Alfred Pillsbury Wolverton

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Husband Alfred Pillsbury Wolverton

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           Born: 16 Jun 1838 - Blenheim Township, Oxford County, ON
       Baptized: 
           Died: 24 Apr 1863 - Washington DC
         Buried:  - Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, DC

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         Father: Enos Wolverton
         Mother: Harriet Newel Towl

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Events

• Cause of Death: smallpox.

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Wife

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           Born: 
       Baptized: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Alfred Pillsbury Wolverton

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FTM BIRT: RIN MH:IF19553

From Dr. Newton Wolverton
An intimate anecdotal biography of one of the most colorful characters in Canadian History
By A. N. WOLVERTON:

On Tuesday, April 14th, 1863, Newton and his brother
Alfred were encamped on the outskirts of Washington. Subsequent
events were so tragic, that verbatim excerpts from
his diary are in order. Right here, too, it as well to record
the fact that the many mis-spelled words have not been
edited, but are quoted verbatim. This is by no means by
reason of any sense of humor, or showing disrespect to a
glorious memory, but, on the contrary, to emphasize the remarkable
fact that a man with less than two year's education
of any kind up to his twenty-fourth year, was able to develop
himself before his thirty-second year into one of the
admittedly best educated men in the Dominion of Canada--half a life-time of study accomplished in a short seven and a
half years.

But to revert to that tragic diary of April, 1863:
"Tuesday, April 14, 1863. Alfred taken sick. I went for
Dr. Magruder, but he was not at home."
"Wednesday, April 15. Alfred worse, symptoms of small-
pox. Went again for Dr. Magruder, but he did not come."
"Thursday, April 16. Alfred worse. The Doctor came
at 12 M. Pronounced it 'Verri Loid' a species of Smallpox.
Alfred was 'delerious' 'neerly' all day."
"Friday, April 17. Broke out very thick. Otherwise about
the same. Slightly 'delerous'."
"Saturday, April 18. Alfred much better this morning
—quite rational. About 9 o'clock he told me to take a book
(Rules and Regulations of the Quartermaster's Department)
to Mr. Garner and get a receipt, which I did, and was not
away more than ten minutes. When I got back he was gone—had got up, dressed himself and left. He broke open his chest with an axe, and took all his money, $297, leaving only
$20.60. I followed him, met R. Stanley, and we followed
him as far as the President's 'Manshun' but could not catch
him. I went on, but could hear nothing of him. I went to
the B & O Depot—he was not there—to R.R Headquarters —he was not there. Came up H St to 7th thence to Pennsylvania
Avenue, then to 20th St., and then home, but could
find no trace of him.

"I then took a horse, and Clarey Donaldson and R. Stanley
and I went in 'surch' of him. Went to all Hospitals in the
city, to the Medical 'Directory's' Office and all over the city
but could not find him. Came home about sundown 'dunout'
and disappointed. About dusk he came back, tired and
worn out, still out of his 'sences'. We sent him to Hospital
'immediatly'. I asked him what he had done with the rest
of his money but he did not know."

"Sunday, April 19. In Camp most of the day as it was
very dangerous to go to the hospital to see Alfred. Went in
the evening. He seemed some better but could not tell me
anything about his money."

"Monday, April 20, 1863. Did not see Alfred today but
was very busy inquiring about his money. Could find no
positive clue to it."

"Tuesday, April 21. Saw Alfred in evening. He did not
know anything about his money, but thought he had given
it to 'Germaine' to keep for him. He looked worse than I
expected."

"Wednesday, April 22, they would not let me see him."

"Thursday, April 23. Same."

"Friday, April 24, 1863. Saw Alfred in morning. He was
very bad. Do not expect him to live. Came home, saw
Clarey and Germaine about his money. Germaine denied receiving
money. Went back to hospital, but Alfred was not
there—he was dead and buried."

As was the practice with all Smallpox casualties, the authorities
hurriedly transferred all that was left of Newton's
brother to a rough box, and buried him in Columbia Harmony
Cemetery, which had a very beautiful name but was
really the pauper's burying ground. The only record on the
grave was a small board with his name pencilled on it.

Newton purchased a lot in Glenwood Cemetery, bribed
the care-taker for five dollars to forget to lock the gate on a
certain night, and bought a casket. Through an undertaker
by the name of "Sands" he employed four men who had had
the Smallpox, and together they all went to Columbia
Harmony Cemetery in the dead of night. They dug up the
body, transferred it to the casket, and re-buried it in Glenwood
Cemetery about four o'clock in the morning, in intense
darkness and with the rain pouring in torrents. There
Alfred rests in Grave No. 67, with a beautiful Cedar Tree at
his head. Newton secured a stone the following day to mark
the spot.

http://www.geni.com/people/Alfred-Wolverton/6000000008869045062

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=wolverton&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=10713643&df=all&

Birth: unknown
Death: Jun. 24, 1863

He was a Canadian who fought in the Union Army and died in Missouri of Smallpox.

Burial:
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Lemay
St. Louis County
Missouri, USA

Created by: girlofcelje
Record added: Apr 01, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 10713643

***not entirely sure that this is the same individual. Date and cause of death are the same, but according to the Alfred Newton biography above, Alfred Pillsbury was buried in Washington DC, not St. Louis. It is possible that graves were moved, but unlikely to be moved halfway across the country.

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