3rd Sergeant, JOHN ZIMRI SLANE, Co. K, 86th Illinois
John Zimri Slane was born on Oct. 16th, 1827 in Morgan County, VA. to Benjamin F. Slane Jr. and Delilah (Cheshire/Chisier) Slane. Benjamin F. Slane Jr. was born April 22, 1798 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia to Benjamin Slane Sr and a Native American woman thought to be Cherokee. His mother died at or shortly after his birth and Benjamin Slane Sr. then married Delilah Poston in 1801, with 12 additional children, half-siblings to Benjamin Jr resulting. Benjamin Slane Jr married Delilah Cheshire on June 7, 1824 in Hampshire County, Virginia (now WV), with 7 children eventually resulting;
1. Benjamin F.
2. John Z.
3. Elizabeth A.
4. Delilah Jane Slane, born on March 26, 1832 and was the 2nd white child born at Fort Clark, Peoria County, Illinois. Delilah was married to William E. Root on October 1, 1854 in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois.
5. Samuel S.
6. James T.
7. Infant Slane, who died in infancy.
Delilah (Chisier) Slane was born in Hampshire County, Virginia on Feb. 12, 1800. Benjamin and Delilah married in Virginia, where Benjamin was a tanner by trade. They soon moved to to Ohio, locating near Zanesville. After just a short time, they were attracted to the newer
State of Illinois, and in November, 1831, arrived
at Ft. Clark, and became one of the very first set-
tlers in Peoria County. Benjamin bought a tract of wild
land, and improved 160 acres into a good farm.
He afterward moved to Princeville, in the same
county, and was actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits there for many years, his death occurring there April 29, 1875. His wife died many years before, the date of her death being June 25, 1839.
In 1830 Benjamin Slane Jr & Delilah, their 3 children, several of Benjamin's siblings and a number of friends set out in wagons for Illinois, stopping for a few months in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio where they had family living. Upon reaching the Ohio River the families continued by keelboat to Cincinnati, then took a series trips on steamboats to St. Louis and finally landing at Fort Clark (later named Peoria) on November 4th, 1831.
In 1835, Benjamin Slane moved his family to northern Peoria County, to an area that would later become Rosefield Township, living just north of where the Slane Cemetery is now located toay. In 1839, Delilah (Cheshire) Slane and a daughter died and their earthly remains were the first to be laid to rest in the Slane Cemetery. Benjamin Slane moved his family to Princeville, Peoria County, IL in 1840, where his sons would grow to manhood farming the land beside their father. In 1844, at the age of 17, John Z. Slane dug the first grave in what would become the Princeville Township Cemetery for a little child, a sister of George I. McGinnis.
At the time of the 1850 census of Peoria County, this is the family as it appears;
1703 Slane Benjamin, Sr. 52 Farmer 1,200 Va
1703 Slane Benjamin, Jr. 28 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane John 23 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane Elizabeth 20 Va
1703 Slane Delila J. 18 Ill
1703 Slane Saml. L. 16 Farmer Ill
1703 Slane Jas. T. 14 Ill
Upon his death in 1875, Benjamin F. Slane Jr's earthly remains were returned to Rosefield Township and buried with his wife and daughter in Slane Cemetery.
On August 9, 1862, John Zimri Slane volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville, Illinois by a Princeville area School Teacher, John F. French, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name SLONE, JOHN Z
Rank CPL Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 35 Height 6' 1/2 Hair GRAY
Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity MORGAN CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When French had 100 volunteers, he led the Princeville company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, French and 95 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. K, of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. French was elected their Captain, while John Zimri Slane was elected 4th Corporal by the men of Co. K. On September 7, 1862, 1,800 men of the 85th and 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon and with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war.
Less than a month after leaving Peoria, the men of the 85th and 86th Illinois found themselves in the fields of Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade, chasing the last Confederate troops in Kentucky. On October 8, 1862, McCook's Brigade clashed with these Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky and the men of both regiments suffered the first of many casualties to come. After the Union victory at Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on toward Nashville, Tennessee.
About October 22, 1862, John was promoted to 1st Corporal. During the next 2 and 1/2 years, John and the men of the 86th would be witness to and participants in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre. They would take part in many battles and skirmishes, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few, and March with General Sherman to the Sea. During this time, John would be promoted first to 5th Sergeant sometime between July 1864 and the spring of 1865 and was promoted to 3rd Sergeant on April 20, 1865. During his time in the service, John is believed to have been hospitalized twice for short periods and was also sent home for a few months in the spring of 1865 to recover from a severe illness contracted during his days in Tennessee. On June 6, 1865, John and the surviving members of the 86th Illinois would be mustered out of the service in Washington, D.C and the men of Co. K arrived back in Princeville about June 23rd of 1865. John then resumed his life as a civilian farmer in Princeville Township.
