Corporal JOHN B. SELDERS, Co. C. 86th Illinois

John B. Selders was born on October 4, 1838 in Pleasant View Township, Shelby County, Indiana, the son of Dr. William B. SELDER (1812-1893) and Matilda C. (ROUSE) Selder (1816-1853), who were married on January 14, 1836 in Shelby County. Indiana. William and Matilda are known to have had the following children;
1. Filelia Selders, born c. 1836/37 in Indiana.
2. LaFayette Selders, born c. 1837/38 in Indiana; believed to have served in the Civil War in Co. A of the 15th Iowa Regiment.
3. John B. Selders, born October 4, 1838 in Shelby County, Indiana.
4. Robert Selders, born c. 1840/41 in Indiana.
5. Martha M. Selders, born c. 1843/44 in Indiana.
6. James L. Selders, born c. 1848/49 in Indiana.

The Selder/Selders family migrated to Jones County, Iowa about 1849/50, where the family remained until some time after the 1860 US census. This is the family as it appears in Monticello Township, Jones County, Iowa in the 1850 census;
William Selders M 39 Pennsylvania
Matilda Selders F 34 Kentucky
Fidelia Selders F 13 Indiana
Lafayette Selders M 12 Indiana
John Selders M 11 Indiana
Robert Selders M 9 Indiana
Martha M Selders F 6 Indiana
James L Selders M 1 Indiana

In the 1850's, it appears that Matilda C. (Rouse) Selder must have died. Matilda C. (Rouse) Selder is believed by some to have been buried in Bowens Prairie Cemetery, Richland Twp. Jones County. Iowa. There is a Lovina Selder listed in Find A Grave buried in this cemetery. She died on Sep. 21, 1854.
Dr. William B. Selder was then married 2nd to a Maria Jane ____________. Maria Jane was born on Aug. 26, 1828 at ____________, Indiana. William and Jane had the following children;
7. Franklin P. Selders, born ___________ __, 1857 at __________, __________; Frank died on August 30, 1902 at __________, __________ and his mortal remains were laid in the Cass Center Cemetery, Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa.
8. Thomas Benton Selders, born ____________ __, 1859 in Iowa; died on ___________ __, 1870 in Iowa; buried in the Cass Center Cemetery in Webster, Hamilton County, Iowa.
9. Nettie Selder, born c. 1860/61 in Iowa.
10. Vincent Selder, born c. 1862/63 in Iowa.
11. Olive Selder, born

This is the Selder/Selders family as it appears in the 1860 census in Monticello Township, Jones County, Iowa;
Wm Selders 47 PA
Jane Selders 37 Ill
John Selders 21 Indiana
Robert Selders 19 Indiana
Martha Selders 15 Indiana
Frank Selders 3 Iowa
Benton Selders 0 Iowa

At the time of the 1880 census, the Selder family is found in Cass, Hamilton County, Iowa. William is listed as a farmer at this time, his father and mother are listed as having both been born in Scotland;
Self W. B. Selder M 65 Pennsylvania
Wife Jane Selder F 52 Illinois
Son Franklin Selder M 22 Iowa
Daughter Nettie Selder F 19 Iowa
Son Vincent Selder M 17 Iowa
Daughter Olive Selder F 15 Iowa
Daughter Fannie Selder F 10 Iowa

Dr. William B. Selder died on __________ __, 1890 at __________, Iowa. His mortal remains were laid in the Cass Center Cemetery in Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa. Maria Jane (__________) Selder died on Sep. 29, 1916. Here mortal remains were also laid in the Cass Center Cemetery beside those of her husband.

