Journey to the Past

Unfortunately, I wasn't one of the lucky ones who received a picture of my civil war ancestor, Samuel Stillman Glover, Jr, in his pension file when I ordered it.  His pension file provided a few clues that helped me create a picture of him.  Samuel was

• 5 feet 8 inches tall
• 132-157 pounds
• light complexion
• blue eyed
• light haired, later gray
• scarred on his right knee due to gunshot wound
• unscarred and unmarked on the rest of his body

What does this tell me?  Samuel was of medium height and healthy weight, a little on the slender side.  I imagine him being about my husband's size.  I can imagine his blue eyes, light complexion and light hair.  His hair turned to gray as he aged.  He lost weight with age.  He weighed 157 pounds in September of 1873, by 1903 he weighed 137 pounds.  Samuel died in 1904.  His pension file provides information about how his gunshot wound caused him to limp and eventually one leg was shorter than the other due to deterioration.

Although I don't have a picture of my great great grandfather, I can create an image using the information provided in his civil war pension file.    I have enjoyed getting to know Samuel through his pension file.  It has helped me to reconstruct parts of his life.  What source do you have that helps you flesh out your ancestor?