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Warren Washington Walbridge
Born 15 September 1835 |
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Warren Walbridge was born September 15, 1835, in Forestville, a small town in the county of Chautauqua, state of New York. He was the sixth child (perhaps the youngest) of James Walbridge and Cynthia Judson Walbridge, and had one older brother and four older sisters.
James Walbridge was a farmer in the community of Sheridan. He moved there before 1830 and was still living there in 1840. Following the death of his wife and his marriage to Sylvia Blood, ca. 1845, he moved his family to Cedar county where he died, November 16, 1871.
Warren Walbridge is recorded as living with the family in the 1850 and 1856 censuses, but then apparently returned to New York. On September 24, 1857, Warren married Eliza Jane Guy at the Presbyterian Church in Silver Creek, another small town in Chautauqua county. He was twenty-two, she was 27. Eliza was born in the village of Warbleton, Sussex, England and came to America with her parents when she was three years old, settling in Herkimer county, New York.
The first of five daughters, Ada V., was born eleven months later, August 9, 1858. She was followed by Anna E., March 19, 1860, and Carrie I., February 8, 1862.
Warren earned his living as a farmer. The 1860 U.S. census shows him living in Norway, Herkimer county, New York. Living with him, Eliza and their two daughters were Eliza's widowed mother Ann Guy, Eliza's sister Martha Guy, 17, and a John McAvoy, 14, a student born in Ireland. One of his affidavits concerning his pension claim says he lived at Fairfield, a larger town near Norway for five years preceding his enlistment.
On August 30, 1862, in Fairfield, New York, Warren joined Company F of the 152nd Regiment of New York Volunteers, commanded by Capt. David Hill, to fight in the Civil War. When his unit was near Blackwater in Virginia about May 15, 1863 he "contracted a severe attack of fever caused by the severe march in pursuit of Longstreet's forces, wading in the swamps--exposed to heavy rains--and sudden cold weather. He was taken sick and sent to hospital where he remained until his discharge. Also, while in the Hampton General Hospital he became reduced and debilitated with chronic diarrhea and hemorrhoids and was in consequence of the disability transferred to 32nd Company 2nd Battalion Vet Res Corps." Warren was discharged from service at Fortress Monroe, Virginia on July 3, 1865.
Following his discharge, Warren and Eliza settled at Newark, Wayne county, New York. In February 1866 they moved to Pioneer, Cedar county, Iowa. Here their fourth daughter, Mary E. was born on March 9, 1867 and died on May 21, 1868, aged 1 ys 2 ms 12 ds. In November 1867, they moved to near Anamosa in Jones county, Iowa. Liona Levisa was born in Cass, Jones county, Iowa on March 21, 1869.
The Walbridge family had an unfortunate experience that was reported in The Anamosa Eureka, February 15, 1877:
Warren was 44 years old when he applied for a disability pension from the War Department in 1880. He was five feet, six or eight inches tall, with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. A statement from the Adjutant General's Office, issued September 11, 1882 outlines his service, including periods of absence for sickness beginning in June 1863, and says, "The records of this office furnish no evidence of alleged disabilities."
After moving to the Anamosa area, Warren was treated by several doctors, including Dr. Adair who had participated in the unsuccessful amputation of Benjamin Harrison's leg. A "tendancy to heart disease" was pronounced. In 1889 Warren spent some time in Kansas for his health.
Warren filed many affidavits and petitions concerning his disabilities over the years, and apparently a pension was granted. On February 5, 1903, when he was 67 years old, he applied for an increase from the $14 per month he was receiving. During all this time census records indicate he was a farmer.
Eliza Jane Guy Walbridge died July 31, 1909, the result of "softening of the brain." Warren lived on until January 4, 1916. A questionnaire from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions filled out by him in March 1915 shows the effects of a stroke on his handwriting.
Written & Submitted by: Richard Harrison, second great-grandson of Warren Walbridge and Eliza Jane Guy. Read Warren's Obituary. Newspaper article transcribed by Janet A. Brandt. |
 Warren Walbridge, about 1862.
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© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
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Eliza Jane Guy Walbridge, about 1862.
Warren Walbridge, about 1900.