Now to continue with the biography of John B. Selders;

In the early 1860's John left Iowa, moving to Illinois where he took up residence in Chillicothe, Illinois in Peoria County. It is not known if any other family member came with him. John was apparently employed as a Cooper.
On August 5, 1862, John B. Selders volunteered at Chillicothe, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Chillicothe, Illinois, and in the townships immediately north and west of Chillicothe, including Halleck Township in Peoria County and LaPrairie and Saratoga Townships in Marshall County. This company was being raised by John H. Batchelder, who operated the Ferry at Chillicothe, and Dr. Joseph Thomas, a Chillicothe area Physician. When he volunteered, John gave his residence as Chillicothe, Illinois.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name SELDERS, JOHN B
Rank PVT Company C Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence CHILLICOTHE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 22 Height 5' 9 Hair BROWN
Eyes GRAY Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation COOPER
Nativity PLEASANT VIEW, SHELBY CO, IN

Service Record
Joined When AUG 5, 1862 Joined Where CHILLICOTHE, IL
Joined By Whom J H BATCHELDER Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUL 10, 1865
Muster Out Where SPRINGFIELD, IL Muster Out By Whom CPT HUNTINGTON
Remarks WOUNDED AT KENESAW MOUNTAIN GA JUN 27, 1864 (CORPORAL)

When Batchelder and Thomas had almost 100 volunteers, they led the Chillicothe area company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. Just days after volunteering to serve in the Chillicothe Company and just days before they were to be mustered into service and leave for the war, John B. Selders was married. In Illinois marriage records, the following marriage is found; SELDER, JOHN B m. BEEBEY, LUCY ANN on August 22, 1862 in PEORIA COUNTY. Interestingly, nine months later, almost to the day, a son, William H. Selders was born to John and Lucy on May 24, 1863.

