Deposition by Sophia S. Kincheloe Grant Regarding Pension of Joseph T. Clark's Widow Deposition C. Case of Iva E. Clark, W.O. No. 1,005,683 On this 16th day of March, 1914 at Township 36, County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska, before me, George M. Beckett, a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared Sophia S. Grant, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says: I will be 60 years of age in June, this year. P. O. Address: Raymond, Lancaster Co., Neb. I am the widow of Robert Grant, a farmer. This claimant is my own sister. I have no interest in her pension claim. We have always lived pretty close together. We never lived any farther from each other than we are now. I knew her husband Thomas Clark, the soldier. I knew him two or three years before he was married to this claimant, that was when he came into the neighborhood where we were living, near Parkersburg, W. Va. He worked in the sawmill on my father's place in West Va. I could not tell you how long he worked at the saw mill, it was two or three years before he married this claimant. I don't know as to whether I can say where he then came from. If I ever knew I have forgotten. I was not present at his marriage to my sister. He and my sister, and my brother Taylor Kincheloe and Lois Hultz were all married at the same time. They went away to get married. I cannot remember the name of the place where they were married, it was somewhere near Cincinnati. I can't remember the name. It was in Ohio where they were married. It was not very far from Parkersburg. All I know about it is that they came back and said they were married and we had supper for them when they came back. There was no opposition to her marriage, there was to my brother's. His wife's people did not want her to get married. The way they arranged it was this. They all came to our house, namely Taylor, and my sister, and soldier, and they sent a young man named Zach Lyons, after Lois to ask her parents if she could not go with them and stand up for my sister and soldier. She was allowed to go on that ground. Zack brought her to our house. They all dressed and went away the same evening. Zack went with them. He is still living I think. I never heard of his death. I suppose a Justice of the Peace married them, but I cannot say. I do not know for sure. Yes sir, claimant and soldier lived together as man and wife continuously from the date they came home and said they had been married until his death; he died last spring, just about a year ago, if I am not mistaken. I was not able to go to the funeral. Claimant has not remarried since his death. I think I did see her marriage certificate. I do not mind any other time. I think both Lois and my sister got certificates. I do not believe I can describe that certificate. It has been so long ago. I do not know what has become of it, whether she has it yet or not. No sir, I never had the least doubts as to her marriage to the soldier at any time. I don not know by whom the fact of their marriage could be proven except my brother Taylor and Zack Lyons if he is still living. They went one evening and came back the next night. Our people knew all of them were going to be married because of the opposition to the marriage of Taylor and Lois Hultz. All the rest of the family were married at home, I think every one of them. Soldier and claimant had 10 children I think and all are living but one. Yes, there was one child born before nine months were up, just about 7 months after they were married. No one knew anything about that until after they had been married. There never was any trouble about that child. They always got along well together as any man and woman could. It was in the fall of the year when they were married, in November I think tho I cannot say for sure. I was only about 15 or 16 years old when they were married. Her marriage to soldier was claimant's first and only marriage. She was about 18 or 19 when she married. Soldier was married but the one time too, that I knew, or ever heard of, and that was to claimant. He has a sister-in-law living in Esbon, Kans., named Ellen Clark, mother of Ole Clark, same address. There never was any doubt in my mind or that of any of the family, that they had been ceremonially married. We were all struck dumb when that first child was born. Some thought it was a seven months baby, others that it was not. That never raised any question about their marriage. They always got along so well, and seemed so happy together. I am correctly recorded in this my deposition which has been read to me. Your questions were understood. Sophia S. Grant - Deponent Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of March 1914, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing. George M. Beckett - Special Examiner Always digging for my roots, Kathie Harrison Lancaster Co. Coordinator, NEGenWeb Project http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~irishrose/lancindex.html