DEPOSITION: C
Deposition of: GEORGE SCOTT
Case of: Charles N Nichols
Certificate #387.762, April 1900
On this 20th day of April, 1900, at Marcellus, county of Cass, state of Mich., before me, H.L. Rothe, a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared George Scott, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says:
I am 66 years of age; my post-office address is Marcellus, Mich.
I am a harness maker.
I was Copl., Co., M. 4th Mich. Cav. I enlisted in Sept. 1862 and was discharged Jan 3, 1863. I reenlisted about Aug. 1864 in Co. D, 1st Mich. Eng. & Mech. and was discharged in June 1865.
I have known Charles N Nichols since about 1853. He hired then on my father's place about four miles west & north of here.
When I enlisted, I hired 1 1/2 miles north of Little Prairie Rhonde.
Nichols was in the 11nth Mich. Inf. I couldn't tell you whether he had enlisted before I did. He had worked for my brother-in-law and me on a farm before the war.
I met Nichols as he was coming home to be discharged at Chattanooga, in 1864, I think it was about Oct., 1864. I just met him to pass the time of day with him and might have been with him that night, but can't remember now as I met all the boys of that regiment that were coming back. I am certain I met him there, but I may be mistaken as to the month.
After my discharge I hired at Nicholsville (Little Prairie Rhonde) until 1870, running a harness shop. Then I went to Wis. A month or two. Then I went to Ohio for a few months. Then I went to Adrian, Mich. and was there a couple of years. I was a rover until 1880, when I came to Marcellus and have been here most of the time since.
When did you first know that Charles N. Nichols, here present, had any disease or disability about him?
When he came back from the army he was working, I believe, for Mr Hike, since dead, about four miles south of Nicholsville. At that time he worked for Hike and had the chronic diarrhea like the rest of us. I didn't work with him, but there was lumbering and Hike's teams passed through our town and I used to see Nichols often. Afterwards, he bought a little place of ten acres, near hike, and made baskets and worked for himself. He couldn't stand the hard work. I couldn't state the year though in which he started in for himself, but it was during the years between 1865 and 1870.
How do you know he had chronic diarrhea between 1865 and 1870?
By his appearance, and having it myself and by him telling me once in a while that he had it. That is all I could say about it. He had that regular old yellow, jaundice look that all the soldiers brought back with them that were affected by diarrhea. That is what I noticed in his appearance.
Did anything else beside diarrhea ail him to your knowledge between 1865 and 1870, while you lived four miles from him?
I think that he was troubled considerable with his lungs. He was a man that always worked all he could but, if I remember right, he used to have quite a cough then. I can't remember as well as I used to. I notice my memory is failing.
Was he ever laid up sick in bed in those years?
I cant remember about that. I couldn't say whether I visited him in any sick spell then.
After 1870, I know nothing more about him until he moved to this town and I couldn't tell you when that was. I think it is over ten years ago.
Since he moved to this village, I have known him well. I don't know that I ever called on him, in a sick spell, here, but I have heard of him being sick often and for long periods. Have noticed he was off the streets and have heard about his sicknesses from the doctors and others. I have always understood that he had difficulty with his lungs and repeated attacks of typhoid fever when he has had his sick spells, here.
I don't know whether his diarrhea has troubled him here in Marcellus. I presume it does though for I have never seen a man that got over it.
Have you ever noticed that he was deaf?
Yes, I have noticed that he hasn't very good hearing. I first recall noticing his deafness since he came here, in the last ten years.
Has he ever had rheumatism to your knowledge?
I couldn't say anything about that. I don't remember that I ever knew anything about his rheumatism.
Did you know anything about his health in service?
I never met him in service only as he was coming home and I was not with him long enough then to know or find out anything about his ailments.
I thought I had heard his fever reported as typhoid, but probably am mistaken and it was called lung fever. When he worked for me before the war, he was as good a man as ever done a days work. No, he did not cough then.
The affidavit you show me (BJ. 17) bears my signature and the two letters were written by me.
I did meet him at (Chattanooga?) Nashville, I had forgotten that. I can tell you, too, where they were stationed. They were stationed at the State Prison. I was in hospital than at Nashville and got permission to go to see the boys in the 11nth Mich. Inf. I recall he was sick then, but I don't know what ailed him. My memory was better in 1895 than now.
I have understood the questions and my statement as read to me, is correctly recorded. "Chattanooga" erased and "Nashville" inserted before signing. It was before I went to hospital that I called on the 11nth Mich. Inf.
Deponent, Geo Scott
Affidavit for Commissioned Officer or Comrade
Affiant: GEORGE SCOTT
Date: March 9, 1895
Claim of Charles N Nichols
State of Michigan
County of Cass
In the Pension Claim of Charles N Nichols personally came before me a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State, George Scott, late a private in company M of the 4th regiment of Mich Calvy. Volunteers, and now a resident of Marcellus, County of Cass, State of Michigan, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in the aforesaid case as follows:
That Charles N Nichols late a private in Company G of the 11th Regiment Michigan Infantry Volunteers of the war 1861, while in the military service of the United States, in the line of his duty, and without fault or improper conduct of his, on or about the 15th day of November 1862, at Nashville in the State of Tenn. this affiant while at Nashville, Tenn learned that the 11th Mich Inf. was also in camp there and being acquainted with Chas. N. Nichols who was in that organization, this affiant and comrade, JOHN H LITTELL went together & found said soldier, Chas N Nichols. He was at that time suffering with Chronic Diarrhea as he lay in camp at Nashville. Affiant further states that he again saw claimant at Chatanooga. At this time he was suffering from the same disabilities and was discharged and on his way home. Affiant has resided since his discharge almost all the time at or near Marcellus and has seen said claimant frequently since the service and he has always continued to suffer from said disease. The statements contained in the affidavit were written in the presence & from oral statements made to L.B.D. DerVoigues, Notary Public. On this 2nd day of March 1895, that in making the same he did not use and was not asked or prompted by any written or printed statement or recital prepared or dictated by any other person. He further certifies that he has no interest in said claim and is not concerned in its prosecution.
Affiant, George Scott
