Sidney Weller writes... "I have known Jas Pennington for 20 years being a near neighbor and army comrade.  When I first knew him he complained of a hurt by riding a 5 year old headstrong colt causing as he thought kidney complaint by jamming on the saddle & by exposure Rheumatism. 

For the past 9 years intimately as relate.  I have known him to doctor with Dr. O. H. Sarber of Rockford who pronounced the disease.  Varicole (his spelling) and disease of the prostate gland & Rheumatism & for the past 3 years very bad."

Henry D. Lovelace writes:  "I have known James Pennington for 10 years.  Have seen him more or less during this time having business with him and have known Dr. Sarber doctor him for kidney complaint & rheumatism & varicocele disease.  And during this time I know he has been unable to do work of any kind and is now unable to do work.

Thomas Ivinson writes: "I lived within one half mile of James Pennington since 1863 until Feb. 1862.  The first time I saw him after his return from the Army in 1865 he told me of his being hurt on this saddle and injured his private parts so that he has always complained of the same more or less ever since.  Knew of his being treated by Dr. R. L. Blakely of Rockford, Mich for the said injury soon after he came home, and that said Dr. R. L. Blakely is now dead.  He has always since his return from his Army service been troubled with Rheumatism at times laid up by it.  Have often seen him in the field pull up his pants and rub his legs and complain of knotted veins together with rheumatism.  And now he is scarcely able to do any manual labor.

The Department of the Interior - Bureau of Pensions asked Thomas Ivinson to clarify his Affidavit through a Questionnaire.  These are his answers.

When did you first see claimant after he returned from the Army, and how do you fix the date?

I see him about the last of August 1865.  He came to see me and I was getting ready to sow wheat in September.

Of what disability did he complain, and how was he affected?

He complained of rheumatism and he had enlarged veins in his legs and privates and they were full of knots.  He could not hardly move.

How frequently have you seen him since your first acquaintance?

I have seen him almost every day.  He is my neighbor.

If he has continued to suffer with such disability, please describe the symptoms which were apparent to you, and state to what extent he has been disabled therefrom for manual labor during each year.

He has suffered a good deal at times with these disabilities.  He was lame and his legs and (?) was badly swollen and could scarcely move.  He performed a great deal of work for some years after he returned from the army but of late has not been able to do any thing.

My means of knowing the facts of the case are these:

He has called on me to do work for him when was so bad and I have taken him to the Doctor also.  He has called my attention to these veins on his legs a number of times.

John Norman writes:  "I lived within one mile of the claimant James Pennington since 1865 and am intimately acquainted with him.  Know of his being very troubled with Rheumatism and being doctored for the same and was told by him within a short time of his coming home from the Army that he was injured by a saddle while on duty in the Army and that one of his testicles was affected thereby.  Have seen his legs and know he has enlarged veins.  Know that he has been troubled with these diseases since he came from the Army and that he is nearly totally disabled for manual labor."

The Department of the Interior - Bureau of Pensions asked John Norman to clarify his Affidavit through a questionnaire.  These are his answers to the questions.

When did you first see claimant after he returned from the Army, and how do you fix the date?

June 1867.  I came from England at that time.

Of what disability did he complain, and how was he affected?

Of a breach by being hurt in the saddle - he walked stiff.

How frequently have you seen him since your first acquaintance?

At times I would see him once a week.

If he has continued to suffer with such disability, please describe the symptoms which were apparent to you, and state to what extent he has been disabled therefrom for manual labor during each year.

He has continued to suffer ever since.  He walked stiff and lame.  I think he has been disabled one half from manual labor.

My means of knowing the facts of the case are these:

I have known claimant all these years and have every reason to believe my statement to be true.  I know him to be a very reliable man.

James Pennington writes of himself... "In answer to the inquiry attached - will say that I enlisted from the township of Courtland Kent Co. Mich. and that has been my place of residence ever since my return from the army in August 1, 1865.  I immediately after that consulted and was treated for injury to my prostate gland by Dr. R. L. Blakley - now deceased - of Rockford, Mich. and since his death have been treated by Dr. H. O. Sarber of Rockford, Mich.

This injury occurred south of Winchester, Virginia while I was on picket duty with my company some time near the holidays or New Years 1864 and was caused by my horse stepping into a hole and stumbling throwing me on to the pummel of my saddle.  And on account of said injury and rheumatism combined, I have not been able to do a full days work at farm labor since 1865 and the past eight years have not been able to do any manual labor."