On August 27, 1862, five days after John B. Selders was married, Batchelder, Thomas and 87 of their volunteers, including now Private John B. Selders, were mustered into service as Co. C of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Dr. Thomas was elected by the men of Co. C to serve as their Captain, while Batchelder was elected to serve as their 1st Lieutenant.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Almost certainly somewhere in the crowd was a beautiful young lady, who had been married for just 16 days, watching her young husband march off for war, knowing that this could be the last she ever saw of him. Though she did not know it at that time, she was also carrying their first child.
By early October, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee where they would go into winter camp.
Much of the next 10 months were spent garrisoning Nashville. For at some of this time, the were camped "under the guns of Fort Negley", which still can be found in Nashville today. Sometime, most likely in late 1862, in these early days in the Nashville area, Private John B. Selders found out he was going to be a father.
In his History of the 86th, J. R. Kinnear states the following of the activities of the 86th in the spring of 1863. "On the 25th of March, 1863, the Eighty-sixth was marched to Brentwood, where only a few hours before the garrison there was surprised and captured. On the first alarm the regiment was sent to its assistance, but it reached the fatal spot too late, the rebels having succeeded in their enterprise and made good their escape. After this reconnaissance to Brentwood, the regiment returned to Nashville, settling down again to its old business of picketing and guarding. Nearly two weeks after this, on the 8th of April, the brigade was sent to Brentwood, in supporting distance of Franklin. Brentwood was a fine situation for a camp, and as spring was at hand it was rendered more pleasant still. Comfortable quarters were readily made, and for the first time we began to live like men. It was here the boys began a happy reform in that respect; for instead of lying on the bare ground in the dirt and grass they put up bunks, thus leading to their comfort. At this place the brigade built a fort called Fort Brentwood. It was triangular in form, having embrazures in the corners of the triangle for guns. Much time and labor was expended on this work only to be completed that it might be demolished---a change in the situation of our army affairs compelling the evacuation of the fort. Details were made, and on the 3rd of June the work of demolition was consummated, and on the evening of the same day the brigade returned to Nashville. Back in Illinois, on May 24, 1863, Mrs. Lucy Ann (Beebe) Selders gave birth to a son, whom she named William H. Selders. John B. Selders may have been back in Nashville with the 86th before he found out he was a father.
The war went on, John serving faithfully for another year. During this time, John was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chicakamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; and Rome, Georgia. Sometime during this year, John was elected by the men of Co. C to fill one of the Corporal positions as a sign of his military bearing and dedication to the service and to the men of Co. C. But, it was on the morning of June 27, 1864 that the men of McCook's Brigade suffered the most.
On the morning of June 27, 1864, the men of McCook's Brigade found themselves across from Cheatham Hill on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. The five Union Regiments of McCook's Brigade were formed in line of battle, one regiment stacked behind the other, the 86th Illinois third in line. It was hoped that this formation would allow the Union Brigade to punch a hole in the Confederate line, each regiment giving some protection to the regiment in back of it. When the signal gun fired, the men of the brigade stepped off and moved down a hill, crossed a small stream and then moved through a wheat field before beginning the climb up Cheatham Hill and the Confederate breastworks toward an angle in the Confederate line that was soon to be called "The Dead Angle." The following assault, which proved to be only partially successful, lasted less than 30 minutes. In those horrifying 30 minutes, the men of the 86th Illinois suffered over 100 casualties. McCook's Brigade as a whole suffered more than 500 casualties in that 30 minutes, most of those in a 30 yard stretch of ground in front of the "Dead Angle."
The men of McCook's Brigade were able dig in less than 40 yards from the Confederate lines and were able to hold their ground for the remainder of the day and continued to hold this ground for another week before the Confederate forces withdrew from Kennesaw Mountain. But, during the evening of June 27, 1864 as the exhausted men lay in the trenches on Cheatham Hill and casualties were assessed, it was found that Co. C had suffered 10 casualties. Sergeant James Sirlott, Corporal Stephen Easton, Private Cyrus C. Clark and Private Andrew J. Rutherford had been killed. Corporal John B. Selders is known to have been severely wounded in the knee, though it is not known which knee at this time.
After being wounded, Corporal John B. Selders was shuffled to the rear with the other wounded where he was tended to a a field hospital. There surgeons did their best to save his leg. It is not known whether they were successful or not at this time. Even if they were successful in saving the leg, which is doubtful, his wounds were severe enough that Corporal John B. Selders was never able to rejoin the company and spent more than a year in Army Hospitals. Corporal John B. Selders finally recovered enough to be discharged he was finally discharged from the service on July 10, 1865 from the Army Hospital at Springfield, Illinois.
One of his fellow members of Co. C, who was also wounded that day was Corporal Cyrus Root, who was wounded in the left arm and on the left side of his face. He was sent initially to a field hospital in the rear, but was eventually sent north, back to Nashville, where he spent some time in Ward 6 and then Ward 7 of General Hospital #14. On July 3, 1864, Cyrus sat down in Ward 6 of General Hospital #14 and penned the following to his father, Erastus Root, after the typical greetings and opening remarks about the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. "On the morning of the 27th of June we was told that we was to charge the rebel brestworks that morning and about tenn oclock our brigaid was formed reddy for the charge. The 125 Ills was ahead and the 86 next. We started and marched about half a mile in line of battle whare we come in site of the rebel brestworks and then was ordered to fix bayonets and dambed quick. We charged up to their works but they wer rather too strong for us. We stopt and gave them thunder fore a while but we had to fall back a ways. I was within tenn steps of the rebel brestworks when I was shot and then I limbered to the rear. The rebs threw stones over the works at us. They dasent rais up to shoot. our Regiment built brestworks within fifty yards of the rebel works. They were thare the last time I hurd from them. Our Regiment lost one hundred and tenn men that day in killed woundid and missing. That was the rufest time the 86 ever had I guess. Liut. McDonald was nocked down with a stone but did not hurt him mutch. The killed in our Company was Sargeant Sirlott and Steaphen Easton and Jackson Rutherford and the wounded was John Solders John Loudstorm John Sahne Ralph Gallop and my self. Cyrus C. Clark was missing. He was eather killed or taken prisoner. John Shane was wounded very bad and I am afraid that he will never get well. The rest are not very bad............"
About three weeks later, on July 21, 1864, while now sitting in Ward 7 of General Hospital #14 in Nashville, after the normal greetings to his brother, J. Perry Root, and after telling that he did not need him to make a trip to Nashville to look after him, Cyrus wrote the following. "I am still here in the Hospital and a getting a long first rate. I have got well again except one place in my arm that runs a little yet but it dont hurt mee any more. I think that I was very lucky to get off as well as I did fore thare wer a great many that faired a grate deal worse than I did. It was the first time that I was ever in a field hospital during an engagement and I hope it will be the last time. I can tell you that it is a hard site to see the woundid come in. Their was woundid in all shapes that you could mention and then to see them laid on the table and saw their legs and armes off is not a very pleasant site but it all has to be dun. Thare was a man killed on each side of me. Sirlott was on my rite and Rutherford was on my left. So you see that they shot clost too a fellow. Well about Ben Prentice. I did not know that he was killed when I wrote. He was not killed untill the next day after I was woundid. He was on picket when he was killed. I did not hear off it until dayes ago and then I did not know sertain that he was killed but I expect that it is so. I was very sorry to hear it fore Ben was a good boy and a first rate soldier but they kill a good soldier as quick as they will a poor one........."
After John B. Selders returned from the service, four more children were born to John and Lucy. Following is a list of the children known to have been born to John B. Selders and Lucy Ann (Beebe) Selders;
1. William H. Selders, born May 24, 1863 in Peoria County; died June 25, 1866 at the age of 3y 1m 1d; buried in Section B of the Chillicothe City Cemetery.

