James Henry Skelton Was born in Fairfield, Hayward County, Tennessee, the son of James D. Skelton and Rachel D. Powell Skelton, on November 17, 1838. Henry (as he was known) was married to Ruth Foote, 9 Jul 1965 at LaSalle, Illinois.
Rites for the Man who knew Lincoln
Funeral Services for Henry Skelton, 96, last survivor of the Civil war in Mission township, and probably the last survivor of his regiment, who as a boy was given a pup by Abraham Lincoln, were conducted today in Sheridan. Rev. Henry Moser of Aurora, former pastor of the Methodist Church in the village, officiated.
The American Legion post of Sheridan accorded military honors to Mr. Skelton, who died Friday after a long illness. Burial was in Ford county where Mr. Skelton was engaged in farming for many years.
Mr. Skelton was born in Hayward County, Tennessee. His father was a brother-in-law of John Henderson, who with his family escaped death in the Indian Creek Massacre of May 20, 1832. The Skelton's came north and at one time were residents of Taylorville.
It was in that town that the incident of Lincoln giving the pup to the Skelton boys occurred. Lincoln then was a circuit riding lawyer. He knew every boy in the village. On one of his regular trips when one of the Skelton boys failed to appear when the other youngsters did, Lincoln was told the lad was ill. He then bought a pup and gave it to the Skelton boys. The incident was one of the cherished memories of Mr. Skelton's life.
In his young manhood, Mr. Skelton taught school at Munsontown, a pioneer village a mile north of Harding. The town, long since vanished, was laid out by William Munson who married Sylvia Hall, kidnapped by the Indians at the Indian Creek Massacre.
Mr. Skelton served three years with Battery D of the Second Illinois Light Artillery. His hearing was permanently impaired by the roar of cannon in one of the great battles of the Civil war.
At his death, he left surviving 99 descendants. Youngest of the 99 is Ruth Mary Auchstetter of Mendota, 16 months old, who was his great great granddaughter and is also the great great granddaughter of Mrs. Alice Ohey of 102 East Norris Drive, Ottawa.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
Organized at Cairo, Ill., and mustered in December 17, 1861. Attached to District of Cairo to February, 1862. 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, to April, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. District of Jackson, Tenn., 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Army Corps, January, 1864. Artillery, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1864. Decatur, Ala., District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864.
SERVICE.--Duty at Cairo, Ill., until February, 1862. Expedition from Cairo into Kentucky January 16-21, 1862. Operations against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Moved to Savannah, thence to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 5-25. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Jackson, Tenn., June 5-8, and duty there until November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November and December. Action at Davis Mills, Wolf River, Miss., December 21. Post duty at Grand Junction until January, 1864. Expedition to Senatobia, Miss., May 21-26, 1863. Senatobia May 23. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence to Vicksburg, Miss., January, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Ordered to Decatur, Ala., March, 1864, and duty there until November, 1864. Action at Pond Springs, near Courtland, May 27, and at Decatur June 1. Siege of Decatur October 26-29. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., November 1. Mustered out November 21, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to Battery "K," 2nd Light Artillery.
Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 13 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
American Civil War Soldiers about Henry Skelton
Name: Henry Skelton
RESIDENCE: Freedom, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Illinois
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 25 August 1861.
Enlisted in Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 25 Aug 1861.
Discharged from Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 24 Sep 1864.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, wife of Gary E. Schneider, Great-Grandson of James Henry Skelton
Rites for the Man who knew Lincoln
Funeral Services for Henry Skelton, 96, last survivor of the Civil war in Mission township, and probably the last survivor of his regiment, who as a boy was given a pup by Abraham Lincoln, were conducted today in Sheridan. Rev. Henry Moser of Aurora, former pastor of the Methodist Church in the village, officiated.
The American Legion post of Sheridan accorded military honors to Mr. Skelton, who died Friday after a long illness. Burial was in Ford county where Mr. Skelton was engaged in farming for many years.
Mr. Skelton was born in Hayward County, Tennessee. His father was a brother-in-law of John Henderson, who with his family escaped death in the Indian Creek Massacre of May 20, 1832. The Skelton's came north and at one time were residents of Taylorville.
It was in that town that the incident of Lincoln giving the pup to the Skelton boys occurred. Lincoln then was a circuit riding lawyer. He knew every boy in the village. On one of his regular trips when one of the Skelton boys failed to appear when the other youngsters did, Lincoln was told the lad was ill. He then bought a pup and gave it to the Skelton boys. The incident was one of the cherished memories of Mr. Skelton's life.
