James HARMAN b 6 Feb 1840 in Switzerland Co, Indiana.
NOTE: James seems to have used HARMAN most of the time, although all of the family alternated between that and HARMON.
He was the ninth child of Philip & Nancy (Jackson) Harmon. His siblings included Jackson, Sarah (Gibbs), Mary "Polly" (Herron), Samuel, Euphemia (Cole), John, Julia Ann (?), Rebecca (Chambers)(twin to James), Archer and Michael.

James married Mary E. Rayburn on 18 Oct 1865 in Shelby Twp., Ripley Co, Indiana.

James and Mary had the following children:
1. Elmer E. d. before Mar 1915, buried at Central City, NE.
2. Susan E. (Settles) d. after Mar 1915
3. Mary R. "Dolly" d. before Mar 1915, buried at Central City, NE.
4. Mable R. (Nett) d. after Mar 1915
5. Earnest P. d. after Mar 1915 (single in 1915)

James Harman's first wife Mary, died in 1888 and is buried at Central City, NE.
James then married a second time to Kate Bodenson on 05 Feb 1891 in Merrick Co, Nebraska. Kate died in 1903.

 

James enlisted in the Civil War on 09 Jul 1861 at N. Madison, Indiana. He enlisted as a Private in Co. F, 22nd Reg't of the Indiana Infantry Volunteers. He was discharged at Blains Cross-Road, Tennessee, Tennessee on 22 Dec 1863. He was discharged on 22 Dec 1863. He again enlisted in the Civil War, on 24 Dec 1863, under the same Co. and Reg't only this time as a Sergeant. He was discharged on 24 Jul 1865 in Louisville, KY.

According to his pension file:
Personal Description - Height: 5ft 9in; Complexion Dark; Eyes Dark; Hair Dark; Occupation Farmer

Residences after Civil War: Bennington, IN (6y); Silver Creek, Fullerton & Central City, NE (26y); Fitzgerald, Georgia (8y); Olympia, WA (2y); Myrtle Creek, OR (5y)

James Harman died on 3 Apr 1932 at National Military Home, Leavenworth Co, KS. His body was then shipped by train to Central City, Nebraska to be buried near his family in the Central City Cemetery. James Harman's son Earnest P., was the informant. His residence was Wendling, OR in 1932.

Sources of information: 1. Civil War Pension Record #613.998 of James Harman. 2. James Harman's death certificate.

Submitted by Corri Johnson <windex@hubwest.com> 10 Jun 1999 (email bounces 2/8/01)
NOTE: James & four brothers served during the Civil War, two did NOT return. For additional information about James & his family, please see:  www2.cybercities.com/~corrij/history.html (link not working - 02/08/01)

---

John William HARPER, born 12 Oct 1848, Delaware Cnty, Ohio.
Son of William C. HARPER (b. 1822, OH - d. 1900, NE) and Elizabeth POLAND (b. 1816 in PA - d. ?)
Siblings:  Mary Jane, b. 1843; Thomas, b. 1845; Eliza Catherine, b. 1849; Jacob, b. 1851; Joseph (Jess), b. 1853

Married Lucinda Jane GANO (parents unknown) on 26 Aug 1868 at Lane, Illinois
Children: Emma (Gottlieb) RIESLAND, Samuel David (Fanny Jane NORTH), Nora Mae (Ira) BRUNNER, Bertha Ion (Andrew) STONE, John Edward (Hester HOON). All buried at Wood River Cemetery, Wood River, Nebraska

Military service: Co. K, 8th Ohio Calvary
Date enrolled with location: 28th day of Feb. 1864, Springfield, Ohio, commanded by Captain J. Allen
Honorably discharged the 20th day of Aug 1865 at Camp Dennison, Ohio, pvt.

Battles in which participated? "From Dyer's Compendium"
8th Regiment Calvary. Organized from the 44th Ohio Infantry January 4, 1864. Regiment organizing at Camp Dennison, Ohio, January to May, 1864. Six Companies moved to Cahrleston, WV, April 26, and balance of Regiment to same place May 8, 1864. Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia (a detachment at Beverly, WV, July to Devember, 1864), to December, 1864. Reserve Division, West Virginia, Beverly and Clarksburg, WV, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, West Virginia, to July, 1865.

Service: March to Lewisburg May 29. Hunters Raid to Lynchburg May 29-July 1, 1864. Action at Lexington June 11. Buchanan June 13. New London June 16. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17-18. Retreat to White Sulphur Springs June 18-25. Liberty June 19. Buford's Gap June 20. About Salen June 21. Moved from White Sulphur Springs to Beverly, WV, and duty there till January, 1865. Action near Huttonsville, August 5, 1864.

Incidents: "On or about Aug. 7, 1864, at or near Morfield (?) Valley, I received a gunshot wound of the left knee for which I was treated in Hospital at New Creek Station."

