Civil War Pension File of Orlando Hallam Godfrey – Pension Affidavits

Affidavit 1

Declar

State of Iowa, County of Tama

On this 19th day of April 1890 personally appeared before me a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid Orlando H. Godfrey, a resident of Highland Township in the County of Tama and State of Iowa, aged seventy three (73) years who being duly sworn according to law, make the following declaration in order to obtain the pension to dependent father.

That he is the husband of M.E. Godfrey, the mother of Charles H. Godfrey, who enlisted under the name of Charles H. Godfrey at Denver Colorado about August or September 1863 in Company M 2nd Colorado Cavalry in the war of 1862 who was killed at Fredericksburg Ray Co. Missouri on the 17th day of July 1864 while in the line of duty. That said son Charles H. Godfrey left neither widow nor child surviving him and was unmarried. That the said Orlando H. Godfrey was the Father of said Charles H. Godfrey and that he was in part dependent upon said son Charles H. Godfrey for support. That there was surviving at the date of said sons death his brothers who were under sixteen years of age as follows:
Orlando H. Godfrey Jr. born January 1851
Gerard C. Godfrey born 1853

That both of said sons died at and before their majority – the exact dates the applicant cannot now state. That he is the only surviving parent of said Charles H. Godfrey his mother having died prior to his enlistment and in June, 1861. That he the applicant has not heretofore received or applied for a pension. That he has not aided or abetted the rebellion. That his residence is in Highland Township, Tama County Iowa. That his Post Office address is Montour, Tama County, Iowa. The applicant further states that at the time the said son Charles H. Godfrey enlisted he was in poor health and he was poor financially and has so continued every year since. That he is now wholly dependent upon the charity of friends for support.
[signed] Orlando H. Godfrey

Also personally appeared before me and residents of Tama County and State of Iowa who being duly sworn declare that they were present and saw said Orlando H. Godfrey sign his name to the foregoing declaration and that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said applicant and their acquaintance with him that he is the identical person he represents himself to be and that they have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.
[signed] Robert Crospey, Wm Crospey

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 19th day of April 1890 and I hereby certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim and that the contents of the above were made known and explained to applicant and witnesses before signing
[signed] C.J. Stevens Notary Public in & for Tama C. Iowa

Affidavit 2

Affidavit

State of Iowa, County of Tama

In the Claim of Orlando H. Godfrey Father of Chas. H. Godfrey Co. M 2nd Col. Cav. On this 1st day of February, A.D. 1894 before me, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, personally appeared Orlando H. Godfrey aged 76 years, a resident of Highland Township, in the County of Tama, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is Box 126, Montour, Tama County Iowa, well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case as follows: That he was born on the 17th day of March 1817 at Hebron, Connecticut that he was married to Mardola Thompson at Mansfield Conn. Dec. 7th 1845 That Charles H. Godfrey was born in the fall of 1846 in Hebron Connecticut. That in 1851 he moved with his family to Council Bluffs Iowa. That his wife died at Council Bluffs Iowa in 1861. That my son Charles H. Godfrey with my permission went to Denver Colorado with a freighting outfit and without my knowledge or consent enlisted in Co. M 2nd Colorado Cavalry and was killed in the service and while in the line of duty. That he is unable to furnish testimony showing the existence, symptoms and extent of my disability during the year 1863 because the physicians who treated me are dead and there are no other persons now living that he can prove these facts by that he has any knowledge of. The above testimony was all written by C.J. Stevens in my presence and from my oral statements to him then made on the 1st day of February 1894 at or near Montour and that I was not ? by any written or printed statement of any other person.
[signed] Orlando H. Godfrey [Stamped Feb 14, 1894 U.S. Pension Office]

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 1st day of February, A.D. 1894. I certify that said affiants are reliable persons and that I read the foregoing affidavit to them before swearing thereto and that I am not interested in said claim.
[signed] C.J. Stevens, Notary Public] Affidavit No. 422.002

Affidavit 3

Affidavit as to record in Family Bible.