John Zimri Slane was married on March 14, 1867 to Mary Patton, the daughter of D__________ S. Patton and ____________ (____________) Patton in the home of her parents in Espyville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. After the wedding, John and Mary returned to Princeville, where they made their home for the rest of their lives. Five children were born to John and Mary, three dying in infancy. They were;
1. Infant child, born 1868; died February 23, 1868
2. Infant child, born 1869; died February 17, 1869
3. Wilbur Patton Slane, born February 4, 1870
4. Infant child, born and died on September 23, 1875.
5. Elzada Vera Slane, born September 23, 1875; married to Charles E. Sentz in 1897
As stated before, John and Mary spent the rest of their lives raising their children in the Princeville area and were known and well respected members of the Princeville and Peoria County area. John Zimri Slane was also an active member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) and attended many of the reunions of the 86th Illinois, which began holding reunions in August of 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the forming of the regiment, and local Co. K reunions. John was one of 9 members of Co. K present at that first reunion in August of 1887. The 86th Illinois reunion of 1910 was the last reunion that he was able to attend.
About 1904, John and Mary had a new home built that is located at 509 S. Cottage Grove Road on the south west edge of Princeville, Illinois. John and Mary spent the last years of their lives in this home. I met Mary and Josephine Slane, John and Mary's grandchildren, in this home where they lived in the 1980's. John Z. Slane's trunk with all of the CDV's of his friends in Co. K were in the attic of this home. Mary and Josephine spent their last years in this home.
Mary (Patton) Slane died on February 1, 1915 and John Zimri Slane died five days later on February 5, 1915. Their obituary appeared together in the February 11th edition of the Princeville Telephone. It stated in part, "Mrs. Slane united with the Presbyterian Church at an early age. Her devotion and love for the church was manifested by her constant attendance during her life. When a young woman she rode on horseback to church. For some years she had been in declining health. The morning of the day of her death she was very cheerful and talked of the streets of gold and the home beyond. In the evening, she closed her eyes in a peaceful sleep. She was aged 78 years, 5 months, and 18 days. Mr. Slane was very sick at the time of his wife's death. He seemed anxious to go with her and asked the doctor if he could live 24 hours. Death came as a relief to his weary body at the unusual advanced age of 87 years, 3 months and 20 days."
The obituary continued, "When Mr. Slane came to Peoria, there were more Indians there than whites. He was well acquainted with Shabbona, Charcose, Kickapoo and other Indians living at Fort Clark at that time. He had a vivid recollection of Captain Stillman drilling his soldiers at Fort Clark for the Black Hawk War. The cabin in which he lived was situated near the river bank just below where the Rock Island city depot now stands and in this cabin bullets were molded for use in the war. He saw the first Indian funeral at Peoria that took place after the white people had settled there. The body was hauled in a sled over snow and drawn by an ox team to the place of interment. The burail took place near the race track east of the Knoxville Road and west of Peoria Heights. Many were the privations endured by the early settlers at the time and the subject had his share of them all."
"When the horror of Civil War darkened the land, Company K of the 86th Illinois was organized at Princeville. Mr. Slane enlisted on August 9, 1862. He was first Corporal, but afterward promoted to Sergeant of the company. He served three years, or until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and the writer has learned from him much more in all its details of this feat in military strategy than could be learned from all the books. Through the long years since the war with what interest did this aged veteran, while sitting around the hearth-stone of his home, recount the stirring scenes of that great war; the march, the battle, the bivouac, it seemed he was ever 'tenting on the old camp ground.' The quality of his courage was shown most vividly, when only a few days before the death of this staunch soldier he looked at the still form of her who had been him companion of so many years, his dearly beloved wife; truly; 'In death they were not divided.'"
"'Soldier, rest, thy warfare o're,
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking.
Dream of battlefields no more;
Days of danger -- knights of waking."
Three of his dearest comrades from Co. K, Emanual Keller, Frederick Gladfelter and Archibald Smith, and several other members of the 86th Illinois were present at his funeral. John and Mary's earthly remains were laid side by side in the Princeville Township Cemetery to await the Resurrection Morn.
The daguerreotype picture, probably taken in late 1862, is owned by Cpl. Slane's granddaughter, Mary V. Slane of Princeville.
