Edwin E. Hoard

Edwin E. Hoard was born January 12, 1847 in Shiawassee or Jackson County, Michigan, the son of William S. (1812-1903) and Polly (Pitts, b. 1814) .

New York natives William and Polly were probably married in New York sometime before 1833 and lived for some years in Sheldon, Genesee County where William had been born and raised. The family left New York and moved to Shiawassee County, Michigan sometime between 1833 and 1839 and by 1850 Edwin was living with his family on a farm in Shiawassee, Shiawassee County. By 1860 Edwin was attending school with six of his siblings and living on the family farm in Shiawassee. (Edwin’s family lived next door to one Clarissa Hoard, b. 1825 in New York, a farmer living with Lucina Hoard, b. 1811 in New York.)

Edwin stood 5’4” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion, and was an 18-year-old laborer possibly living in Campbell, Ionia County when he enlisted in Company E on February 2, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Campbell, and was mustered the same day.

Although he reportedly joined the Regiment on March 10, Edwin probably spent little if any time with the Third Michigan. According to Edwin, about the end of April he was taken sick with fever and diarrhea and was sent to Mount Pleasant hospital in Washington. He was absent sick in the hospital in April and May, and about June 1 was returned to the regiment. He was there but a few days when he suffered a relapse and was sent to City Point hospital, Virginia. He was still absent sick (reported since May 1) when he was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864.

He was reportedly sent from City Point, Virginia to a hospital in Brattleboro, Vermont.

He remained absent sick until at least February of 1865 when he was court-martialed. Edwin was charged with deserting for four months from a furlough, presumably from the hospital. He was found guilty and sentenced to forfeit his pay while gone, fined $10 a month for six months sand make good the time. Apparently he did since he was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

After the war Edwin returned to Michigan.

He was married to Michigan native Mary M. (1842-1920) and they had at least three children: Edward (b. 1874), Mary (b. 1875) and Olive (b. 1877).

In 1880 Edwin (listed as “Edward Horde”) was working as a farmer and living with his wife and their children in Bancroft, Shiawassee County. Edwin was living in Bennington, Shiawassee County in 1890 and 1894, and by 1920 he was working as a gardener and living in Bancroft, Shiawassee County with his wife Mary and two grand-children, Edwin Jr. (b. 1915) and Mary (b. 1901).

In 1873 he applied for and received a pension (no. 356914).

Edwin died a widower on July 15, 1930, at Bancroft, Shiawassee County. He was buried in Fremont cemetery in Shiawassee County: section 5, row 1, grave 86.