2. Sarah A. Selders, born c. 1866/67 in Peoria County; living at the time of the 1880 census.

3. Charles "Charlie" Selders, born March 27, 1868; died June 12, 1868 at the age of 2m 16d; buried in Section B of the Chillicothe City Cemetery.

4. Frances E. Selders, born __________ __, 1869; died __________ __, 1878, buried in Section B of the Chillicothe City Cemetery.

5. Matilda Selders, born July 29, 1871; died February 9, 1879 at the age of 7y 6m 11d, buried in Section B of the Chillicothe City Cemetery.

John B. Selders tried to return to his work as a Cooper and was successful to some extent. However, his wound gave him problems and John B. Selders was granted an Invalid Pension in 1869. Carol Dorward did find John B. and Lucy Selders in the 1870 Illinois census. "I first checked the 1870 federal census and J. B. Selders is listed in Chillicothe. He is a Cooper, age 31. His wife, Lucy Ann, is 28 years of age. S. M. (age 4) and Frances (age 1) are the two children listed--both girls."
However, just over a year later, Corporal John B. Selders died on August 6, 1871, most likely in Chillicothe, Illinois, at the age of 32y 10m & 2d, possibly from complications from his wounds. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Chillicothe City Cemetery, next to two of his sons, including his first born, William H. Selders, who had died on June 25, 1866, less than a year after John was discharged from the service. John's tombstone there is inscribed, "A Member of Co. C, 86th Regt. Ill. Vols." However, there is a stone with his name on it and his unit on it in the Old City Cemetery or Evergreen Memorial Park in Bloomington, Illinois. The cemetery and descendants of John Wesley Selders say that it is John Wesley Selders who is buried there. John Wesley Selders was killed in 1902 in a train accident. I believe that John Wesley Selders was confused with the John B. Selders and there were family members that believed that it was John Wesley Selders who was the Civil War Veteran in Co. C. The surviving members of Co. C, served beside John, and were tentmates of John, and who had fought and bled beside John for nearly two years, knew him well. They knew he passed away in August of 1871 and when the first reunion was held in August of 1887, memorialized John, including his name among the men who were known to have died since the war, placing his name on the Honor Roll. John's name was listed on the Honor Roll every time it was published from year to year.
John Wesley Selders may have actually been a Civil War veteran, but, was not the John Selders, who served in Co. C of the 86th Illinois. This tombstone is the third picture on the right.
After John B. Selders death, his widow filed and was granted a Widow's Pension. A minor child of John's was granted a Minor's Pension in 1875. In the beginning I thought perhaps John's wife died in 1875 or perhaps she had little or no income and the minor was granted a pension for that reason. But, now we know that Lucy remarried.

