What is a Civil War widow to do?

620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War. We often think of these as being young men but some, like, William Frink of Cass township, Jones county, Iowa were older.  William was in his forties when he was wounded at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863. I’m sure the family was relieved to read in the Anamosa paper that William had been wounded in the leg, but was expected to make a full recovery1. It must have been heartbreaking to learn that he died a few days later2.

So how does a family recover from news like that? Hepzibah Hubbell Frink, William’s widow, and her four young children (Jesse, James, Abigail, and George) who were still living at home, sold the farm, packed up, and followed two older daughters (Sabra Melissa Sage and Clarissa Almira Andrews) and their husbands to Nebraska. On the 15th of July 1869 Hepzibah settled on 40 acres of farm ground in northeast Nebraska about 6 miles south of the small town of Craig3. Under the provisions of the Homestead Acts of May 20, 1862 and June 21, 1866. Hepzibah and her four children (Jesse, James, Abigail, and George) built a 12 feet by 16 feet single story house that had two doors and three windows. They also dug two wells and erected a barn and a corn crib. On the 10th of January 1873 Hepzibah proved up her claim to her homestead and the land became fully hers3

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References

1. “Letter from Capt. Farwell, Co.II, 31st Iowa”. Anamosa Eureka, 17 Jul 1863,  (online archives http://jonescounty.advantage-preservation.com/document/anamosa-eureka-1863-07-17-page-2).

2. Hepzibah Frink, “Widows’ Pension” file, Application number WC 12262, National Archives Record Group 15, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War Veterans, ca. 1861 - ca. 1910, (online archives http://www.fold3.com/image/225793223/).

3. Hepzibah Frink, Land Entry Case Files: Homestead Final Certificates, National Archives Catalog ID 849143, Final Certificate Number 587, National Archives Record Group 49, Land Entry Records for Nebraska, compiled 1857-1908, (online archives http://www.fold3.com/image/267863921/).

© 2013, Norman Washburn