Physical description at enlistment:: Height 5 feet, 7 inches; complexion, fair; color of eyes, blue; color of hair, light.

Places of residence since leaving the service: Springfield, Ohio until 1867, then went to DeWitt County, Illinois until 22 Feb 1883, then to Wood River, Nebraska 25 Feb 1883

Died 29 May 1916 at Grand Island General Hospital, Grand Island, NE. Buried at Wood River Cemetery, Wood River, Nebraska. Gravestone is non-veteran stone.
Member of GAR post: Bradley Post 134, Wood River, Hall County, Nebraska and of Methodist Church

Obit with from "The Wood River Sunbeam, June 4, 1916"

John William Harper

     THE already sadly depleted ranks of the old soldiers of this community suffered another loss this week in the death of Comrade John Harper who passed away at the General Hospital in Grand Island, Monday of this week from bowel trouble, he being taked to that place for an operation Tuesday of last week following an acute attack of illness the Sunday before, aged 68 years, 7 months and 17 days. The wife and children were at the bedside at the time of dissolution. The remains were brought to Wood River on the same day and funeral services were held at the home Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. H. G. Clair in the presence of an unusually large gathering of neighbors and friends, the services being in charge of Bradley Post No. 134, G.A.R., of which the deceased was an honored member, and the following old soldiers bearing the remains to their last resting place in the Wood River Cemetary: E. Kunz, C. E. Towne, J. A. Morgan, Geo. Fredericks, Joseph Ross, and Samuel Hall.

     John Harper was born October 12, 1847 in Delaware, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. On February 26, 1863 he responded to his country's call and enrolled in Co. K, Eighth Regiment of the Ohio Cavalry and served until July 30, 1865 when he received an honorable discharge at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Returning home, he remained about a year when he moved to Illinois and was united in marriage to Lucinda Jane Gano, August 26, 1868 and to this union two sons and three daughters were born, who together with the wife survive as follows: Mrs Gottlieb (Emma) Reisland, Lincoln; and Samuel Harper, Mrs. Ira (Nora) Brunner, Mrs. Andrew (Bertha) Stone and J. E. (John Edward) Harper, all of Wood River. One brother and two sisters still living in Catawba, Ohio also survive, as well as 12 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

     He came to Nebraska in 1883 and farmed in Cameron tp until about 20 years ago when he came to Wood River where he has since resided, devoting himself to general teamwork and driving the hearse for the last 18 years. John Harper was a man well liked and highly esteemed in the community. He was a hard worker, honest in his dealings, ever a devoted husband and father and a great patriotic citizen. As his old soldier comrades, with uncertain step and bent form, escorted his remains to their last resting place and did honor to his memory, it brought a special tinge of sadness in the knowledge that the living actors of the Grand Army of the Republic will soon be with us no more.

Federal pension file number: 438.681
Military service record file number: XC 00 983 024
Education: Eighth grade, could read and write
Occupation: Farmer, hearse driver
When my grandmother showed her grandfather his first born great-grandchild, (my father, Donald F. Ellis), he said, "Kinda scrawny, ain't he? Maybe he ain't done yet". c. 1914

Submitted by: Kaylynn Ellis-Loveland <audriana@ginetworks.com>

---

John August JOSTES was born 12 Mar 1829 at Korbecke, Westphalen, Germany.

Wife: Mary ROTH (Roch/Rott?) b. 10 May 1844 Ohio.
They lived at/near Blue Island, Illinois and Lake Co., Indiana
Had 10 children, 8 were living (at 1900 census).

Clemens Jostes m. Elizabeth NIEMEYER
John M. Jostes m. Katherine McPHILLIPS
Joseph F. Jostes m. Anna Elizabeth SCHILDER
Helena A. Jostes m. Henry KAUS
George L. Jostes m. Mabel L. DUCEY
Anna E. Jostes m. Fred C. WILHELM

Enlisted 29 Sep 1864; Private & Musician 32nd IL Vol. Infantry.
Discharged at Washington, DC on 16 Jun 1865.

John lived in NE from abt 1886 until his death on 8 Aug 1918.
c1886-1911: Kalamazoo, Madison Co, NE.
1911-1918: Lindsay, Platte Co., NE.

John JOSTES was buried 12 Aug 1918 at the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Lindsay, Platte Co., NE. Also buried there are his wife Mary (d 9 Jul 1920), son Joseph, and son John with his wife, Katherine.

Submitted by: Gloria J. Barnes <gloriab@juno.com>
(via Ginger Cisewski, with some additions by an ornery editor)
Other records: 1900 & 1920 Census (NE); marriage & cemetery records of Platte Co., NE.

---

Index to Civil War Biographies

 

Nebraska
Civil War
Page