William was the fourth of 12 children born to Dr. Charles West and Adah Messenger. He was the namesake of his mother's youngest brother. His siblings: Eliza Jane, George Washington, Thomas Lisander, Hugh Blanchard, Luman Jefferson, Charles Ashton, Lewis Almond, Adah Mary, Edwin, Elvira Melissa and Farris Messenger.
In the 1850 census, William is 21 years old and living with his parents in Jefferson, Elkhart Co., Indiana and working as a laborer. In 1860, his parents have moved to Plymouth in Marshall County, Indiana and William is still living with them and his younger sister, Elvira, but his occupation is now listed as 'physician.'
The spring of the following year saw the outbreak of the Civil War. William served with Co. E of the 17th Indiana Infantry, mustering in on 12 Jun 1861 and out on 7 Oct 1861, due to "disability." He appears to have died about a month later on 2 Oct 1861 of typhoid fever.
(Fellow F.A.G. contributor ksullivan submitted the above information.)
*Of the 620,000 Civil war soldiers that died, more than two-thirds died of disease, not wounds. Poor hygiene, camp overcrowding, contaminated water supply and improper diet were some of the reasons.
In the 1850 census, William is 21 years old and living with his parents in Jefferson, Elkhart Co., Indiana and working as a laborer. In 1860, his parents have moved to Plymouth in Marshall County, Indiana and William is still living with them and his younger sister, Elvira, but his occupation is now listed as 'physician.'
The spring of the following year saw the outbreak of the Civil War. William served with Co. E of the 17th Indiana Infantry, mustering in on 12 Jun 1861 and out on 7 Oct 1861, due to "disability." He appears to have died about a month later on 2 Oct 1861 of typhoid fever.
(Fellow F.A.G. contributor ksullivan submitted the above information.)
*Of the 620,000 Civil war soldiers that died, more than two-thirds died of disease, not wounds. Poor hygiene, camp overcrowding, contaminated water supply and improper diet were some of the reasons.
William was the fourth of 12 children born to Dr. Charles West and Adah Messenger. He was the namesake of his mother's youngest brother. His siblings: Eliza Jane, George Washington, Thomas Lisander, Hugh Blanchard, Luman Jefferson, Charles Ashton, Lewis Almond, Adah Mary, Edwin, Elvira Melissa and Farris Messenger.
In the 1850 census, William is 21 years old and living with his parents in Jefferson, Elkhart Co., Indiana and working as a laborer. In 1860, his parents have moved to Plymouth in Marshall County, Indiana and William is still living with them and his younger sister, Elvira, but his occupation is now listed as 'physician.'
The spring of the following year saw the outbreak of the Civil War. William served with Co. E of the 17th Indiana Infantry, mustering in on 12 Jun 1861 and out on 7 Oct 1861, due to "disability." He appears to have died about a month later on 2 Oct 1861 of typhoid fever.
(Fellow F.A.G. contributor ksullivan submitted the above information.)
*Of the 620,000 Civil war soldiers that died, more than two-thirds died of disease, not wounds. Poor hygiene, camp overcrowding, contaminated water supply and improper diet were some of the reasons.
In the 1850 census, William is 21 years old and living with his parents in Jefferson, Elkhart Co., Indiana and working as a laborer. In 1860, his parents have moved to Plymouth in Marshall County, Indiana and William is still living with them and his younger sister, Elvira, but his occupation is now listed as 'physician.'
The spring of the following year saw the outbreak of the Civil War. William served with Co. E of the 17th Indiana Infantry, mustering in on 12 Jun 1861 and out on 7 Oct 1861, due to "disability." He appears to have died about a month later on 2 Oct 1861 of typhoid fever.
(Fellow F.A.G. contributor ksullivan submitted the above information.)
*Of the 620,000 Civil war soldiers that died, more than two-thirds died of disease, not wounds. Poor hygiene, camp overcrowding, contaminated water supply and improper diet were some of the reasons.
Inscription
top of stone with name is missing
"son of
Dr. C. & A. M West
Died
Nov 2, 1861
Aged 32 Years
7 Mos & 21 Ds"
note: Dr. C. is Charles and
A. M. is Adah Messenger
Family Members
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