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Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Margaret Maud John: Birth: 24 NOV 1867 in Northumberland Co., PA. Death: 10 DEC 1889 in Whiteside Co., IL

  2. Sidney Averill John: Birth: 7 DEC 1869 in Sterling, IL. Death: 4 JUN 1938 in Sandwich, IL

  3. Adelia Blanche John: Birth: 27 JAN 1870. Death: 19 APR 1955 in Penrose, IL

  4. Clarence Emerson John: Birth: 16 JUN 1871 in near Penrose, Illinois. Death: 18 MAY 1937 in Illinois

  5. Harrison Reynolds John: Birth: 13 FEB 1873 in Whiteside Co., IL. Death: 17 JUL 1940

  6. Minnie Ada John: Birth: 16 MAR 1874 in Whiteside Co., IL. Death: 23 NOV 1973

  7. Addison Raymond John: Birth: 10 MAY 1875. Death: 1 DEC 1893

  8. Wendell Phillips John: Birth: 18 MAY 1877. Death: 29 JUN 1878

  9. Adessa Alma John: Birth: 27 FEB 1879. Death: 3 AUG 1959

  10. Elida Palemon John: Birth: 1 SEP 1881. Death: 27 MAR 1886


Notes
a. Note:   Belonged to Company K 36th Pennsylvania Infantry and Company C47th Pennsylvania Infantry. A member of the Grand Army of theRepublic. One of the bullets that wounded him stayed in hisbody for may years and finally worked its way out.A farmer in Illinois. He was the town clerk in Sterling, IL1875-1877.Some letters written by or about George John about the CivilWar.Sterling, Illinois Feb. 11th, 1904My Dear Ella V. KratzI recd your letter this morning. I am much pleased with yourpenmanship, thought and composition.I am proud of my grandchildren as I watch them growing up usefuland intelligent. I am glad that you are interested enough inme to know some of my history and is anxious to know more.While in the army I kept a Diary in which I noted the mostimportant of every day events. At the battle of Cedar CreekVa, on the 19th day of Oct. 1864, my Diary with other preciousthings to me as keepsakes was taken out of my tent by theRebels while I lay wounded within sight perhaps twenty rodsaway.I often wished for that Diary which would be to me far betterthan my memory to tell the story. I begin to realize now whichI always thought to be true that the old soldiers grandchildren would be more interested as times go by as a rule thantheir perents earlier before the stories got well seasoned.I first enlisted in the 36th Reg. Pennsylvania Militia. We wentto Harrisburg and laid in camp there several days, near fourtythousand of us, called Emergency men. General Lee with hisrebel army had crossed the Potomac river and was coming northinto Pennsylvania at Harrisburg. The capital was in danger andwe were set to work building breast works made of bags filledwith sand. We worked like niggers for Uncle Sam but but we gotprovoked at the City big boys who would come out every day innice carriages and gold headed canes with their women and all ingood clothes and there leisurely sit and watch us rolling upthe dirt which was intended to save their lives and property.They got tired of the criticism and finally left and then wecould work better. We also cut the peirs under the waggonbridge that crosses the Susquehanna so we could quickly knockout the props as soon as the rebels would put their feet on tocross.In a few days we got marching orders for Gettysburg. We couldhear the roar of cannon near the Penn. Line. We must meetthose fellows and whip them before they got too far. the firstdays march was tiresome awful hot July day. At night we campedin a little town half as big as Paw Paw called Papertown. Welay near the bank of a creek in a church plat on the softgrass. That night it rained furiously and I was so sleepy Idid not know it rained until the water began to run in my mouthand ears. There were a thousand men of us and all as wet atcats. When I raised up I saw the most of them walking aroundin wet clothes to keep warm. There was not enough houses inthe town to dry them out. Myself and a half dozen otherscrossed the stream on two bridges with an island between for anearly start to get ahead of the Regiment and run a betterchance on the other side to dry our clothes, that was a goodmove, and about ten o'clock it quit raining, we were dried out,and the officers began to get ready for the continued journey.They got over the first bridge just as the second gave way.They turned back quick and then that one also went down stream.We then were on the right side and they on the wrong side.They had fourteen miles of a round to reach Gettysburg.Our little company took it leisurely, we had