Corporal Co I 77th Illinois Infantry

John was born to Charles and Catherine (Stump) McMullen. He was born in Schellsburg Bedford County Pennsylvania. He was one of eleven children. He had seven brothers and three sisters. All of his family, but one sister left Pennsylvania and moved to Peoria County, Illinois

He was married on Feb. 25, 1849 to Mary Elizabeth Rock. To this union were born ten children.

In 1856 John moved his family to Elmwood Illinois. He was a brick mason by trade. With his brothers he operated a stone quarry near Farmington, Illinois.


Civil War - CPL, Company I, Unit 77 IL US INF. John joined the 77th on August 14th 1862 in Elmwood, Peoria County Illinois and mustered in September 2, 1862 in Peoria, Peoria County Illinois.. He was 36 years of age, 5' 10' with black hair, brown eyes, complexion dark and married. John was mustered out July 10th 1865 in Mobile, Alabama. The 77th Illinois Volunteer took part in the Vicksburg Campaign, the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, the Red River Campaign and operations in northern Louisiana and Texas. During the 77th's time in Kentucky the regiment became know for Abolitionist sentiment. They took slaves who fled to the regiment in skiffs rowed across the Ohio river to Ohio and Indiana, once across the river they gave them money and food. Members also sent slaves to Illinois to their homes to work for their families and the former slaves who made it to their destinations in Illinois became the most loyal of workers. The 77th Abolitionist sentiment was not entirely pure as their desire was partly to see the rebels punished by confiscating the rebel's property. Members made raids on rebel properties to seize property that they felt there was a need for in the regiment. The 77th would also protect the slaves from former owners and slave hunters as they tried to reclaim them from the regiment.