It was somewhat easier for white officers and their families to have their pension applications approved. Family Bible entries for births, marriages, and deaths could be corroborated with other sources to prove relationships.
Invalid – 495, 059 / 979,556
Widow – 1,083,100 / 826,058, Clara J. Howard
General Affidavit, Charles M. Howard, 29 December 1898
50 years old; post-office address, 59 Quimby Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Have known O.L. Howard for years having been in business with him …”
[Note: Another individual’s name “Charles [illegible], aged 20 years …” and signature were struck through — Leslie]
General Affidavit, George W. Morris, 30 December 1898
60 years old; post-office address, 43 Close Place [???], Detroit, Michigan
“I have known Orville L. Howard for the past thirty years. I know that he was in the Mt. Clemens [???] Mich in 1892 suffering from rheumatism and taking baths for treatment of the same. I know this for I visited him there two or three times.
General Affidavit, Orville L. Howard, 1 July 1914
69 years old; post-office address, 142 Wallach Ave., Buffalo, NY
” … there is no public or church record of his birth and no way to prove same other than a leaf [of paper] from the family Bible … This leaf was taken from the family Bible by this soldier some years ago and he does not known where the family Bible is now. [He recalls seeing his name in the Bible] giving his date of birth as July 26, 1844. o
General Affidavit, William H. Smith, 6 September 1912
40 years old; residence, Warsaw, Wyoming Co., NY; occupation, Pastor of the First M.E. Church, Warsaw, NY
“Have examined the church records here and find the following record
O.L. Howard — Farmer — Brockport, NY
Clara J. Morris Warsaw, NY
Married Dec 22nd, 1866 by H.H. Lyman, Pastor”
General Affidavit, Orville L. Howard, 1 July 1914
69 years old; post-office address, 142 Wallach Ave., Buffalo, NY
” … there is no public or church record of his birth and no way to prove same other than a leaf [of paper] from the family Bible … This leaf was taken from the family Bible by this soldier some years ago and he does not known where the family Bible is now. [He recalls seeing his name in the Bible] giving his date of birth as July 26, 1844. o
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Clara J. Howard, 26 October 1916
“77 years of age … born November 23rd, 1839 at Warsaw, Wyoming Co., NY
“That she is the widow of Orville L. Howard who enlisted August 9, 1862, at Brockport, NY… as 1st Sgt & Cptn. in Company M, 3rd NY Cavalry and was honorably discharged November 22, 1864 …
“That she was married to said soldier December 22, 1866 under the name of Clara J. Morris, at Warsaw, NY by Rev. H.H. Lyman, that she had not been previously married, that he had not been previously married …
“That said soldier died October 20, 1916, at Buffalo, NY …”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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