Buried on February 8th, 1915
by Baxter B. Fite III
John Zimri Slane was born on Oct. 16th, 1827 in Morgan County, VA. to Benjamin F. Slane Jr. and Delilah (Cheshire/Chisier) Slane. Benjamin F. Slane Jr. was born April 22, 1798 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia to Benjamin Slane Sr and a Native American woman thought to be Cherokee. His mother died at or shortly after his birth and Benjamin Slane Sr. then married Delilah Poston in 1801, with 12 additional children, half-siblings to Benjamin Jr resulting. Benjamin Slane Jr married Delilah Cheshire on June 7, 1824 in Hampshire County, Virginia (now WV), with 7 children eventually resulting;
1. Benjamin F.
2. John Z.
3. Elizabeth A.
4. Delilah Jane Slane, born on March 26, 1832 and was the 2nd white child born at Fort Clark, Peoria County, Illinois. Delilah was married to William E. Root on October 1, 1854 in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois.
5. Samuel S.
6. James T.
7. Infant Slane, who died in infancy.
Delilah (Chisier) Slane was born in Hampshire County, Virginia on Feb. 12, 1800. Benjamin and Delilah married in Virginia, where Benjamin was a tanner by trade. They soon moved to to Ohio, locating near Zanesville. After just a short time, they were attracted to the newer
State of Illinois, and in November, 1831, arrived
at Ft. Clark, and became one of the very first set-
tlers in Peoria County. Benjamin bought a tract of wild
land, and improved 160 acres into a good farm.
He afterward moved to Princeville, in the same
county, and was actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits there for many years, his death occurring there April 29, 1875. His wife died many years before, the date of her death being June 25, 1839.
In 1830 Benjamin Slane Jr & Delilah, their 3 children, several of Benjamin's siblings and a number of friends set out in wagons for Illinois, stopping for a few months in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio where they had family living. Upon reaching the Ohio River the families continued by keelboat to Cincinnati, then took a series trips on steamboats to St. Louis and finally landing at Fort Clark (later named Peoria) on November 4th, 1831.
In 1835, Benjamin Slane moved his family to northern Peoria County, to an area that would later become Rosefield Township, living just north of where the Slane Cemetery is now located toay. In 1839, Delilah (Cheshire) Slane and a daughter died and their earthly remains were the first to be laid to rest in the Slane Cemetery. Benjamin Slane moved his family to Princeville, Peoria County, IL in 1840, where his sons would grow to manhood farming the land beside their father. In 1844, at the age of 17, John Z. Slane dug the first grave in what would become the Princeville Township Cemetery for a little child, a sister of George I. McGinnis.
At the time of the 1850 census of Peoria County, this is the family as it appears;
1703 Slane Benjamin, Sr. 52 Farmer 1,200 Va
1703 Slane Benjamin, Jr. 28 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane John 23 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane Elizabeth 20 Va
1703 Slane Delila J. 18 Ill
1703 Slane Saml. L. 16 Farmer Ill
1703 Slane Jas. T. 14 Ill
Upon his death in 1875, Benjamin F. Slane Jr's earthly remains were returned to Rosefield Township and buried with his wife and daughter in Slane Cemetery.
On August 9, 1862, John Zimri Slane volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville, Illinois by a Princeville area School Teacher, John F. French, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name SLONE, JOHN Z
Rank CPL Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 35 Height 6' 1/2 Hair GRAY
Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity MORGAN CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When French had 100 volunteers, he led the Princeville company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, French and 95 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. K, of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. French was elected their Captain, while John Zimri Slane was elected 4th Corporal by the men of Co. K. On September 7, 1862, 1,800 men of the 85th and 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon and with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war.
Less than a month after leaving Peoria, the men of the 85th and 86th Illinois found themselves in the fields of Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade, chasing the last Confederate troops in Kentucky. On October 8, 1862, McCook's Brigade clashed with these Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky and the men of both regiments suffered the first of many casualties to come. After the Union victory at Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on toward Nashville, Tennessee.
About October 22, 1862, John was promoted to 1st Corporal. During the next 2 and 1/2 years, John and the men of the 86th would be witness to and participants in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre. They would take part in many battles and skirmishes, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few, and March with General Sherman to the Sea. During this time, John would be promoted first to 5th Sergeant sometime between July 1864 and the spring of 1865 and was promoted to 3rd Sergeant on April 20, 1865. During his time in the service, John is believed to have been hospitalized twice for short periods and was also sent home for a few months in the spring of 1865 to recover from a severe illness contracted during his days in Tennessee. On June 6, 1865, John and the surviving members of the 86th Illinois would be mustered out of the service in Washington, D.C and the men of Co. K arrived back in Princeville about June 23rd of 1865. John then resumed his life as a civilian farmer in Princeville Township.
