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- JOHN WOOD, CIVIL WAR VET,
PASSES FRIDAY AT AGE 92
Military Service Held Here Before
Burial Rites at Louisville, Ill.
The Homer Enterprise
July 28, 1938
A salute of five muskets by a firing squad of American Legion members over a casket, and "Taps" from a distant bugle concluded an impressive funeral service Sunday morning over the body of John Wood, Homer's last member of the handful of the Grand Army of the Republic now living.
The 9:30 a.m. service, at which Rev. George A. Reinhardt of the Presbyterian church officiated, was held at the home on the Baird lands two miles southwest of Homer where Mr. Wood had made his home for over a year with his granddaughter, Mrs. Ethel Carlisle, and great-grandson, Woodrow Carlisle, and were in charge of More funeral service. The American Legion and Legion Auxiliary assisted, paying a comrade of another war a last tribute of respect.
A brief obituary was read by Rev. Reinhardt. Mr. Wood was born July 24, 1845, and died July 22, 1938. He married Mary Holstein in July, 1866, and to them were born two children, who survive himMrs. Bessie Wolf and Anderson Wood, both of near St. Joseph. His wife died about 14 years ago, since which time he has lived most of his time near here.
Besides his children, he is survived by seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
A great-grandson, Woodrow W. Carlisle of 61st C. A. Battery B, Ft. Sheridan, Ill., was present at the service.
Mr. Wood united with Little Prairie Baptist church in 1899.
When 18 years old he enlisted in the Union service in the Indiana 143rd regiment. He was the last of seven brothers, all of whom were soldiers in the Civil War. Two of the brothers were killed in service.
An attack of pneumonia, complicated with age infirmities, conspired in the last few weeks of the life of this old soldier to defeat two of his cherished aspirations. He had hoped to go to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg July 3, to which he and an escort had been invited with all expenses paid. His last illness set in only three or four days before, and he was sadly disappointed in being unable to witness this final reconciliation reunion of both the Blue and the Gray.
He failed by only two days of reaching his 93rd birthday, July 24, which was the day of his funeral.
Transcribed by the Homer Historical Society
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1845 - 1938 (92 years)
