According to John's father, at age 7 or 8, John had rheumatism in his knees to the point where he was on crutches for a while. By age 12, he was in a crippled position. He worked in a blacksmith shop in 1859 for John A. Musgrave, probably a relative. John boarded with Andy J. Blackwood and his family for about 5 years and went to school before the war, but by age 26, he was living with his parents again. He was considered a good marksman with a rifle and was often in shooting matches and hunted frequently. He was also a fiddle player and played occasionally at many of the dances in the area.
He enlisted in the 1st Arkansas Union Infantry at Fayetteville, AR on 14 Feb 1863 as a private. He was in Unit 1, Co. A and served during the battle of Salene River in the Camden raid. John contracted "disease of the eyes" on 24 Aug 1863 near Honey Springs, IT on a forced march from Missouri to Fort Smith while lying on his arms on the ground and took cold which settled in his eyes. From John's own testimony he said, "There came up a gale or 'northern,' turned cold. We were sweating. It got so cold that we had to stop and get our blankets and coats out of the wagons. That night we had to lay down in the cold ground. The next morning my eyes were swollen and sore and they have been that way ever since." He was treated on 10 Sep 1863 by Dr. W. B. Waterman until his discharge from the military on 11 Aug 1865, then treated by Drs. J.W. Freeman, J.J. Kennedy, John C. Canan, and A.A. Alford.
There were two John Youngs in the area. One was his uncle, known as "Old John." He was known as "Icovey" and later "Blind John" after his discharge.
On the 1870 census, John was 36 years old, living with his parents, and still unmarried. He listed his profession as a wheelwright.
On 30 Nov 1871, he married Mary Elizabeth Ramsey Ralls, former wife of W. Peter Ralls (divorced in spring of 1869). They lived in Venetia Grove, Howard Co., AR, on the Barton place.
John was classified as an invalid on 26 Jul 1877 because of the condition of his eyes, leaving him almost totally blind (Application #239,725 and Certification #322753). His claim was approved on 27 Mar 1886, but stopped on 13 Aug 1887 by reason of "alleged disease existed prior to enlistment." Several affidavits were filed in his behalf in a lengthy lawsuit over this application. Being Confederate country, there were many who were prejudiced against Union soldiers, and through malice would make false statements.
John died on 5 Feb 1926 in New Hope, AR, and Mary filed a widow's pension claim on 1 May 1926 (Application #1537483 and Certification #A-8-31-26).
Source for much of this information:
Janis R. Vescovi
He enlisted in the 1st Arkansas Union Infantry at Fayetteville, AR on 14 Feb 1863 as a private. He was in Unit 1, Co. A and served during the battle of Salene River in the Camden raid. John contracted "disease of the eyes" on 24 Aug 1863 near Honey Springs, IT on a forced march from Missouri to Fort Smith while lying on his arms on the ground and took cold which settled in his eyes. From John's own testimony he said, "There came up a gale or 'northern,' turned cold. We were sweating. It got so cold that we had to stop and get our blankets and coats out of the wagons. That night we had to lay down in the cold ground. The next morning my eyes were swollen and sore and they have been that way ever since." He was treated on 10 Sep 1863 by Dr. W. B. Waterman until his discharge from the military on 11 Aug 1865, then treated by Drs. J.W. Freeman, J.J. Kennedy, John C. Canan, and A.A. Alford.
There were two John Youngs in the area. One was his uncle, known as "Old John." He was known as "Icovey" and later "Blind John" after his discharge.
On the 1870 census, John was 36 years old, living with his parents, and still unmarried. He listed his profession as a wheelwright.
On 30 Nov 1871, he married Mary Elizabeth Ramsey Ralls, former wife of W. Peter Ralls (divorced in spring of 1869). They lived in Venetia Grove, Howard Co., AR, on the Barton place.
John was classified as an invalid on 26 Jul 1877 because of the condition of his eyes, leaving him almost totally blind (Application #239,725 and Certification #322753). His claim was approved on 27 Mar 1886, but stopped on 13 Aug 1887 by reason of "alleged disease existed prior to enlistment." Several affidavits were filed in his behalf in a lengthy lawsuit over this application. Being Confederate country, there were many who were prejudiced against Union soldiers, and through malice would make false statements.
John died on 5 Feb 1926 in New Hope, AR, and Mary filed a widow's pension claim on 1 May 1926 (Application #1537483 and Certification #A-8-31-26).
