1850 Scott Co, IL. Recently orphaned, he was living with cousins,Joh n and Mary Ann Smallwood while siblings, Henry and Sarah were withUncl e David Van Gundy. His "adopted" father was a teacher so hereceived a g ood education.
1862 He enlisted in Co G 18th IL Vol Inf to help in the Civil Wareffo rt.
9/20/1863 At the Battle of Chickamauga he was taken prisoner,interred a t Libby, and released 3 months later from Andersonville.He was captur ed a second time and spent 13 months between Danvilleand Florence pris ons, during which time he went 3 days and 3 nightswithout food. He wa s wounded at the Battle of Stone River. Hearrived home on New Years E ve 1864, took sick and was confined to hisbed for the next 8 weeks.
3/12/1865 He received his discharge from the army, having served 3yrs , 7 mo.
1870 Orvil Twp, Logan Co, IL. The census taker again found himliving w ith the Smallwoods and working on the farm.
1880 Baynton, Tazwell Co, IL was where he was found at census time. Hew as a farm laborer, age 37, wife E Louisa, was 34 and they had nochildr en. Next door neighbors were his in-laws and the Smallwoodboys, Theod ore and Peter, lived nearby.
1885 Craig, Burt Co, NE. He probably moved west with Louisa'sfamily.
Family stories were told that he raised the children alone followingLo uisa's death.
1900 He still had 2 children at home at census time.
1910 He was living alone but daughter, Myrtle Jane, lived nearby.
Living w/John & Mary Smallwood in 1850 census.
His obituary said he had been in failing health for some time "but hadb een up and around each day and at a late hour Thursday evening wassitt ing up reading as was his custom. His death was discovered byneighbor s who, noticing the light still burning at 10 o'clock Fridaymorning we nt in and found him lying on the couch fully dressed."
"The many friends here will sadly miss their old friend, Uncle John,as h e wa familiarly called by old and young alike. His cheerfulnessand op timism during a career of devotion and service, pain andsorrow, will b e an inspiration to all who knew him, and his memorywill be revered by a ll."
The family chose a family member to stand by his graveside everyMemori al Day for years.