In his young manhood, Mr. Skelton taught school at Munsontown, a pioneer village a mile north of Harding. The town, long since vanished, was laid out by William Munson who married Sylvia Hall, kidnapped by the Indians at the Indian Creek Massacre.
Mr. Skelton served three years with Battery D of the Second Illinois Light Artillery. His hearing was permanently impaired by the roar of cannon in one of the great battles of the Civil war.
At his death, he left surviving 99 descendants. Youngest of the 99 is Ruth Mary Auchstetter of Mendota, 16 months old, who was his great great granddaughter and is also the great great granddaughter of Mrs. Alice Ohey of 102 East Norris Drive, Ottawa.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
Organized at Cairo, Ill., and mustered in December 17, 1861. Attached to District of Cairo to February, 1862. 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, to April, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. District of Jackson, Tenn., 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Army Corps, January, 1864. Artillery, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1864. Decatur, Ala., District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864.
SERVICE.--Duty at Cairo, Ill., until February, 1862. Expedition from Cairo into Kentucky January 16-21, 1862. Operations against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Moved to Savannah, thence to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 5-25. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Jackson, Tenn., June 5-8, and duty there until November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November and December. Action at Davis Mills, Wolf River, Miss., December 21. Post duty at Grand Junction until January, 1864. Expedition to Senatobia, Miss., May 21-26, 1863. Senatobia May 23. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence to Vicksburg, Miss., January, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Ordered to Decatur, Ala., March, 1864, and duty there until November, 1864. Action at Pond Springs, near Courtland, May 27, and at Decatur June 1. Siege of Decatur October 26-29. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., November 1. Mustered out November 21, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to Battery "K," 2nd Light Artillery.
Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 13 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
American Civil War Soldiers about Henry Skelton
Name: Henry Skelton
RESIDENCE: Freedom, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Illinois
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 25 August 1861.
Enlisted in Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 25 Aug 1861.
Discharged from Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 24 Sep 1864.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, wife of Gary E. Schneider, Great-Grandson of James Henry Skelton
James Henry Skelton Was born in Fairfield, Hayward County, Tennessee, the son of James D. Skelton and Rachel D. Powell Skelton, on November 17, 1838. Henry (as he was known) was married to Ruth Foote, 9 Jul 1965 at LaSalle, Illinois.
Rites for the Man who knew Lincoln
Funeral Services for Henry Skelton, 96, last survivor of the Civil war in Mission township, and probably the last survivor of his regiment, who as a boy was given a pup by Abraham Lincoln, were conducted today in Sheridan. Rev. Henry Moser of Aurora, former pastor of the Methodist Church in the village, officiated.
The American Legion post of Sheridan accorded military honors to Mr. Skelton, who died Friday after a long illness. Burial was in Ford county where Mr. Skelton was engaged in farming for many years.
Mr. Skelton was born in Hayward County, Tennessee. His father was a brother-in-law of John Henderson, who with his family escaped death in the Indian Creek Massacre of May 20, 1832. The Skelton's came north and at one time were residents of Taylorville.
It was in that town that the incident of Lincoln giving the pup to the Skelton boys occurred. Lincoln then was a circuit riding lawyer. He knew every boy in the village. On one of his regular trips when one of the Skelton boys failed to appear when the other youngsters did, Lincoln was told the lad was ill. He then bought a pup and gave it to the Skelton boys. The incident was one of the cherished memories of Mr. Skelton's life.
In his young manhood, Mr. Skelton taught school at Munsontown, a pioneer village a mile north of Harding. The town, long since vanished, was laid out by William Munson who married Sylvia Hall, kidnapped by the Indians at the Indian Creek Massacre.
Mr. Skelton served three years with Battery D of the Second Illinois Light Artillery. His hearing was permanently impaired by the roar of cannon in one of the great battles of the Civil war.
At his death, he left surviving 99 descendants. Youngest of the 99 is Ruth Mary Auchstetter of Mendota, 16 months old, who was his great great granddaughter and is also the great great granddaughter of Mrs. Alice Ohey of 102 East Norris Drive, Ottawa.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
Organized at Cairo, Ill., and mustered in December 17, 1861. Attached to District of Cairo to February, 1862. 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, to April, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. District of Jackson, Tenn., 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Army Corps, January, 1864. Artillery, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1864. Decatur, Ala., District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864.
