Hon. Sir,
I will give what I think will cover your request.
1st I sen Joseph Eakis in April or May 1865 when he came home and he was able to work but complained of a numbling sound in his head which injured his hearing -- like a distant thunder and he could not do all kind of work and has been gettin worse ever since. He claims it was caused by the firing of canon in a three days battle which would prevent him from doing all kind of work and that he is unable to do much work of any kind and is just on Washington Twp. Butler Co. poors for a living. He has been sick for at least three years and the doctor had given him up as dieing two or three times but he is still unable to support his family. I think this is a true statement of his case.
I Remain Yours Respectively
Christian Mechling
Personally appeared before me, Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions in and for said County the same being a Court of Record, Christian Mechling of Jefferson Twp., said County, aged Seventy-Seven (77) years,
and to me well known, who being duly sworn according to law, deposith and saith that he is well and personally acquainted with Joseph Ekas who formerly lived in said Twp. of Jefferson as farmer with affiant previous to and at the time he enlisted in Co. "H" 102 Pa. Vols., at which time of enlistment the said Joseph Ekas was a sound able bodied man and his hearing was good, we worked together on the farm (my farm) and often conversed with each other, and never noticed any difficulty in his part in hearing everything that was said in a common and ordinary conversation previous to his enlistment. On his return from the army, the said Joseph Ekas lived with me about one year, and at the time of his return I noticed that his hearing was impaired to such an extent that it was with great difficulty that he could hear what would be called very loud talk or conversation. After the expiration of about one year he lived on my brother's place joining me, for about six years during which time I often saw and talked with him, and his hearing did not improve but appeared to grow worse. After he left this farm he lived in different parts of the neighborhood for some years, during which period I saw him at different times, and there was no improvement in his hearing. At the end of this period the said Joseph Ekas moved to the vicinity of North Washington, Butler Co., Pa. I have seen him but ever since he left our neighborhood, about six years ago, at which time I could notice no improvement in his hearing.
Affiant further declares that he has no interest directly or indirectly in any claim made or to be made by the said Joseph Ekas for pension or other claim from the U.S. for services as a soldier.
Christian Mechling
Sworn and subscribed this
4th day of May, A.D. 1885
Reuben McElwain
Clerk of Courts
I said Lewis Mechling do swear that I have new the said Josep Ekis Late of Co. H 102 Pa. vol. I have new him for 25 years he was considered by his neighbors to be one of our best able boyded men of our neighborhood I knew him very well I know he was not deaf when he went out but was when he came and I saw him while in the army I went to see him in the shandovaly in the fall of 1864 he had not bin well for a short time I dont rember what he told me was the ailment was I have no interest in this case but I do think he is deserving a pension
Lewis R. Mechling
Sworn and subscribed before me this 16th day of March, 1883
W.B. Davis
Clerk Q S Court
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