John Zimri Slane was married on March 14, 1867 to Mary Patton, the daughter of D__________ S. Patton and ____________ (____________) Patton in the home of her parents in Espyville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. After the wedding, John and Mary returned to Princeville, where they made their home for the rest of their lives. Five children were born to John and Mary, three dying in infancy. They were;
1. Infant child, born 1868; died February 23, 1868
2. Infant child, born 1869; died February 17, 1869
3. Wilbur Patton Slane, born February 4, 1870
4. Infant child, born and died on September 23, 1875.
5. Elzada Vera Slane, born September 23, 1875; married to Charles E. Sentz in 1897
As stated before, John and Mary spent the rest of their lives raising their children in the Princeville area and were known and well respected members of the Princeville and Peoria County area. John Zimri Slane was also an active member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) and attended many of the reunions of the 86th Illinois, which began holding reunions in August of 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the forming of the regiment, and local Co. K reunions. John was one of 9 members of Co. K present at that first reunion in August of 1887. The 86th Illinois reunion of 1910 was the last reunion that he was able to attend.
About 1904, John and Mary had a new home built that is located at 509 S. Cottage Grove Road on the south west edge of Princeville, Illinois. John and Mary spent the last years of their lives in this home. I met Mary and Josephine Slane, John and Mary's grandchildren, in this home where they lived in the 1980's. John Z. Slane's trunk with all of the CDV's of his friends in Co. K were in the attic of this home. Mary and Josephine spent their last years in this home.
Mary (Patton) Slane died on February 1, 1915 and John Zimri Slane died five days later on February 5, 1915. Their obituary appeared together in the February 11th edition of the Princeville Telephone. It stated in part, "Mrs. Slane united with the Presbyterian Church at an early age. Her devotion and love for the church was manifested by her constant attendance during her life. When a young woman she rode on horseback to church. For some years she had been in declining health. The morning of the day of her death she was very cheerful and talked of the streets of gold and the home beyond. In the evening, she closed her eyes in a peaceful sleep. She was aged 78 years, 5 months, and 18 days. Mr. Slane was very sick at the time of his wife's death. He seemed anxious to go with her and asked the doctor if he could live 24 hours. Death came as a relief to his weary body at the unusual advanced age of 87 years, 3 months and 20 days."
The obituary continued, "When Mr. Slane came to Peoria, there were more Indians there than whites. He was well acquainted with Shabbona, Charcose, Kickapoo and other Indians living at Fort Clark at that time. He had a vivid recollection of Captain Stillman drilling his soldiers at Fort Clark for the Black Hawk War. The cabin in which he lived was situated near the river bank just below where the Rock Island city depot now stands and in this cabin bullets were molded for use in the war. He saw the first Indian funeral at Peoria that took place after the white people had settled there. The body was hauled in a sled over snow and drawn by an ox team to the place of interment. The burail took place near the race track east of the Knoxville Road and west of Peoria Heights. Many were the privations endured by the early settlers at the time and the subject had his share of them all."
"When the horror of Civil War darkened the land, Company K of the 86th Illinois was organized at Princeville. Mr. Slane enlisted on August 9, 1862. He was first Corporal, but afterward promoted to Sergeant of the company. He served three years, or until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and the writer has learned from him much more in all its details of this feat in military strategy than could be learned from all the books. Through the long years since the war with what interest did this aged veteran, while sitting around the hearth-stone of his home, recount the stirring scenes of that great war; the march, the battle, the bivouac, it seemed he was ever 'tenting on the old camp ground.' The quality of his courage was shown most vividly, when only a few days before the death of this staunch soldier he looked at the still form of her who had been him companion of so many years, his dearly beloved wife; truly; 'In death they were not divided.'"
"'Soldier, rest, thy warfare o're,
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking.
Dream of battlefields no more;
Days of danger -- knights of waking."
Three of his dearest comrades from Co. K, Emanual Keller, Frederick Gladfelter and Archibald Smith, and several other members of the 86th Illinois were present at his funeral. John and Mary's earthly remains were laid side by side in the Princeville Township Cemetery to await the Resurrection Morn.
The daguerreotype picture, probably taken in late 1862, is owned by Cpl. Slane's granddaughter, Mary V. Slane of Princeville.
