Ezra E. Derby

Ezra Derby was the namesake son of the founder of Wayne, Michigan. His father ad purchased the Simon's Holding at "Johnson's Tavern" in 1832. and had moved from the Willow Run settlement near Ypsilanti. He immediately began improvements which ultimately lead to the founding of Wayne. He moved into the Northwest corner of Nankin Township in 1839, and it was here that Ezra E. Derby was born. According to the regimental historian, O. B. Curtis, Ezra was born in Nankin Township. By 1862 he was a farmer in nearby Canton Township. He married Maria Monroe shortly before his enlistment.

He enlisted along with his brother-in-law, Otis Southworth, in company C on August 9, 1862 at Plymouth. He mustered into service on August 15, 1862. He was 22.

Details of his service are scant. Ezra Derby was wounded during the abortive assault Confederate works before Petersburg on June 18th, 1864. He wound was severe. He was sent to the hospital at City Point, Virginia where he died on June 23, 1864. He was only 24. His grave is in the Farmington Cemetery in Oakland County Michigan. Like so many other markers for Civil War dead, it may be a cenotaph.

Ezra left a young wife behind, Maria Monroe Derby. Notice that Maria's photograph was taken at the same studio as Harriet Derby Southworth's, probably on the same day. Ezra and Otis' Photographs are also strikingly similar.

Research into the Derby and Southworth families is still on-going.

Ezra E. Derby

Collateral Descendant: D. L. Augustyniak, DAugust101@aol.com

Photographs are courtesy of the Wayne Historical Museum.