SERVICE.--Duty at Cairo, Ill., until February, 1862. Expedition from Cairo into Kentucky January 16-21, 1862. Operations against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Moved to Savannah, thence to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 5-25. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Jackson, Tenn., June 5-8, and duty there until November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November and December. Action at Davis Mills, Wolf River, Miss., December 21. Post duty at Grand Junction until January, 1864. Expedition to Senatobia, Miss., May 21-26, 1863. Senatobia May 23. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence to Vicksburg, Miss., January, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Ordered to Decatur, Ala., March, 1864, and duty there until November, 1864. Action at Pond Springs, near Courtland, May 27, and at Decatur June 1. Siege of Decatur October 26-29. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., November 1. Mustered out November 21, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to Battery "K," 2nd Light Artillery.
Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 13 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
American Civil War Soldiers about Henry Skelton
Name: Henry Skelton
RESIDENCE: Freedom, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Illinois
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 25 August 1861.
Enlisted in Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 25 Aug 1861.
Discharged from Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 24 Sep 1864.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, wife of Gary E. Schneider, Great-Grandson of James Henry Skelton
Rites for the Man who knew Lincoln
Funeral Services for Henry Skelton, 96, last survivor of the Civil war in Mission township, and probably the last survivor of his regiment, who as a boy was given a pup by Abraham Lincoln, were conducted today in Sheridan. Rev. Henry Moser of Aurora, former pastor of the Methodist Church in the village, officiated.
The American Legion post of Sheridan accorded military honors to Mr. Skelton, who died Friday after a long illness. Burial was in Ford county where Mr. Skelton was engaged in farming for many years.
Mr. Skelton was born in Hayward County, Tennessee. His father was a brother-in-law of John Henderson, who with his family escaped death in the Indian Creek Massacre of May 20, 1832. The Skelton's came north and at one time were residents of Taylorville.
It was in that town that the incident of Lincoln giving the pup to the Skelton boys occurred. Lincoln then was a circuit riding lawyer. He knew every boy in the village. On one of his regular trips when one of the Skelton boys failed to appear when the other youngsters did, Lincoln was told the lad was ill. He then bought a pup and gave it to the Skelton boys. The incident was one of the cherished memories of Mr. Skelton's life.
In his young manhood, Mr. Skelton taught school at Munsontown, a pioneer village a mile north of Harding. The town, long since vanished, was laid out by William Munson who married Sylvia Hall, kidnapped by the Indians at the Indian Creek Massacre.
Mr. Skelton served three years with Battery D of the Second Illinois Light Artillery. His hearing was permanently impaired by the roar of cannon in one of the great battles of the Civil war.
At his death, he left surviving 99 descendants. Youngest of the 99 is Ruth Mary Auchstetter of Mendota, 16 months old, who was his great great granddaughter and is also the great great granddaughter of Mrs. Alice Ohey of 102 East Norris Drive, Ottawa.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
Organized at Cairo, Ill., and mustered in December 17, 1861. Attached to District of Cairo to February, 1862. 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, to April, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. District of Jackson, Tenn., 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Army Corps, January, 1864. Artillery, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1864. Decatur, Ala., District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864.
SERVICE.--Duty at Cairo, Ill., until February, 1862. Expedition from Cairo into Kentucky January 16-21, 1862. Operations against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Moved to Savannah, thence to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 5-25. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Jackson, Tenn., June 5-8, and duty there until November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November and December. Action at Davis Mills, Wolf River, Miss., December 21. Post duty at Grand Junction until January, 1864. Expedition to Senatobia, Miss., May 21-26, 1863. Senatobia May 23. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence to Vicksburg, Miss., January, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Ordered to Decatur, Ala., March, 1864, and duty there until November, 1864. Action at Pond Springs, near Courtland, May 27, and at Decatur June 1. Siege of Decatur October 26-29. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., November 1. Mustered out November 21, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to Battery "K," 2nd Light Artillery.
Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 13 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.
Battery "D", 2nd Regiment Light Artillery
American Civil War Soldiers about Henry Skelton
Name: Henry Skelton
RESIDENCE: Freedom, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Illinois
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 25 August 1861.
Enlisted in Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 25 Aug 1861.
Discharged from Company Battery D, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment Illinois on 24 Sep 1864.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, wife of Gary E. Schneider, Great-Grandson of James Henry Skelton
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Kathryn "Kate" Skelton Firestone
1866–1957
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Margaret Sarah Skelton Dickerson
1868–1960
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Nettie Mae Skelton Garland
1870–1954
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Mary Ellen Skelton Borer
1872–1943
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Francis Skelton Martin
1874–1936
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James Henry Skelton Jr
1876–1966
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Louis Frederick "Fred" Skelton
1879–1958
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Edith Skelton Ferner
1881–1974
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William Wallace Skelton
1885–1974
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PVT Alvie Harold Skelton
1890–1969
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Hattie Skelton
1892–1892
