Son of John & Flora Clift. It appears that John divorced Flora around 1854, when William was just 10 years old. John Clift was given full custody of William but William refused to live with his father and continually returned to his mother. Eventually, William was able to do enough farm work and obtain one acre of property and a house for his mother. John Clift eventually had Flora diagnosed as insane and had her removed to an "insane asylum." William enlisted in 1862, and the house and acreage was removed from his mother and she was placed in the Calhoun County Alyms Home.
William D. Clift, 1862-1864. Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan. Enlisted in company E, Sixth Infantry, Dec. 13, 1862, at Marengo, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered Dec. 13, 1862. Taken prisoner at Tunica Bayou, Louisiana on Nov. 12, 1863. Will died while a prisoner at Monterey, Alabama, April 30, 1864 (Descriptive Roll Sixth Michigan Volunteers)
Regiment Name: 6 Michigan Heavy Artillery
Regiment Name Expanded: 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Name: William D Clift
Residence: Marengo, Michigan, Michigan
Age at enlistment: 18
Enlistment Date: 1 Dec 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Marengo, Michigan
State Served: Michigan
Was POW?: Yes
Survived the War?: No
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Michigan 6th Infantry Regiment on 13 Dec 1862.Mustered out on 30 Apr 1864 at Monterey, AL.
Birth Date: abt 1844
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65
Fold 3 ... the mother - Flora Clift - is shown as ''insane'' on William's pension record. Her pension was 'payable to' Edwin H. Johnson as her (Flora) guardian. There are several pages worth reading to get a sense of the how/why behind Flora receiving a pension because of her son's death. Prior to his enlistment William was her sole source of support, his father having 'died or divorced' earlier.
In the end, the index card has the mother's legal guardian as the 'mother' as legally E. H. did represent Flora in all matters. [not like he was an attorney, but closer to him having 'power of attorney']
The pension application was filed 'by' E.H. Johnson, it's highly probable that Flora herself never knew of its existence, or that she wouldn't have been able to understand it.
William D. Clift, 1862-1864. Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan. Enlisted in company E, Sixth Infantry, Dec. 13, 1862, at Marengo, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered Dec. 13, 1862. Taken prisoner at Tunica Bayou, Louisiana on Nov. 12, 1863. Will died while a prisoner at Monterey, Alabama, April 30, 1864 (Descriptive Roll Sixth Michigan Volunteers)
Regiment Name: 6 Michigan Heavy Artillery
Regiment Name Expanded: 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Name: William D Clift
Residence: Marengo, Michigan, Michigan
Age at enlistment: 18
Enlistment Date: 1 Dec 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Marengo, Michigan
State Served: Michigan
Was POW?: Yes
Survived the War?: No
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Michigan 6th Infantry Regiment on 13 Dec 1862.Mustered out on 30 Apr 1864 at Monterey, AL.
Birth Date: abt 1844
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65
Fold 3 ... the mother - Flora Clift - is shown as ''insane'' on William's pension record. Her pension was 'payable to' Edwin H. Johnson as her (Flora) guardian. There are several pages worth reading to get a sense of the how/why behind Flora receiving a pension because of her son's death. Prior to his enlistment William was her sole source of support, his father having 'died or divorced' earlier.
In the end, the index card has the mother's legal guardian as the 'mother' as legally E. H. did represent Flora in all matters. [not like he was an attorney, but closer to him having 'power of attorney']
The pension application was filed 'by' E.H. Johnson, it's highly probable that Flora herself never knew of its existence, or that she wouldn't have been able to understand it.
Son of John & Flora Clift. It appears that John divorced Flora around 1854, when William was just 10 years old. John Clift was given full custody of William but William refused to live with his father and continually returned to his mother. Eventually, William was able to do enough farm work and obtain one acre of property and a house for his mother. John Clift eventually had Flora diagnosed as insane and had her removed to an "insane asylum." William enlisted in 1862, and the house and acreage was removed from his mother and she was placed in the Calhoun County Alyms Home.
William D. Clift, 1862-1864. Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan. Enlisted in company E, Sixth Infantry, Dec. 13, 1862, at Marengo, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered Dec. 13, 1862. Taken prisoner at Tunica Bayou, Louisiana on Nov. 12, 1863. Will died while a prisoner at Monterey, Alabama, April 30, 1864 (Descriptive Roll Sixth Michigan Volunteers)
Regiment Name: 6 Michigan Heavy Artillery
Regiment Name Expanded: 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Name: William D Clift
Residence: Marengo, Michigan, Michigan
Age at enlistment: 18
Enlistment Date: 1 Dec 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Marengo, Michigan
State Served: Michigan
Was POW?: Yes
Survived the War?: No
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Michigan 6th Infantry Regiment on 13 Dec 1862.Mustered out on 30 Apr 1864 at Monterey, AL.
Birth Date: abt 1844
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65
Fold 3 ... the mother - Flora Clift - is shown as ''insane'' on William's pension record. Her pension was 'payable to' Edwin H. Johnson as her (Flora) guardian. There are several pages worth reading to get a sense of the how/why behind Flora receiving a pension because of her son's death. Prior to his enlistment William was her sole source of support, his father having 'died or divorced' earlier.
In the end, the index card has the mother's legal guardian as the 'mother' as legally E. H. did represent Flora in all matters. [not like he was an attorney, but closer to him having 'power of attorney']
The pension application was filed 'by' E.H. Johnson, it's highly probable that Flora herself never knew of its existence, or that she wouldn't have been able to understand it.
William D. Clift, 1862-1864. Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan. Enlisted in company E, Sixth Infantry, Dec. 13, 1862, at Marengo, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered Dec. 13, 1862. Taken prisoner at Tunica Bayou, Louisiana on Nov. 12, 1863. Will died while a prisoner at Monterey, Alabama, April 30, 1864 (Descriptive Roll Sixth Michigan Volunteers)
Regiment Name: 6 Michigan Heavy Artillery
Regiment Name Expanded: 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Name: William D Clift
Residence: Marengo, Michigan, Michigan
Age at enlistment: 18
Enlistment Date: 1 Dec 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Marengo, Michigan
State Served: Michigan
Was POW?: Yes
Survived the War?: No
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Michigan 6th Infantry Regiment on 13 Dec 1862.Mustered out on 30 Apr 1864 at Monterey, AL.
Birth Date: abt 1844
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65
Fold 3 ... the mother - Flora Clift - is shown as ''insane'' on William's pension record. Her pension was 'payable to' Edwin H. Johnson as her (Flora) guardian. There are several pages worth reading to get a sense of the how/why behind Flora receiving a pension because of her son's death. Prior to his enlistment William was her sole source of support, his father having 'died or divorced' earlier.
In the end, the index card has the mother's legal guardian as the 'mother' as legally E. H. did represent Flora in all matters. [not like he was an attorney, but closer to him having 'power of attorney']
The pension application was filed 'by' E.H. Johnson, it's highly probable that Flora herself never knew of its existence, or that she wouldn't have been able to understand it.