State of Iowa County of Tama

In the claim of Orlando H. Godfrey, Father of Charles H. Godfrey late of Co. M, 2nd Reg’t Col. Cav. Before me, a Notary Public in and for the County, and State aforesaid, personally appeared Orlando H. Godfrey the claimant, whose Residence and Post Office address is Montour, Tama Co., Iowa well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: That I cannot furnish a verified transcript from any public or church record showing the date of the birth of Charles H. Godfrey for the reason that there was none made that I ever knew nor the affidavit of any person present at his birth for the reason that they are dead. That the family Bible containing a record of his birth was burned in Council Bluffs Iowa. Affidavits of witnesses of the death of the wife of Orlando H. Godfrey and that Charles H. was recognized as the son of Orlando H. Godfrey are on file. I further testify that there is no person legally bound for my support.
[signed] Orlando H. Godfrey

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of February, A.D. 1894 and I hereby certify that the affiant, who is a credible person, was fully informed as to the contents before swearing thereto, including the words as appears as a matter of record in the family Bible the said entry being as follows and in the handwriting of and known to me and have been made about ….18… to wit ……and that I am not interested in said claim.
[signed] C.J. Stevens, Notary Public

Affidavit 4

We, C. C. Bump and Georg Canning, and George F. Smith of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., State of Iowa, do depose and say that we are well acquainted with Mr. O. H. Godfrey and have known him for many years and also his son Charles H. Godfrey who was killed in the war of the rebellion. And we remember him well and also of hearing of said, Charles H. Godfrey’s death at the time, or rather soon after he was killed in the line of service. We also know that Mr. O.H. Godfrey is the father of Charles H. Godfrey who was his oldest son upon whom said O.H. Godfrey was dependant for his support at the time of the enlistment of his son Charles H. Godfrey
[signed] George F. Smith, George Canning, C.C. Bump

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of Aug. 1889
[signed] E.S. Barnett, Notary Public

(All three are found in the 1880 census, only George F. Smith is found in Council Bluffs in 1860)

Affidavit 5

Council Bluffs Iowa, Aug 19th 1890

We whose names are subscribed below do depose and declare and say that we are acquainted with O.H. Godfrey, and that he is the father of the late Charles H. Godfrey whom we knew to be the son of said O.H. Godfrey. And we further declare and say that Charles H. Godfrey never was married and had no children at the time of his death, he the said Charles H. Godfrey, being a minor at that time. We also depose and say that we are acquainted with the facts contained in this case and cheerfully endorse the same.
[signed] Ed Martin, Gilbert Worth (difficult to read), Ann A. Smith, Thos. H. Allison M.D., E.L. Pader (difficult to read)

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of August, 1890, E.S. Barnett, Notary Public

Affidavit 6

Affidavit

State of Iowa Pottawattamie Co.

In the matter of Pension claim of O.H. Godfrey, Geo F. Smith being duly sworn deposes and says that he is a resident of the City of Council Bluffs Ia and is 54 years of age. That he was a resident of the City of Council Bluffs in the year 1861 that he was personaly [sic.] acquainted with Charles H. Godfrey and his Parents and the family. That on or about the 27th day of June 1861 the mother of Charles H. Godfrey died in the city of Council Bluffs. That this affidavit was prepared in his presence from his own dictation in the City of Council Bluffs Ia on the 10th day October 1893 and that said writing was done by Edwin J. Abbott of Council Bluffs Iowa. That he was not aided by any written memorandum or dictation to by any person but makes said affidavit from his own memory of the facts therein contained and that he is no way related to claimant and not interested in prosecution of this claim.
Date of the mother June 27, 1861 [signed] Geo F. Smith

State of Iowa Pottawattamie Co.

Edwin J. Abbott a Notary Public within area for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that personaly [sic] appeared before me Geo F. Smith who is known to me to be the Identical person he represents himself to be who took oath to the foregoing before me and subscribed the same in my presence after the same had been read to him and he being fully aware of the facts therein contained. I further certify that I am in no way related to claimant and have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. Written in my hand and office seal this 10 day of October 1893
Edwin J. Abbott Notary Public

Affidavit 7

State of Iowa Pottawattamie Co.

In the matter of Pension Claim of O.H. Godfrey

Henry Delong being duly sworn deposes and says that he is 59 years of age and a resident of Council Bluff Pottawattamie Co. Iowa. That he resided in Council Bluffs in the year 1861. That during said year he was well acquainted with the mother of Charles H. Godfrey and the other members of her family that they were neighbors of said family during said year. That during the summer of 1861 the said mother of Charles H. Godfrey died in the City of Council Bluffs and that he was personally cognizant of the fact of said death at the time it occurred. He further states that this affadavit [sic] was prepared in his presence from his own dictation and that the writing was done by Edwin J. Abbott of Council Bluffs Ia that he was not aided by any other person or by any written memorandum but from his own memory of the facts therein contained that he has no interest in prosecution of the claim.
[signed] Henry DeLong
State of Iowa Pottawattamie Co.