a little drummerboy with us and after dark we reached a little town calledPetersburg; Gettysburg battle was being fought - greatExcitement. Our drummer provided his drum as we marched intoPetersburg. The people all flocked into the street and in ahalf a minute after explanations were made, we were all takeninto their houses. The Methodist Preacher took myself and Chum,chicken meat for supper and their feathers for a bed. next daywe marched into Gettysburg, near the same time with theRegiment, the boys looked at us in surprise - sure we weredrowned.Gen Lee was finally whipped that day and what a sight wasGettysburg to see. Most every house filled with wounded, thefields of battle strewn with dead. I staid in Gettysburg sixweeks burying dead, burning horses, cleaning up the field forseveral miles each way and guarding rebel prisoners.When I enlisted, at noon I left a field of buckwheat halfcovered and Aunt Sallie Huff took the team out after dinner andfinished the job.This was in 1863. I then went home and taught school until Feb.1864 and enlisted in the 47th Pa U.S. for 3 years., went toPhila, then to New York, there took a boat for New Orleans. Wewere nine days on the Atlantic Ocean out of sight of land untilwe got into the Gulf of Mexico. Spent 4th of July in NewOrleans, staid there a week and then we returned to WashingtonCity and was sent into the Shenandoah Valley, under Sheridaninstead Sherman. We started in at Harpers Ferry, and we wouldchase the rebels up and they would chase us down, up and downthe valley most every week so the boys got to calling HarpersFerry "Harpers Weekly".We had many sharp fights, the four greatest that I was in wasBerryville, Fishers Hill, Winchester and Cedar Creek.Our company was out on Skirmish line one day, Rebel sharpshooters in edge of timber began shooting at us, our captaintold us to lay down, but he himself kept standing. A ball hithim and how he howled; he was led out of danger and when hefound the ball did not even cut the flesh he came back awfullyashamed and mad but his coat on shoulder was cut through.At Winchester we were marched right up to the rebel canon, wedrove them, they would drive us until we whipped them forgood, our yells and their yells could be well distinguished bya bystander off looking on.As for the battle of Cedar Creek, I will send my first accountin the original, written to my mother as I lay in Phila.Hospital where I staid until July 1865. Also a letter writtento Mamma and GrandPa, by my cousin Henry J. John who died inPa. about a year ago.While in Philadelphia I was well cared for, they gave me athirty day furlough to go home and the government paid carfare, board and wages while at home. I was in the city whenLincoln was taken through after being shot and I went in andsaw him.On the march one day in Virginia I gave out and laid down notcaring much who was coming although Moseby, the Rebel Gurillawho we were afraid of was close on our heels.I lay and slept two hours, got up and cooked some coffee, thenstarted on alone and reached camp about ten o'clock at night.One time in Virginia several days after a long march, havingthrown my tent away to make my load lighter, a dark stormynight came on us. I had no tent. I rambled around, buildingfires until every thing was too wet to burn, then I went up toa Colored folks shanty and just opened the door quietly andwalked in and laid on kitchen floor, and laughed at the boysnext morning who were wet and cold under their little dog tents.Here is a copy of letter I received this morning same mail asyours.Coleta Tues Feb 10th 1904Mr. John,My pupils have urged me to invite you to our school room to givea talk on "civil war". They were so well pleased with yourspeech at the Farmers Institute. We will give you a heartywelcome if you conclude to come. Please let us hear from youin the near future and oblige.Jessie PughWashington SchoolTwo and 3/4 miles south of ColetaI am not acquainted with Miss Pugh or any of her scholars, butas I like to talk to children I think I will accept the honor.A great many more incidents of war I might speak of. I don'twant you to look on war as if that only was the making ofheroes.The best patriots of today, the greatest statesmen are those whodevise ways to avoid war. I thank you Ella for your kindletter, your words to me and your Grand Ma. Trust Lowel isbetter and the rest all well. We are as usual.Love to all, Father, Mother & Children and Kind regards