of Michigan
County of Grand Traverse
In the matter of the claim for an original invalid pension, Charles N. Nichols, Pvt. Co. G 11" Mich Vols
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the county and state, aforesaid, James C Huff, PO address, Fife Lake, Grand Traverse Co., Michigan a person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows:
I have been personally acquainted with Charles N Nichols since his discharge from the army. I know that he has been troubled with lung disease and rheumatism more or less every year since that time. As to the dates of his sickness I would say that he has had attacks of lung fever every year since his discharge and several years in that time he has had two such attacks the same year and a good many very severe ones, sometimes they have lasted him for three months at a time. I know that the slightest exposure to wet or cold brings him right down at once, several times everyone thought that he could not live. He is in bad shape at this time.
He has worked for and with me a good deal since he came home at such light work as he could do, which was mostly carpenterin. Wages run from two dollars to two-fifty per day, he has not been able to command over one dollar per day and he is a very good workman. Other work has been in the same occupation and he has not on average commanded more that one half of a good sound mans wages for the last six years. We have lived within thirty rods of each other and before that a mile since his discharge.
He has been troubled with and complained of rheumatism in his right shoulder. I am certain from a personal knowledge of such disease that his diseases have increased yearly, ever since his discharge. * I am in no way related to him and I have no interest in this claim.
I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Signature of Affiant, James C Huff
2 Dec 1886
Sir,
To further aid this Office in determining the merits of the claim above entitled, be kind enough to answer in your own hand writing the following questions, giving more complete details than your affidavit on file affords.
Very respectfully, _____________ Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.
James C. Huff
Fife Lake
Grand Traverse Co., Mich
When did you first see Chas. N. Nichols after he returned from the army, and how do you fix the date?
Charles Nichols returned from the army Oct 4, 1864. I saw him the fifth, he was to my house on that day.
Was he then suffering from any disability?
He was suffering from two diseases.
Of what did he complain, and how was he affected?
He complained of rheumatism in the right shoulder, and spitting blood, and a severe cough.
How frequently have you seen him since your first acquaintance?
As often as two or three times a week.
Has he continued to suffer with such disability?
He has and they grow more each year.
To what extent has he been disabled for manual labor thereby during each year within your knowledge?
He has not been able to perform manual labor half of the time since his return from the army, or during each year of that time.
My means of knowing the facts of the case are these?
I have been a near neighbor ever since his return and have a perfect knowledge of him.
Very respectfully, James C. Huff
GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
Affiant: Mary M Huff
Case of: Charles N Nichols
25 Oct 1886
State of Michigan
County of Grand Traverse
In the matter of the claim for an original invalid pension, Charles N. Nichols, Pvt. Co. G 11" Mich Vols
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the county and state, aforesaid, Mary M Huff, PO address, Fife Lake, Grand Traverse Co., Michigan a person of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows:
I have been personally acquainted with Charles N Nichols ever since his discharge from the Army. I know that he has been troubled with lung disease and rheumatism more or less every year since his discharge. He has had attacks of lung fever every year since his discharge and some years of that time I know of his having had several attacks of that kind. I know he has had several severe attacks and some not so sever, sometimes lasting him for months, sometimes for weeks. I know the least exposure to wet or cold at once brings on an attack of fever or rheumatism. Many times myself and neighbors have despaired of ever seeing him again. He coughs almost constantly. Now, at this time he is not good ... He works at carpenter work a good deal and other light work such as he can stand, but he cannot command full wages because he is not able to do to many full days work.
For the last six years we have lived in sight of each others dwellings, and before that time I lived 1 mile from him. He has rheumatism in the right shoulder that he is suffering from. Those diseases above named I am certain from a knowledge of those diseases and seeing him suffering with those diseases from time to time. Also, I know his suffering increases as the years go by. * I am in no way interested in this claim.
I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Signature of Affiant, Mary M Huff
2 Dec 1886
Sir,
To further aid this Office in determining the merits of the claim above entitled, be kind enough to answer in your own hand writing the following questions, giving more complete details than your affidavit on file affords.
Very respectfully, _____________ Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Mary M Huff
Fife Lake
Grand Traverse Co., Mich
When did you first see Chas. N. Nichols after he returned from the army, and how do you fix the date?
Charles N Nichols returned from the army the fourth of Oct 1864 and I saw him the fifth. He came to my house on that day.
Was he then suffering from any disability?
He was suffering from two diseases.
Of what did he complain, and how was he affected?
He complained of rheumatism in the right shoulder, and spitting blood, and a severe cough.
How frequently have you seen him since your first acquaintance?
As often as two or three times a week.
Has he continued to suffer with such disability?
He has and they grow more each year.
To what extent has he been disabled for manual labor thereby during each year within your knowledge?
He has not been able to perform manual labor half of the time since his return from the army, or during each year of that time.
My means of knowing the facts of the case are these?
We have been near neighbors ever since his return from the army and I have a perfect knowledge of him.
Very respectfully, Mary M Huff
*The affidavits of James Huff and Mary Huff are similar in content. Yet, it is interesting to note that, Mary, in her deposition, does not disqualify a relationship with Charles Nelson Nichols as does James by his inclusion of the remark "I am in no way related to him".
Mary Huff, wife of James Huff, is sister to Charles Nelson Nichols. Her maiden name is Mary Manly Nichols.