Source for much of this information:
Janis R. Vescovi
According to John's father, at age 7 or 8, John had rheumatism in his knees to the point where he was on crutches for a while. By age 12, he was in a crippled position. He worked in a blacksmith shop in 1859 for John A. Musgrave, probably a relative. John boarded with Andy J. Blackwood and his family for about 5 years and went to school before the war, but by age 26, he was living with his parents again. He was considered a good marksman with a rifle and was often in shooting matches and hunted frequently. He was also a fiddle player and played occasionally at many of the dances in the area.
He enlisted in the 1st Arkansas Union Infantry at Fayetteville, AR on 14 Feb 1863 as a private. He was in Unit 1, Co. A and served during the battle of Salene River in the Camden raid. John contracted "disease of the eyes" on 24 Aug 1863 near Honey Springs, IT on a forced march from Missouri to Fort Smith while lying on his arms on the ground and took cold which settled in his eyes. From John's own testimony he said, "There came up a gale or 'northern,' turned cold. We were sweating. It got so cold that we had to stop and get our blankets and coats out of the wagons. That night we had to lay down in the cold ground. The next morning my eyes were swollen and sore and they have been that way ever since." He was treated on 10 Sep 1863 by Dr. W. B. Waterman until his discharge from the military on 11 Aug 1865, then treated by Drs. J.W. Freeman, J.J. Kennedy, John C. Canan, and A.A. Alford.
There were two John Youngs in the area. One was his uncle, known as "Old John." He was known as "Icovey" and later "Blind John" after his discharge.
On the 1870 census, John was 36 years old, living with his parents, and still unmarried. He listed his profession as a wheelwright.
On 30 Nov 1871, he married Mary Elizabeth Ramsey Ralls, former wife of W. Peter Ralls (divorced in spring of 1869). They lived in Venetia Grove, Howard Co., AR, on the Barton place.
John was classified as an invalid on 26 Jul 1877 because of the condition of his eyes, leaving him almost totally blind (Application #239,725 and Certification #322753). His claim was approved on 27 Mar 1886, but stopped on 13 Aug 1887 by reason of "alleged disease existed prior to enlistment." Several affidavits were filed in his behalf in a lengthy lawsuit over this application. Being Confederate country, there were many who were prejudiced against Union soldiers, and through malice would make false statements.
John died on 5 Feb 1926 in New Hope, AR, and Mary filed a widow's pension claim on 1 May 1926 (Application #1537483 and Certification #A-8-31-26).
Source for much of this information:
Janis R. Vescovi
He enlisted in the 1st Arkansas Union Infantry at Fayetteville, AR on 14 Feb 1863 as a private. He was in Unit 1, Co. A and served during the battle of Salene River in the Camden raid. John contracted "disease of the eyes" on 24 Aug 1863 near Honey Springs, IT on a forced march from Missouri to Fort Smith while lying on his arms on the ground and took cold which settled in his eyes. From John's own testimony he said, "There came up a gale or 'northern,' turned cold. We were sweating. It got so cold that we had to stop and get our blankets and coats out of the wagons. That night we had to lay down in the cold ground. The next morning my eyes were swollen and sore and they have been that way ever since." He was treated on 10 Sep 1863 by Dr. W. B. Waterman until his discharge from the military on 11 Aug 1865, then treated by Drs. J.W. Freeman, J.J. Kennedy, John C. Canan, and A.A. Alford.
There were two John Youngs in the area. One was his uncle, known as "Old John." He was known as "Icovey" and later "Blind John" after his discharge.
On the 1870 census, John was 36 years old, living with his parents, and still unmarried. He listed his profession as a wheelwright.
On 30 Nov 1871, he married Mary Elizabeth Ramsey Ralls, former wife of W. Peter Ralls (divorced in spring of 1869). They lived in Venetia Grove, Howard Co., AR, on the Barton place.
John was classified as an invalid on 26 Jul 1877 because of the condition of his eyes, leaving him almost totally blind (Application #239,725 and Certification #322753). His claim was approved on 27 Mar 1886, but stopped on 13 Aug 1887 by reason of "alleged disease existed prior to enlistment." Several affidavits were filed in his behalf in a lengthy lawsuit over this application. Being Confederate country, there were many who were prejudiced against Union soldiers, and through malice would make false statements.
John died on 5 Feb 1926 in New Hope, AR, and Mary filed a widow's pension claim on 1 May 1926 (Application #1537483 and Certification #A-8-31-26).
Source for much of this information:
Janis R. Vescovi
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