Buried on February 8th, 1915
by Baxter B. Fite III
3rd Sergeant, JOHN ZIMRI SLANE, Co. K, 86th Illinois
John Zimri Slane was born on Oct. 16th, 1827 in Morgan County, VA. to Benjamin F. Slane Jr. and Delilah (Cheshire/Chisier) Slane. Benjamin F. Slane Jr. was born April 22, 1798 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia to Benjamin Slane Sr and a Native American woman thought to be Cherokee. His mother died at or shortly after his birth and Benjamin Slane Sr. then married Delilah Poston in 1801, with 12 additional children, half-siblings to Benjamin Jr resulting. Benjamin Slane Jr married Delilah Cheshire on June 7, 1824 in Hampshire County, Virginia (now WV), with 7 children eventually resulting;
1. Benjamin F.
2. John Z.
3. Elizabeth A.
4. Delilah Jane Slane, born on March 26, 1832 and was the 2nd white child born at Fort Clark, Peoria County, Illinois. Delilah was married to William E. Root on October 1, 1854 in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois.
5. Samuel S.
6. James T.
7. Infant Slane, who died in infancy.
Delilah (Chisier) Slane was born in Hampshire County, Virginia on Feb. 12, 1800. Benjamin and Delilah married in Virginia, where Benjamin was a tanner by trade. They soon moved to to Ohio, locating near Zanesville. After just a short time, they were attracted to the newer
State of Illinois, and in November, 1831, arrived
at Ft. Clark, and became one of the very first set-
tlers in Peoria County. Benjamin bought a tract of wild
land, and improved 160 acres into a good farm.
He afterward moved to Princeville, in the same
county, and was actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits there for many years, his death occurring there April 29, 1875. His wife died many years before, the date of her death being June 25, 1839.
In 1830 Benjamin Slane Jr & Delilah, their 3 children, several of Benjamin's siblings and a number of friends set out in wagons for Illinois, stopping for a few months in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio where they had family living. Upon reaching the Ohio River the families continued by keelboat to Cincinnati, then took a series trips on steamboats to St. Louis and finally landing at Fort Clark (later named Peoria) on November 4th, 1831.
In 1835, Benjamin Slane moved his family to northern Peoria County, to an area that would later become Rosefield Township, living just north of where the Slane Cemetery is now located toay. In 1839, Delilah (Cheshire) Slane and a daughter died and their earthly remains were the first to be laid to rest in the Slane Cemetery. Benjamin Slane moved his family to Princeville, Peoria County, IL in 1840, where his sons would grow to manhood farming the land beside their father. In 1844, at the age of 17, John Z. Slane dug the first grave in what would become the Princeville Township Cemetery for a little child, a sister of George I. McGinnis.
At the time of the 1850 census of Peoria County, this is the family as it appears;
1703 Slane Benjamin, Sr. 52 Farmer 1,200 Va
1703 Slane Benjamin, Jr. 28 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane John 23 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane Elizabeth 20 Va
1703 Slane Delila J. 18 Ill
1703 Slane Saml. L. 16 Farmer Ill
1703 Slane Jas. T. 14 Ill
Upon his death in 1875, Benjamin F. Slane Jr's earthly remains were returned to Rosefield Township and buried with his wife and daughter in Slane Cemetery.
On August 9, 1862, John Zimri Slane volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville, Illinois by a Princeville area School Teacher, John F. French, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name SLONE, JOHN Z
Rank CPL Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 35 Height 6' 1/2 Hair GRAY
Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity MORGAN CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When French had 100 volunteers, he led the Princeville company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, French and 95 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. K, of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. French was elected their Captain, while John Zimri Slane was elected 4th Corporal by the men of Co. K. On September 7, 1862, 1,800 men of the 85th and 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon and with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war.
Less than a month after leaving Peoria, the men of the 85th and 86th Illinois found themselves in the fields of Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade, chasing the last Confederate troops in Kentucky. On October 8, 1862, McCook's Brigade clashed with these Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky and the men of both regiments suffered the first of many casualties to come. After the Union victory at Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on toward Nashville, Tennessee.
About October 22, 1862, John was promoted to 1st Corporal. During the next 2 and 1/2 years, John and the men of the 86th would be witness to and participants in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre. They would take part in many battles and skirmishes, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few, and March with General Sherman to the Sea. During this time, John would be promoted first to 5th Sergeant sometime between July 1864 and the spring of 1865 and was promoted to 3rd Sergeant on April 20, 1865. During his time in the service, John is believed to have been hospitalized twice for short periods and was also sent home for a few months in the spring of 1865 to recover from a severe illness contracted during his days in Tennessee. On June 6, 1865, John and the surviving members of the 86th Illinois would be mustered out of the service in Washington, D.C and the men of Co. K arrived back in Princeville about June 23rd of 1865. John then resumed his life as a civilian farmer in Princeville Township.