I Edwin J. Abbott Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that personally appeared before me Henry Delong personally known to me to be the identical person he represents himself to be who took oath to the foregoing before me and subscribed to the same in my presence after the same had been read over to him and he being fully aware of the facts therein contained. I further certify that I am in no way interested in the prosecution of the claim. With my hand and seal notarial this 10 day of October 1893,
Edwin J. Abbott, Notary Public

Affidavit 8

State of Iowa County of Pottawattamie

I D.C. Bloomer being duly sworn depose and say that I resided in Council Bluffs in said County and State in the year 1864 and I now reside in the same place and am an attorney. That in the month of October 1864 I prepared an application for a Bounty and arrears of pay for Orlando H. Godfrey who then resided in Council Bluffs foresaid as the Father of Charles H. Godfrey who was a private in Co. M. of Colorado Cavalry Captain Moses and who was killed at Fredricksburg Ray Co. Mo on the 17th day of July 1864 and that said application was made out in due form forwarded to the proper office in Washington in said month of October 1864 and the bounty provided by law and the arrears of pay due to said soldier were afterwards allowed and paid to said Orlando H. Godfrey the Father of said deceased soldier.
[signed] D.C. Bloomer Subscribed and sworn to before me the 6 day of August 1889 by said D.C. Bloomer. The words “Pension for” being erased before execution also the figure “6” written over figure 8 before executing.
[signed] John M. Galvin, Notary Public

Affidavit 9

State of Iowa Tama County

Mr. T.D.H. Wilcoxen [sic], Charles Moffatt [sic], James B. Merritt, Jacob Korns, James T. Kellogg first being duly sworn do depose and say that we are personally acquainted with Orlando H. Godfrey and that he is incapacitated from earning his support by reason of chronic catarrh, kidney complaint, and general debility and partial deafness and that he is without other means of support except his manual labor and we further state that we are not interested in the prosecution of the claim either directly or indirectly.
[signed] T.D.H. Wilcoxon, C.W. Moffett, J.B. Merritt, Jacob Korns, J.T. Kellogg

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 12th day of September 1890 and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing declaration were fully made known and explained the witnesses before swearing and that I have no interest in the prosecution of this claim direct or indirect
[signed] John A. Harvey, Notary Public in and for Tama Co. Iowa

Department of Interior internal form statement that John A. Harvey was Notary Public in the County from 23rd May 1890 until the fourth of July 1891.

Affidavit 10

Declaration for dependent father’s pension

State of Iowa, County of Tama

On this 11th day of August, one thousand eight hundred and ninety, personally appeared before me, a clerk of the District court, a Court of Record in and for the County and State aforesaid, Orlando H. Godfrey, aged 73 years, resident of the Township of Highland, County of Tama, State of Iowa, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the father of Charles H. Godfrey, who enlisted under the name of Charles H. Godfrey at Denver Colo. about August, 1863, in Company “M” 2nd Regiment Colorado Volunteer Cavalry to the best of my knowledge in the month of August 1863 in the War of the Rebellion, who died at Frederickburg Mo., on the 17th day of July, 1864, from the effects of wounds received in skirmish incurred at Fredericksburg, on the 17th day of July, 1864. That said son left neither widow, nor child under sixteen years of age, surviving. That declarant was married to the mother of said son on the 24th day of December, 1844 at Mansfield Conn., by H.H. Wade and that she died on the 27th day of June, 1861 at Council Bluffs Iowa. That he is without other present means of support than his own manual labor, or the contributions of others not legally bound for his support. That he has applied for a pension, the number of his application being 422002. That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890. He hereby appoints C.J. Stevens, of Montour, State of Iowa, his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim. That his post office address is Montour, County of Tama, State of Iowa.
[signed] Orlando H. Godfrey
Attest: T.D.H. Wilcoxon, J.B. Merritt

Also personally appeared T.D.H. Wilcoxon, residing at Montour, Iowa and J.B. Merritt, residing at Montour, Iowa, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Orlando H. Godfrey, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and acquaintance with him 15 years and 15 years, respectively, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
[signed] T.D.H. Wilcoxon, J.B. Merritt

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of September A.D., 1890, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
[signed] G.A. Edwards, Clerk of the District court