Carol Dorward found the following records in Tazewell County marriage records and in the 1180 census of Illinois;

"MERRICK, A. W. m. LETTERS, LUCY A -- 1875-04-20 D49 TAZEWELL

I seriously question if this is the "remarriage" and someone couldn't read Selders.

I did find this in the 1880 federal census which I think answers the question.

Rome, Peoria Co., IL
Alonzo Merrick, 33
Lucy A. Merrick, 37
John J. Merrick, 3
Clarence A. Merrick, 7 months
Sarah A. Selders, 13

One of the family records shows Frances Selders died in 1880."

Note: There is a John Merrick, who was born in 1876 and who died in 1953, buried in the Marshall Cemetery in Marshall, Clark County, Illinois. This may be John J. Merrick the son of Alonzo Merrick and Lucy Ann (Beebe) Selders Merrick.

On August 31, 2011, Carol Dorward received the following email from a great granddaughter of John Wesley Selders while Carol was looking into the matter. "My great grandfather was John Wesley Selders who died in 1902 & is buried in Evergreen Cemetery here in Bloomington, IL. However, his Civil War gravemarker says "John B. Selders". It was probably placed in the early 1900's with the wrong middle initial. The correct John B. Selders is buried in Chillicothe, IL. He died at age about 32 & was married to Lucy Beebe. I don't know of a Thomas "R." Selders. There was a Thomas B. Selders who was in the 86th IL Inf. He died in 1912 in Vets. Home in Danville, IL & is buried there. He was a younger brother to my John Wesley Selders. Hope this helps." After receiving this email, Carol wrote, "Obviously, someone somewhere has something really messed up! That tombstone in Bloomington clearly says 86th Regiment. Furthermore, when I checked the records online for the State of IL, I don't even find a John W. Selders who served nor Thomas B. Selders--let alone to consider the 86th Regiment. Carol D."
If John Wesley Selders was a Civil War veteran, he must have served from the State of Ohio, where he was born, because only three members of the Selders family are known to have served from the State of Illinois. They are;
ISAAC F. SELDERS who was a PVT in Co. G of the 137 IL US INF from MILTON, PIKE CO, IL
JOHN B. SELDERS, who was a PVT in Co. C of the 86 IL US INF from CHILLICOTHE, PEORIA CO, IL
THOMAS R. SELDERS, who was a PVT in Co. C of the 86 IL US INF from CHILLICOTHE, PEORIA CO, IL.

As stated above, when the first reunion of the 86th Illinois was held on August 27, 1887 in Peoria, Illinois. A death roll was published of all known dead from the 86th. Among the men of Co. C was listed Private John B. Selders who was known to have died at Chillicothe, Illinois. At the same time, addresses where published for all known survivors, Thomas B. Selders (he is listed with the initial B. not R.) is residing at that time at Wady Petra, Illinois in Stark County, Illinois, just north of the Peoria County line. John Wesley Selders did not die until 1902, so we know that he was not the John B. Selders who was a member of the 86th Illinois and who died before 1887 in Chillicothe.
John B. Selders is listed on all subsequent death rolls, always as having died in Chillicothe. On the 1888 published addresses, the following information is given about Thomas B. Selders; Selders, T. B., discharged to accept 1st Lieut. U. S. C. T., Wady Petra, Ill."