John Zimri Slane was married on March 14, 1867 to Mary Patton, the daughter of D__________ S. Patton and ____________ (____________) Patton in the home of her parents in Espyville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. After the wedding, John and Mary returned to Princeville, where they made their home for the rest of their lives. Five children were born to John and Mary, three dying in infancy. They were;
1. Infant child, born 1868; died February 23, 1868
2. Infant child, born 1869; died February 17, 1869
3. Wilbur Patton Slane, born February 4, 1870
4. Infant child, born and died on September 23, 1875.
5. Elzada Vera Slane, born September 23, 1875; married to Charles E. Sentz in 1897
As stated before, John and Mary spent the rest of their lives raising their children in the Princeville area and were known and well respected members of the Princeville and Peoria County area. John Zimri Slane was also an active member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) and attended many of the reunions of the 86th Illinois, which began holding reunions in August of 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the forming of the regiment, and local Co. K reunions. John was one of 9 members of Co. K present at that first reunion in August of 1887. The 86th Illinois reunion of 1910 was the last reunion that he was able to attend.
About 1904, John and Mary had a new home built that is located at 509 S. Cottage Grove Road on the south west edge of Princeville, Illinois. John and Mary spent the last years of their lives in this home. I met Mary and Josephine Slane, John and Mary's grandchildren, in this home where they lived in the 1980's. John Z. Slane's trunk with all of the CDV's of his friends in Co. K were in the attic of this home. Mary and Josephine spent their last years in this home.
Mary (Patton) Slane died on February 1, 1915 and John Zimri Slane died five days later on February 5, 1915. Their obituary appeared together in the February 11th edition of the Princeville Telephone. It stated in part, "Mrs. Slane united with the Presbyterian Church at an early age. Her devotion and love for the church was manifested by her constant attendance during her life. When a young woman she rode on horseback to church. For some years she had been in declining health. The morning of the day of her death she was very cheerful and talked of the streets of gold and the home beyond. In the evening, she closed her eyes in a peaceful sleep. She was aged 78 years, 5 months, and 18 days. Mr. Slane was very sick at the time of his wife's death. He seemed anxious to go with her and asked the doctor if he could live 24 hours. Death came as a relief to his weary body at the unusual advanced age of 87 years, 3 months and 20 days."
The obituary continued, "When Mr. Slane came to Peoria, there were more Indians there than whites. He was well acquainted with Shabbona, Charcose, Kickapoo and other Indians living at Fort Clark at that time. He had a vivid recollection of Captain Stillman drilling his soldiers at Fort Clark for the Black Hawk War. The cabin in which he lived was situated near the river bank just below where the Rock Island city depot now stands and in this cabin bullets were molded for use in the war. He saw the first Indian funeral at Peoria that took place after the white people had settled there. The body was hauled in a sled over snow and drawn by an ox team to the place of interment. The burail took place near the race track east of the Knoxville Road and west of Peoria Heights. Many were the privations endured by the early settlers at the time and the subject had his share of them all."
"When the horror of Civil War darkened the land, Company K of the 86th Illinois was organized at Princeville. Mr. Slane enlisted on August 9, 1862. He was first Corporal, but afterward promoted to Sergeant of the company. He served three years, or until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and the writer has learned from him much more in all its details of this feat in military strategy than could be learned from all the books. Through the long years since the war with what interest did this aged veteran, while sitting around the hearth-stone of his home, recount the stirring scenes of that great war; the march, the battle, the bivouac, it seemed he was ever 'tenting on the old camp ground.' The quality of his courage was shown most vividly, when only a few days before the death of this staunch soldier he looked at the still form of her who had been him companion of so many years, his dearly beloved wife; truly; 'In death they were not divided.'"
"'Soldier, rest, thy warfare o're,
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking.
Dream of battlefields no more;
Days of danger -- knights of waking."
Three of his dearest comrades from Co. K, Emanual Keller, Frederick Gladfelter and Archibald Smith, and several other members of the 86th Illinois were present at his funeral. John and Mary's earthly remains were laid side by side in the Princeville Township Cemetery to await the Resurrection Morn.
The daguerreotype picture, probably taken in late 1862, is owned by Cpl. Slane's granddaughter, Mary V. Slane of Princeville.
