Wid Orig 803367
Esther M. Pennington
James Pennington
Co. G 9 NY Cav
P.O.R.F.D28 Rockford Kent Co Mich

Grand Rapids Mich
Sept 28, 1904

Hon Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Sir:

Herewith I have the honor to submit the testimony taken in the above cited claim and to report as follows:

The claimant is a person who has never visited among her neighbors and she has little to say to anybody.  She is a good woman but knows very little about her interest in the estate and she could have given practically no information had not her son Oliver and daughter Edith been present to help her along and I may add that her deposition is based on information that they furnished.

As to insurance, the only...

policy that could be found was a very old one and not now in force but they found a receipt from the county mutual insurance co. for 1902 which was for six dollars and some cents.

The tax receipts were not complete and down to date and I decided to make my own search of the county records.  The tax rolls for 1904 are not yet complete but the rolls for Dec. 1903 show taxes as follows leaving out descriptions:

• The 65 acre tract - 12.75
• The 20 acre tract - 4.21
• The 80 acre tract - 10.07
• Personal Estate tax - 1.25
• Collection charges - 2.83
• Total - $31.13

The property is located about 4 miles from a thriving railroad town, Rockford, and it is about 18 miles from this city.  There is a good house and good barn but the land is very poor and besides that it is extremely...

rough.  The son Oliver has stayed at home with his parents but he has raised his crops on rented land, he is an exemplary young man and told me how he had managed the farm for many years past and had made nothing from the place and that this was the last year he could do it. 

He has had his home and the use of the barn and of course the old folks could help along with poultry and butter.  He owned all of the farming utensils and stock and he has been the real head of the family for ten years past.

The mother was sick for a long time and the unmarried sister gave up teaching school to take care of the house and he allows her $2 per week and this is how the claimant now gets her living.  There is no contract of understanding of any kind as to keeping of claimant.

The records of the Probate Court show the following inventory of the estate filed by the administrator Oliver Pennington.

• Real Estate - 3300.00
• Cash - 810.00
• Household furniture - 150.00
• Total - $4260.00

The court allowed a claim to the daughter Edith for labor for $390 and allowed the widow $200.  There are other charges in the administration but the final statement is not yet allowed or filed and there is no assignment of heirs but they are given and under the laws of this state the widow has a life interest in one third of the real estate.

The claimant has $500 in bank drawing 3% and she has one third interest in the estate and this is all she has.  Now if she owned the entire estate in fee simple she could not realize from it $150 per year for the producing...

value of the land is nothing.  The house and barn constitute the valuation of this property.  The son kept the soldier & claimant and the soldier saved his pension and that is how he got ahead.

Messers Blackley & Blakney live right near each other and the similarity of names too me to Blackley first and I found him so well posted as to values and conditions that I took his testimony anyway for he too is an original affiant.

Claimant is getting her living free at the present time but it cannot be said that this is an income or a consideration of value and I consider it upon just as much of a clarity basis as if she moved to the home of some other child and lived free of charge, for no stranger would move in and take care of her for the income from her property rights.

I recommend that the paper...

be referred to the Chief of the Board of Review for consideration.

Very respectfully

F. G. Sims, Special Examiner