Deposition
Case of David H. Savage, No. 291007

On this 16th day of October, 1884, at McConnellsville, County of Morgan, State of Ohio, before me, John A Carr, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Robert A Fouts (sic FOUCH), who, being by me first duly sworn to answer turly all interrogatories to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:

Q. Please state your age, occupation, post office address, military service, and relationship to claimant

A. I am 40; machine business; McConnelsville, Morgan Co., Ohio; private in Co E 193rd Ohio Vols.; his wife is my mother's sister.

Q. When did you find Mr. Savage's aquaintance?

A. We were boys together.

Q. What ailment did he ever complain of before his enlistment?

A. I never heard him complain; he and I were boys together, running together a good deal - and I always thought he was all right.

Q. How soon after his return from the army did you see him? And what was his condition then?

A. I believe it was the next day. He was pretty poorly. He complained of his eyes and heart.

Q. What was the matter with his heart?

A. I do not know; it would flutter and beat upon being excited any.

Q. What was the matter with his eyes?

A. To just stand an look at his eyes, they did not seem to be affected; but he could not see.

Q. Why do you think he could not see?

A. Well, when he got so he could go about, we went together, and he complained of his eyes to me - said he could not see.

Q. What caused this trouble?

A. I don't know; I supposed it was contracted in the army. I believe he said he had measles in the army, and that that affected his eyes.

Q. What work did he do, and for whom did he work after he returned?

A. He worked at the coopering business fo Mr Davis (now dead.) for a year or so. I believe he worked for Mr. Wildman Longley then.

Q. Did he work all the time? How soon after his return did he begin work?

A. It was some time after his return before he went to work. He did not work steady.

Q. How long did he have that heart trouble to which you refer?

A. He has had it I guss ever since. His eyes are still affected in the same way, I think.

Q. Has he suffered from any other cause?

A. I don't know that he has.

Q. When he worked for Mr. Davis, what part of the time did he work?

A. Well, it was not steady; he would work a while and then he would have to quit. I worked with him at the same business.

Q. Why was it he could not work?

A. He could not see to get his work together right. He was not more than a half hand.

Q. Did he work by the day or by the "piece"?

A. By the "piece". I worked with him, and I would have to do all the finer work for him; he could not see. In this way he lost the best part of his work - the particular part. In coopering, we have to draw a circle - by a "scribe" - and then the "head" has to be "worked" down to that. He could not do that, as he could not see the circle.

Robert A Fouts
deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of October 1884, and I certify that the contents were fully make known to deponent before signing.

John A Carr
Special Examiner.

Updated on Saturday, 08-Sep-2018 16:08:41 MDT