Sgt. John E. Sturgeon was a veteran of the Civil War. He served on the side of the Union in both of the following regiments:

CO B 21st OHIO INF
CO D 111th OHIO INF

He was later a resident of Nevada County, Calif., and was a member of Chattanooga Post # 115 Grand Army of the Republic in Nevada City.


The following article bears notice of the death of Sgt. Sturgeon, along with various other activities occuring at the Soldier's Home. It is included in it's entirety to provide some insight as to what he would have witnessed in his final place of residence.


SOLDIERS' HOME
Grand Army Commander Stewart Is Coming to the Coast

SOLDIERS' HOME. - Feb. 19 -- Commander-in-Chief Thomas I. Stewart of the Grand Army of the Republic is expected to arrive in San Francisco next Sunday. He comes to the coast to confer with the council of administration regarding arrangements for the annual encampment.

St. Louis will send a large delegation and endeavor to capture the Grand Army encampment of 1904.

Another veteran of the Civil war died in the hospital this morning. John E. Sturgeon was a native of Ohio, a carpenter by occupation and 61 years of age. During the rebellion he served as sergeant of D company One Hundred and Eleventh infantry of his native state. The funeral will take place at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Rev. F. H. Beck protestant chaplain will read the burial service.

There is music here every day in the year. When there are no funerals there is an open-air concert every Sunday, Saturday and Wednesday at 12 o'clock, and Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 2 o'clock. Thursday afternoon the string band plays on the veranda of the hospital at 2:30 o'clock for the pleasure of the patients.

Yesterday Chaplain James W. Chaffee, a member of G company, received by express from his sister, Mrs. Edward Eaton of Baraboo, Sauk county, Wis., a package containing his deceased mother's diary, dating back to the 30's, an aristocratic-looking old pewter teapot and a china cup and saucer dating from his grandmother's days, that have been valued as family heirlooms for more than 100 years.

The vile, anonymous letter-writer is at it again. Last Tuesday afternoon a gentleman holding a responsible position here, whose character is unimpeachable, received one of these missives from an unknown source. The thing bore the Sawtelle postmark. The improvements to the main dining room will be completed about the first of the month. This will give seating capacity additional of 448 at the two sittings of tables. While the second story was being remodeled the nickel-plate mess lived in the main hall, but they will now use the rooms especially built for them. This mess consists of officers other than commissioned clerks and members of the band. In anticipation of the change they organized last evening with a membership of fifty-nine, and Capt. L. M. Lambert was elected caterer. The following are visiting here today. B. D. Van Allen, Santa Ana; Annie E. Scofield, Philadelphia; Minnie Golding, Los Angeles; Mrs. James Burns, Mrs. Adelbert Carpenter, Minneapolis, Minn; Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Hulson, Pocatello, Idaho.
Los Angeles Herald - Feb. 20, 1903


BIRTHS -- MARRIAGES -- DEATHS [excerpts]

STURGEON - In Soldiers' Home, Santa Monica, February 19, 1903, John E. Sturgeon beloved father of Fred M. Sturgeon, and brother of Mrs. E. Coen and James Sturgeon, a native of Ohio, aged 53 years 3 months and 10 days.
San Francisco Call - Feb. 20, 1903


STURGEON - At the Soldiers' Home, Santa Monica, Cal., February 19, 1903, John E. beloved father of Fred M. Sturgeon, and brother of Mrs. E. Coen and James Sturgeon, a native of Ohio, aged 59 years 3 months and 10 days. A member of Lyon Post No. 8, G. A. R., of Oakland. (Ohio papers please copy.)
San Francisco Call - Feb. 21, 1903