Buried on February 8th, 1915
by Baxter B. Fite III
John Zimri Slane was born on Oct. 16th, 1827 in Morgan County, VA. to Benjamin F. Slane Jr. and Delilah (Cheshire/Chisier) Slane. Benjamin F. Slane Jr. was born April 22, 1798 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia to Benjamin Slane Sr and a Native American woman thought to be Cherokee. His mother died at or shortly after his birth and Benjamin Slane Sr. then married Delilah Poston in 1801, with 12 additional children, half-siblings to Benjamin Jr resulting. Benjamin Slane Jr married Delilah Cheshire on June 7, 1824 in Hampshire County, Virginia (now WV), with 7 children eventually resulting;
1. Benjamin F.
2. John Z.
3. Elizabeth A.
4. Delilah Jane Slane, born on March 26, 1832 and was the 2nd white child born at Fort Clark, Peoria County, Illinois. Delilah was married to William E. Root on October 1, 1854 in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois.
5. Samuel S.
6. James T.
7. Infant Slane, who died in infancy.
Delilah (Chisier) Slane was born in Hampshire County, Virginia on Feb. 12, 1800. Benjamin and Delilah married in Virginia, where Benjamin was a tanner by trade. They soon moved to to Ohio, locating near Zanesville. After just a short time, they were attracted to the newer
State of Illinois, and in November, 1831, arrived
at Ft. Clark, and became one of the very first set-
tlers in Peoria County. Benjamin bought a tract of wild
land, and improved 160 acres into a good farm.
He afterward moved to Princeville, in the same
county, and was actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits there for many years, his death occurring there April 29, 1875. His wife died many years before, the date of her death being June 25, 1839.
In 1830 Benjamin Slane Jr & Delilah, their 3 children, several of Benjamin's siblings and a number of friends set out in wagons for Illinois, stopping for a few months in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio where they had family living. Upon reaching the Ohio River the families continued by keelboat to Cincinnati, then took a series trips on steamboats to St. Louis and finally landing at Fort Clark (later named Peoria) on November 4th, 1831.
In 1835, Benjamin Slane moved his family to northern Peoria County, to an area that would later become Rosefield Township, living just north of where the Slane Cemetery is now located toay. In 1839, Delilah (Cheshire) Slane and a daughter died and their earthly remains were the first to be laid to rest in the Slane Cemetery. Benjamin Slane moved his family to Princeville, Peoria County, IL in 1840, where his sons would grow to manhood farming the land beside their father. In 1844, at the age of 17, John Z. Slane dug the first grave in what would become the Princeville Township Cemetery for a little child, a sister of George I. McGinnis.
At the time of the 1850 census of Peoria County, this is the family as it appears;
1703 Slane Benjamin, Sr. 52 Farmer 1,200 Va
1703 Slane Benjamin, Jr. 28 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane John 23 Farmer 400 Va
1703 Slane Elizabeth 20 Va
1703 Slane Delila J. 18 Ill
1703 Slane Saml. L. 16 Farmer Ill
1703 Slane Jas. T. 14 Ill
Upon his death in 1875, Benjamin F. Slane Jr's earthly remains were returned to Rosefield Township and buried with his wife and daughter in Slane Cemetery.
On August 9, 1862, John Zimri Slane volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville, Illinois by a Princeville area School Teacher, John F. French, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name SLONE, JOHN Z
Rank CPL Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 35 Height 6' 1/2 Hair GRAY
Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity MORGAN CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When French had 100 volunteers, he led the Princeville company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, French and 95 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. K, of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. French was elected their Captain, while John Zimri Slane was elected 4th Corporal by the men of Co. K. On September 7, 1862, 1,800 men of the 85th and 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon and with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war.
Less than a month after leaving Peoria, the men of the 85th and 86th Illinois found themselves in the fields of Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade, chasing the last Confederate troops in Kentucky. On October 8, 1862, McCook's Brigade clashed with these Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky and the men of both regiments suffered the first of many casualties to come. After the Union victory at Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on toward Nashville, Tennessee.
About October 22, 1862, John was promoted to 1st Corporal. During the next 2 and 1/2 years, John and the men of the 86th would be witness to and participants in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre. They would take part in many battles and skirmishes, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few, and March with General Sherman to the Sea. During this time, John would be promoted first to 5th Sergeant sometime between July 1864 and the spring of 1865 and was promoted to 3rd Sergeant on April 20, 1865. During his time in the service, John is believed to have been hospitalized twice for short periods and was also sent home for a few months in the spring of 1865 to recover from a severe illness contracted during his days in Tennessee. On June 6, 1865, John and the surviving members of the 86th Illinois would be mustered out of the service in Washington, D.C and the men of Co. K arrived back in Princeville about June 23rd of 1865. John then resumed his life as a civilian farmer in Princeville Township.