roomersand boarders.Your Grand Pa, Geo. D. JohnWinchester Oct 21st 1864My dear Uncle Elida John,I have to chronical another terrible battle in this valley. The(illegible) our army on the morning of the 19th and in theabscense of General Sheridan gained a temporary advantage overour men, but fortunably Gen. Sheridan reached the front just intime to save our army and turned the tide battle drove themback beyond Fisher battle. I saw George last night at Newtownsix miles beyond this (illeg). He is seriously wounded. Hereceived one shot under the shoulder blade, the ball stoppingin his breast. Another ball passed through him above the righthip both shots are on the right side. Neither shot brought himto the ground. But from loss of blood he fell. this occurredin the morning. When our men were (illeg) and consequently hefled into the hands of the enemy who kindly took his money andand wanted to take his shoes but he told them that he could notspare them and they desisted he had but a small amount of moneyas they had not been paid lately. (illeg) army drove backenemy and retook all of them prisoners. He sits up and talkswith as much life as ever and says he has felt little pain yethe cannot lie down. I am fearful from the nature of his woundthat he cannot recover but he is in very good spirits and whenI told him the news of our victory he raised his left hand andbrought it down (illeg) and shouted hurrah; (illeg) when George(illeg) but I know of nothing further about him he may be safeand perhaps dead as the regiment was cut up considerably.Please convey this intelligence to my Father. I think Georgewill be brought to the (illeg) today and if able sent toWashington. I will write again as soon as I learn more abouthim. I have been riding all night and am nervous as my writingshows. Inform Jacob Fisher through my father that his son issick of fever in the Hospital here but will be sent toWashington today. I am quite well (illeg) rest of our boys(illeg). I am as ever thy nephewHenry F. Johnaddress(illeg) 17th Pa cavalry(illeg) Washington DCSutterlee HospitalPhiladelphia Oct 26 (1864)Dear Mother, Another battle fought and won but I have had themisfortune of being wounded. It was on the morning of the19th. The enemy attacked us before daylight. They first brokethe (illeg) camp then we went in and such a fight for fifteenminutes as we had was awful. Our company of sixty men infifteen minutes time lost 32 killed and wounded. They hit mein the side while loading my gun ball came at about 3 inchesfurther back. Then when we broke and run they hit me again inthe back the ball lodges in my right breast. I had to lay onthe field all day as the rebs had possession. After they hadtheir own wounded hauled off they hauled me off to theirhospital bout 4 P.M. Then in about an hour old Sheridan madethem Skedaddle. Then I was again in union hands. Next day Iwas taken to Newtown. there I met our Capt. (illeg) he gave mea list of killed and wounded and he knew nothing of Lloyd. Isuppose perhaps he is all right. From there we were sent inGovernment waggons filled with straw 30 miles to martinbury.that most killed me as it took 24 hours to (illeg) then we cameto Baltimore then to Phila. I expect to be home on furloughwhen my wounds gets better, perhaps in time to (illeg) as therebs not only took my secession weapon but my "copper handweapon" also as I had (illeg) voting receipt in my jacket bookthe reb thought I (illeg) greenbacks but thank fortune all hegot was 10 cts and a few postage stamps. If cous. Abia wants tohear from Lloyd he must enclose envelopes and paper for therebs got in our camp and stole everything. This is a splendidplace I am getting along fine here. When is mother going back?I want to see her before she goes. Write soon (illeg) a coupleof (illeg) for to buy necessaries.Thy Son. Geo. D. JohnWard 8.Satterlee U.S.A General HospitalWest Philidelphia, Pa.The Dr. has just been examining my wounds he pronounces thenworse than they feel and by what he says I am good for thisplace for a while. He says I must keep quiet so I don't thinkI can get home soon. If anybody comes to Phila be sure andcome and see me. My arm is so paralized so I can scarcelywrite. No more at (illeg). Send me the Sunbury Times (illeg)with the (illeg) wounded in it.As ever thy sonGeo. D. JohnMy overcoat has 3 bullet holes in it besides the 3 that weremade by the balls that hit me.


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