This is an Affidavit by John SNYDER on 4 Dec 1882. It was written to advocate for my ancestor, John James BENTLEY. John J Bentley, a carpenter and a farmer, was in Decatur County before and after the Civil War so this piece places John SNYDER in Decatur County those years too. ~~~~~~~~ State of Missouri, County of Mercer. In the matter or Pension claim of J J Bentley [ John SNYDER ] personally comes the affiant who being first sworn, on oath says: that he was acquainted with claimant J J Bentley before he enlisted in the U S army in the war of rebellion and that I know that his hearing was good before enlistment and that after being discharged he was almost entirely deaf being deaf in one ear and nearly so in the other. I know the above facts from personal observation he the said J J Bentley having worked for me and also living in the same neighborhood both before and after the said war and affiant further swears that he is not interested in the presentation of the claim, and his Post Office address is Mercer, Co. of Mercer, State of Missouri Affiant's Signature John SNYDER ~~~~~~~~ sent by Elaine