Henry S. Calkins
14 Aug 1837 - 12 Jan 1908

Henry S. Calkins served in Co. B, 3rd Michigan Infantry, during the Civil War. He enlisted on May 13, 1861, as private, and became sick in July. He was discharged on July 29, 1861. He married Ellen Coldren in 1863 in Ottawa County, MI- two children, Charles Calkins and Elizabeth Bertha Calkins. Henry and Ellen Calkins and family moved to Grand Rapids and lived with Ellen’s parents according to the 1870 and 1880 census. 1870 U. S. Federal Census, Grand Rapids, Ward 2, Kent, MI Jacob Coldren, age 53; Mary Coldren, age 48; Henry Calkins, age 33; Ellen Calkins, age 26; Charles Calkins, age 4; Bertha Calkins, age 1. 1880 U. S. Federal Census, Grand Rapids, Kent, MI Jacob Coldren, age 63; Mary E. Coldren, age 58; Henry S. Calkins, age 43, son-in-law; Ellen E. Calkins, age 36; Charles Calkins, age 13; Elizabeth B. Calkins, age 11. In 1900 Ellen was living in Oregon with their daughter, Elizabeth Bertha Wasden. 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Portland, Ward 9, Multnomah, Oregon Oscar J. Wasden, age 37; Bertha Wasden; age 31, Ellen Calkins, age 56, mother-in-law, widowed, married 22 years. (Henry was still living at this time.) Henry entered the Soldiers’ Home for the first time on July 31, 1886. On his admission application, he listed his nearest relatives as Betsy Calkins and John Calkins of Lamont. He was in and out of the Soldiers’ Home from 1886 until he died January 12, 1908, in the Soldiers’ Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. State of Michigan Certificate of Death (Seeking Michigan) Henry S. Calkins was born in New York on August 14, 1837, the son of John Calkins, and Betsy Calkins, both born in Canada. Henry was a painter. (The death records state that he was a widower; however, his wife was still alive at this time, living in Oregon with their daughter, Bertha, and her husband, Oscar Wasden.) Henry died of heart disease at the Soldiers’ Home Hospital in Kent County, Michigan, on January 12, 1908. Place of burial is listed as Berlin Cemetery; however, records of Maplewood Cemetery in Lamont, Michigan, list Henry as being buried next to his brother, Asahel Calkins. 1920 U. S. Federal Census, Mt. Hood, Hood River, Oregon Oscar. L. Wasden, Bertha Wasden, Ellen E. Calkins, mother-in- law, age 76 years.