This family intrigues me as what they endured living during the U.S. Civil War.
The fact Philura’s younger son Ezra is carrying the burden and weight of his parents on his shoulders and helping support them while his two brothers for unknown reasons except for Samuel was unable to assist them after the brothers death.
We see a family in this the 19th century enduring with no viable social safety nets such as healthcare or financial assistance. It would appear the only source of income was Ezra and his pension he left.
In researching his brother Samuel we see he stayed at the infamous Category: New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, Utica, New York and we know not all of those who stayed there were legitimately institutionalized!
It appears William was living in Michigan at the timing of his brother Ezra’s death for unknown reasons and looks to have married later in life?
Then finally poor Ezra who sent home $170 month of his Army pay to his family who passes away in a hospital of typhoid and diarrhea. He was 6’2” tall and seems like a young strong man of his age to succumb to that dreaded disease which took so many lives of our Union soldiers!
Fascinating family that depicts the times so well