Affidavit 11

Physician’s Affidavit

State of Iowa, County of Marshall. In the Pension Claim No. 422002 of Orlando H. Godfrey dependant father of Charles H. Godfrey of Co M, 2nd Col. Cav personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and State, Eugene Sprague M.D. a citizen of Gilman Iowa whose post-office address is Gilman, Marshall Co. Iowa well-known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case as follows:

That he is a practicing Physician, and that he has been acquainted with said claimant for about ten months and that his health and age does not permit of self support. He has chronic catarrah of years standing, incurable. He further declares that he has been a practitioner of medicine for seven years.
[signed] Eugene Sprague M.D. sworn and subscribed before me this 6th day of September 1892
[signed] W.D. Forbush Notary Public

Affidavit 12

Affidavit

State of Iowa, County of Tama

In the Pension claim of Orlando H. Godfrey father of Chas. H. Godfrey, Co. M, 2nd Col. Cav. On this 1st day of February 1894 before me, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, personally appeared J.T. Kellogg aged 72 years, a resident of Highland Township, in the County of Tama, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is Montour and Quincy Manfull aged 60 years, a resident of Highland Township, in the County of Tama, and State of Iowa whose Post Office address is Montour Tama Co. Iowa, well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case as follows: I have been acquainted with the applicant Orlando H. Godfrey about twelve years and during all that time he has lived with J. B. Merritt a near neighbour and he has been unable to perform any labor or to follow any occupation. He has had no income nor has he owned any property that I know of but he has been dependent on the charity of friends wholly since I have known him.

The above testimony was all written by C.J. Stevens in our presence and from our oral statements to him then made on the 1st day February 1894 at or near Montour and that we were not prompted by any presented or written statement of any other person.
[signed] J.T. Kellogg, Quincy Manfull

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 1st day of February 1894
[signed] C.J. Stevens Notary Public

Affidavit 13

Affidavit

State of Iowa, County of Tama

In the Pension claim of Orlando H. Godfrey father of Chas. H. Godfrey, Co. M, 2nd Col. Cav. Personally came before me, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, J.B. Merritt whose residence and Post Office address is Montour Iowa well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
That he has been acquainted with Orlando H. Godfrey for 20 years that for the last ten years he has lived in my family. That during the last ten years he has been unable to follow any occupation or perform any manual labor. That he had no property or income whatever since he has been in my family. That he is now over 75 years of age and is wholly dependent on Charity for his maintenance and support. That said applicant is not related to me in any way. The above testimony was all written by C.J. Stevens in my presence and from my oral statements to him then made on the 1st day February 1894 and that I was not prompted by any presented or written statement of any other person.
[signed] J.B. Merritt

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 1st day of February 1894
[signed] C.J. Stevens Notary Public

Affidavit 14

Affidavit

State of Iowa, County of Tama

In the claim of Orlando H. Godfrey father of Charles H. Godfrey, Co. M, 2nd Col. Cav. On this 17th day of February 1894 before me, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, personally appeared Charles W. Moffet aged 65 years, a resident of Highland Township, in the County of Tama, and State of Iowa, whose Post Office address is Montour and Quincy Manfull aged 60 years, a resident of Highland Township, in the County of Tama, and State of Iowa whose Post Office address is Montour Tama Co. Iowa, well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case as follows: I have been personally acquainted with the applicant Orlando H. Godfrey for more than ten years and that he has resided with J. B. Merritt whose farm adjoins mine and who is a neighbor for all that time and that the said Orlando H. Godfrey has been dependent on the charity for his support and maintenance that there is no one legally bound for his support that I know of.

The above testimony was all written by C.J. Stevens in my presence and from my oral statements to him then made on the 17th day February 1894 at or near Montour and that I was not prompted by any written or printed statement of any other person.
[signed] C.W. Moffett, Quincy Manfull

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 17th day of February 1894
[signed] C.J. Stevens Notary Public

Affidavit 15 (last)

Act June 27, 1890
Pensioner Dropped
U.S. Pension Agency
Des Moines Iowa
Nov 28 1899
Certificate 396864, Class Father, Pensioner Orlando H. Godfrey, Soldier Charles H. Service P. M, 2 Colo Cav.

SIR: I have the honor to report that the above-named pensioner who was last paid at $12 to 4 Apr. 1899 has been dropped because of death. Date 18 June 1899, Very respectfully, E.F. Sperry

Submitted by:Chuck Godfrey