Military Record of John Wesley Selders (1835 - 1902), the 1st cousin of John B. Selders and older brother of Thomas Baron Selders, who did serve with John B. Selders in Co. C of the 86th Illinois;

Civil War Service Record:
John W. SELDERS
Company: B
Unit: 73 Ohio Infantry
Rank - Induction: Private
Rank - Discharge: Private
Allegiance: Union

Name: John W. SELDERS
Enlistment Date: 01 Nov 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Ohio
Unit Numbers: 1912
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Private on 01 Nov 1861 at the age of 24
Enlisted in Company B, 73rd Infantry Regiment Ohio on 15 December 1861

Civil War Pension Index:
John W. SELDERS
E B 73 Ohio Inf
Class: Invalid
Date: 16 Jun 1897
Application No: 1192878
State Filed: Illinois
Pension was denied on the ground of desertion, claimant having never received an honorable discharge.

This is John W. Selders' obituary which appeared on Page 7 of the Tuesday Morning July 15th, 1902 edition of The Pantagraph of Bloomington, Illinois.
"HIS HEAD WAS CUT OFF
John W. Selders Meets Death
Was Run Over by an engine at the Chestnut Street Crossing last Evening at 6:30 - Inquest will be Held Today.
John W. Selders, Sr., was instantly killed about 6:30 last evening by being runover by a Chicago & Alston engine at the Chestnut Street crossing, his head being severed from his body at the shoulders.
How Accident Occurred
Engine 348, one of the big Baldwin machines, was backing out from the round house to go north at 7 o'clock with an extra frieght. Engineer Salmon and Fireman Hanks were on the 348 and Conductor Simmons was to take the train out. Just as the rear of the tank struck the south walk at Chestnut street, Mr. Selders walked right in the middle of the tracks. He was coming from the east and evidently did not see the engine nor hear the ringing of the bell. It is said that he had very poor eyesight. The end of the tank hit him and knocked him down with his neck on the west rail of the track and the wheels of the tank cut his head off just at the shoulders. He was rolled about fifteen feet before the engineer knew what had occurred and stopped, and when the engine was brought to a standstill the rear driver of the engine was just over the body. Engineer Salmon climbed down and pulled the body out from under the engine and it was laid just at the foot of the stairs leading to the gate tower and a sheet was thrown over the remains to hide the mangled form from the gaze of the eyes of hundreds of curious people who had collected within a few minutes and crowded around, anxious to get a glimpse of the body. The coroner was sent for, but after waitng for some time and not being able to find him, the body was placed on a stretcher and taken to the freight house, where at 8:30 Coleman & Birney came and got it, taking it to their undertaking parlors, where the inquest will be held this morning at 8 o'clock.
Biographical
John W. Selders was born at Chillicothe, O, 65 years ago. He moved to this city about fifteen years ago from Wyoming, Ill. He was one of the most widely known men on the west side, having for years sawed wood for Seibel, the baker. Of late years, however, his health had been poor and he had been doing but little except buy rags. He leaves besides his wife, two sons and two daughters, John W. Selders, Jr., Thomas Selders, Mattie and Almeda. Their home is at the corner of Lee and Mulberry streets."

In 1931 someone sent in for a government headstone for J. W. Selders but the applicant listed the wrong unit of service. John W. Selders served in Co. B of the 73rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. However, whoever was making the application listed the unit of service of John B. Selders, Co. C, 86th Illinois. Someone, probably on the governments end realized that J. W. Selders was not a member of the 86th and assuming that the W. was an error, scratched out the J. W., substituting the John B. for the headstone not realizing that John B. Selders had died years before. So, John Wesley Selders ended up the headstone of John B. Selders. This stone has now been moved to John B. Selders' grave in Chillicothe, Illinois, which can be seen in the pictures on this site.

by Baxter B. Fite III; Carol Dorward, of Washington, Illinois; and Sandy Kiger, whose email address is [email protected]

(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Selders family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Corporal John B. Selders and the Selders family. Baxter would also love to see copies of any photographs of Corporal John B. Selders, which may have survived the years, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)