John Zimri Slane was married on March 14, 1867 to Mary Patton, the daughter of D__________ S. Patton and ____________ (____________) Patton in the home of her parents in Espyville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. After the wedding, John and Mary returned to Princeville, where they made their home for the rest of their lives. Five children were born to John and Mary, three dying in infancy. They were;
1. Infant child, born 1868; died February 23, 1868
2. Infant child, born 1869; died February 17, 1869
3. Wilbur Patton Slane, born February 4, 1870
4. Infant child, born and died on September 23, 1875.
5. Elzada Vera Slane, born September 23, 1875; married to Charles E. Sentz in 1897
As stated before, John and Mary spent the rest of their lives raising their children in the Princeville area and were known and well respected members of the Princeville and Peoria County area. John Zimri Slane was also an active member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) and attended many of the reunions of the 86th Illinois, which began holding reunions in August of 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the forming of the regiment, and local Co. K reunions. John was one of 9 members of Co. K present at that first reunion in August of 1887. The 86th Illinois reunion of 1910 was the last reunion that he was able to attend.
About 1904, John and Mary had a new home built that is located at 509 S. Cottage Grove Road on the south west edge of Princeville, Illinois. John and Mary spent the last years of their lives in this home. I met Mary and Josephine Slane, John and Mary's grandchildren, in this home where they lived in the 1980's. John Z. Slane's trunk with all of the CDV's of his friends in Co. K were in the attic of this home. Mary and Josephine spent their last years in this home.
Mary (Patton) Slane died on February 1, 1915 and John Zimri Slane died five days later on February 5, 1915. Their obituary appeared together in the February 11th edition of the Princeville Telephone. It stated in part, "Mrs. Slane united with the Presbyterian Church at an early age. Her devotion and love for the church was manifested by her constant attendance during her life. When a young woman she rode on horseback to church. For some years she had been in declining health. The morning of the day of her death she was very cheerful and talked of the streets of gold and the home beyond. In the evening, she closed her eyes in a peaceful sleep. She was aged 78 years, 5 months, and 18 days. Mr. Slane was very sick at the time of his wife's death. He seemed anxious to go with her and asked the doctor if he could live 24 hours. Death came as a relief to his weary body at the unusual advanced age of 87 years, 3 months and 20 days."
The obituary continued, "When Mr. Slane came to Peoria, there were more Indians there than whites. He was well acquainted with Shabbona, Charcose, Kickapoo and other Indians living at Fort Clark at that time. He had a vivid recollection of Captain Stillman drilling his soldiers at Fort Clark for the Black Hawk War. The cabin in which he lived was situated near the river bank just below where the Rock Island city depot now stands and in this cabin bullets were molded for use in the war. He saw the first Indian funeral at Peoria that took place after the white people had settled there. The body was hauled in a sled over snow and drawn by an ox team to the place of interment. The burail took place near the race track east of the Knoxville Road and west of Peoria Heights. Many were the privations endured by the early settlers at the time and the subject had his share of them all."
"When the horror of Civil War darkened the land, Company K of the 86th Illinois was organized at Princeville. Mr. Slane enlisted on August 9, 1862. He was first Corporal, but afterward promoted to Sergeant of the company. He served three years, or until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and the writer has learned from him much more in all its details of this feat in military strategy than could be learned from all the books. Through the long years since the war with what interest did this aged veteran, while sitting around the hearth-stone of his home, recount the stirring scenes of that great war; the march, the battle, the bivouac, it seemed he was ever 'tenting on the old camp ground.' The quality of his courage was shown most vividly, when only a few days before the death of this staunch soldier he looked at the still form of her who had been him companion of so many years, his dearly beloved wife; truly; 'In death they were not divided.'"
"'Soldier, rest, thy warfare o're,
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking.
Dream of battlefields no more;
Days of danger -- knights of waking."
Three of his dearest comrades from Co. K, Emanual Keller, Frederick Gladfelter and Archibald Smith, and several other members of the 86th Illinois were present at his funeral. John and Mary's earthly remains were laid side by side in the Princeville Township Cemetery to await the Resurrection Morn.
The daguerreotype picture, probably taken in late 1862, is owned by Cpl. Slane's granddaughter, Mary V. Slane of Princeville.
Buried on February 8th, 1915
by Baxter B. Fite III
Family Members
Siblings
