DECLARATION FOR INVALID PENSION

January 25, 1892
Willis Woodward, age 85, resident of Summit, Newton County, Ark.
Enrolled: March 3, 1865 in Company E, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Regiment Infantry,
Volunteers Disbanded at Clarksville: July 28, 1865
Disabilities: Deafness of both ears, catarrh of the head, loss of eye sight, and palsey
Signed: Willis Woodward X (signed with X)
Witnesses: J.M. Adams and B. F. Ballenger

CLAIMANT'S AFFIDAVIT
May 22, 1893
Claim for Pension #1148855, late of Co. E. 2nd Ark. Inf.

Willis Woodward, age 86, resident of Summit, Newton County, Arkansas, stated, "I, Willis Woodard, Claimant in the above civil claim do testafy that I have been married twice, 1st to Elizabeth Read 2nd to Mary Phillips. I was born in Relford County, North Carolina on January the 10th of 1807. At the time of my enlistment I was a farmer. My hight six foot - eyes blue - hair dark. I have a son by name of Willis but I learn he is dead. I furthur state that I am not able to go to a phisician on account of me not being able to travel and my years for paying is limited. I am not able to leave home for examination what-ever and I've ask the Department to consider my case and give me a home examination for I am lible to sudent deth by reason of said disabilities."

Signed: Willis X Woodward (signed with X)
Witnesses: James M. Steel and J. F. Clayborn
Note: Relford Co. may have been Rutherford Co. The will of Peter Woodward, Sr., recorded 1817-1818, in Henderson Co, KY, refers to his land in Ratherd County. The name was probably transcribed as it sounded.

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
May 22, 1993
James Steel, age 61, resident of Summit, Newton Co, Arkansas, and F.M. Robinson, age 46, resident of Limestone Valley, Newton Co, Arkansas, stated, "We certify that we are personally acquainted with Willis Woodard & know him to be suffering the following diseases Deafness of Boath Ears Catarrh of head Loss of Eyesight and Palsey. We live in 1/2 of mile of Claimant and see him as often as Twice a Week from February 3, 1893 up to the pressent. He has spells which causes him grate suffering and said spells is lible to cause sudant deth. We further state that the clamant is not able to do any labor whatever. We know that claimant disabilities is not due to his own vicious habbitt. We have known him for 15 years and upwards and know him to be a tempert man in ever respects and we belive the statement of claimant to be true as to the orrigin of his disabilities for the standing of claimant as for trouth is good in the community where he now resids. We furthur state that claimant cannot leave his home for examination."

Signed: James M. Steel and F.M. (X) Robinson (sighed with X)
Witnesses: W. E. Robertson and J. C. Clayborn
Note: The Bureau of Pensions wrote to Willis' daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary A. Snow of Enola, Arkansas, trying solve the question of the two Willis Woodwards.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR - BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Nov. 11, 1893
Washington DC

Madam:
In the declaration of the above entitled claim as guardian of the minor Willis Woodward you state that the soldier died August 10, 1878 while it appears from the records of this Bureau that a person claiming to be the identical soldier Willis Woodward of Co E 2 Ark. Inf. who also claims to have a son named Willis has filed a claim for pension and was living as late as May 29, 1893.

It is required that you furnish without delay, a full personal description of your late husband and soldier Willis Woodward showing his age at the time you were married to him, his occupation at enlistment, the color of his eyes, hair, and complexion, his approximate height, and, if possible, the name of the place or city county and state where he was born. You should also furnish proof of your late husband's identity showing that he is the identical soldier Willis Woodward of the organization aforesaid.
Very respectfully,
Wm Lochorn, Commissioner

Mrs. Mary A. Snow, Enola, Ark.

Note: An examination at home, requested by Willis, was approved. On Nov. 10, 1893, forms were sent from the Bureau of Pensions to the Postmaster of Summit, Newton, County. He was instructed to see that, ". . . you place them in the hands of a competent physician and surgeon of respectable professional standing, residing at or in the immediate vicinity of Summit . . ." The papers contained instructions about Willis' home examination. They were returned by the Postmaster with the following letter.

Summit Post Office
Newton County, Ark
Dec. 16, 1893

Commissioner of Pension
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that I upon inquiries found that this man Willis Woodward has been removed out of this County by his children being dependent upon them for support! And that his present address is Morganton, Van Buren County, Ark. I therefore return these papers to your office, not being authorized to forward them.
Very respectfully,
Henry Heydenreich
Postmaster at Summit

Note: Willis went to live with Jordan sometime between May and December 1893. He died on January 3, 1894, and was buried in Colony Cemetery, in an unmarked grave in Row 15. The cemetery is located on Highway #92, a few miles from Morganton. More than five years after his death, Jan. 24, 1899, his claim was rejected.

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