Contents of John E. Craddock's Civil War Pension File

General Affidavit
That he has been acquainted with John E. Craddock Decd and Malinda Craddock (claimant in this claim) ever since prior to their marriage about the year 1858. That he lived near neighbor to them after their marriage and know they lived and cohabited together as man and wife until the death of John E. Craddock about the month of March or April A.D. 1871. That he is of no akin to John E. or Malinda Craddock. That he makes this statement from personal knowledge and observation that his age is 48 years.
Dadeville, Dade County, Missouri
--Alfred Wilson, 7 July 1883

General Affidavit
That he knew claimant Malinda Craddock and John E. Craddock Decd since the year AD 1857. That neither of them have been married prior to the marriage of John E. Craddock to claimant. That Malinda Craddock claimant has not remarried since the death of her said husband John E. Craddock. That he is not of any akin to Malinda Craddock the above claimant.
Dadeville, Dade County
--E.R. Hughes, 7 May 1881

Neighbors' Affidavit
age is 43 years and he has known the above-named soldier ever since 1859. That on the 5th day of July 1861 the date of said soldier's enlistment in the above-named company and regiment [Co A] and diuring the whole period of his acquaintance with him prior to said date his condition of health was as follow:
Stout able bodied man for manual labor and free from diarrhaea. That the said John E. Craddock died at Melville, Dade County Missouri March the 5th AD 1871 from diarrhaea.
"..derived from personal observation and knowledge"
--F.M.Kirby, 17 Nov 1882 [John R. Tarrant, clerk of the county court]

General Affidavit
That he knew claimant Malinda Craddock and John E. Craddock Decd since the year AD 1857. That neither of them had been married prior to the marriage of John E. Craddock to claimant. That Malinda Craddock claimant has not remarried since the death of her husband John E. Craddock. That he is not of any akin to Malinda Craddock the claimant.
--Edgar Clark, 7 May 1881

Neighbors' Affidavit
"age is 47 years and that he has known the above-named soldier since 1859; that he first saw said soldier after his discharge from the military service of the US on or about the month of May 1863 at Dadeville or Mellville, MO"
Prostrate in appearance and suffering from chronic diarrhaea. That the said John E. Craddock retained said prostrate appearance and diarrhaea continuously growing worse until his death on the 6th day of March AD 1871. That I lived near neighbor to the said John E. Craddock the whole of the time from his discharge to his death. The said John E. Craddock was a blacksmith by occupation but was unable to work but very little and soon was unable to work any at that business. He then tried merchandising and soon had to abandon that business in consequence of said diarrhaea. That the said John E. Craddock was after discharged never at any time able to perform more than 1/3 labor of an able bodied man that I make this affidavit from my own personal knowledge of the facts stated.
--E.J. Morris, 17 Sept 1883

Neighbors' Affidavit
"age is 61..known since 1859..first saw..25 August 1865 at Dadeville or Melville"
Complaining continuously of diarrhaea looking very feeble from prostration, that I lived in about one hundred and fifty yards from him. That his health grew worse and worse from year to year until he died at Dadeville or Melville as known on the 6th day of March AD 1871. The said Craddock was a blacksmith by occupation but unable to work at said business and tried the occupation of merchandising, but soon became unable to attend to that business and was wholy unable to do any kind of manual labor in consequence of diarrhaea. That I make this statement from personal knowledge from seeing and being with the said John E. Craddock almost daily from August 1865 to date of his death on the 6th day of March AD 1871.
--James M. Bruce, 17 Sept 1883

-----

Robert H. born Feb 13 1865
Louiza E/F[?] July 18 1867
Charles N June 20, 1868
John W. March 23, 1870