Detail of the 1850 Federal Census, Salem Twp, Highland Co, OH, showing, starting on line 36, the household headed by William Lafferty. In the two households ahead of his are members of the Heckathorn family, William's in-laws. Note that, despite the date of birth on the tombstone and despite the claim in the obituary that John H. Lafferty was age 103 when he died, he shows up on this census as age 4, consistent with a date of birth of 20 Oct 1845 (date given by his father on Civil War pension papers, as cited by Nick Vetrovec in the latter's RootsWeb/WorldConnect data).

Submitted by Jay
25 Aug. 2014
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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: John Lafferty
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Ohio
Regiment Name: 11 Ohio Cavalry
Regiment Name Expanded: 11th Regiment, Ohio Cavalry
COMPANY: G
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Alternate Name: John/Lafarty
Film Number: M552 roll 61

Ohio Marriage Index
Groom's Name: John Lafferty
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Marie Fenner
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 05 Apr 1893
Marriage Place: Highland Co., Ohio
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M86928-0
System Origin: Ohio-VR
Source Film Number: 570620
Reference Number: 2:3JGS4JX

Ohio Death Index
Name: John A. Heckathorne Lafferty
Titles & Terms:
Death Date: 16 Dec 1939
Death Place: Van Buren, Montgomery, Ohio
Birth Date: 07 Jul 1836
Estimated Birth Year:
Birthplace: Highland Co., Ohio
Death Age: 103 years 5 months 9 days
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Race or Color: Caucasian
Street Address: 1445 Orchard Dr.
Occupation: Timberman
Residence:
Burial Date: 19 Dec 1939
Burial Place: Greenfield, O.
Cemetery Name:
Spouse's Name: Emma Lafferty
Father's Name: Wm. Lafferty
Father's Title & Terms:
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Mother's Name: Myrna Heckathorne
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Film Number: 2023771
Digital Folder Number: 4027283
Image Number: 2236
Certificate Number: fn 74942

Obituary of John A. Heckathorn Lafferty as published in the Dayton, Ohio newspaper.
The end of the trail came Thursday, for John Lafferty, 103, veteran campaigner against the Indians and later a saber swing, hard-riding Union Cavalryman in Civil War days.
Lafferty died at 1:45 A.M. Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Warner, 1445 Orchard Drive, when arthritis and a weakened heart condition combined to deal a death blow to the aged survivor of two vigorous army campaigns.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at the Warner home, with the time to be announced later. The body will be taken to Greenfield for burial Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Lafferty had been unusually active for a man of his years, until he became ill Tuesday. It
was only a few months ago that he gave his favorite demonstration, for the last time, his version of the war dance of his Indian foes of
long ago. As far as could be learned, he was the oldest Civil war veteran in Dayton and the surrounding territory,
Born July 7, 1836, in Highland County, near Greenfield, he spent much of his early life there. He fought in the campaigns around the
Platte river and the Dakota Black Hills and later enlisted in the Eleventh Ohio Calvary in the Civil war. He was with Sherman on the march from Atlanta to the sea, and was in the battle of Gettysburg.
In June, 1938, he was one of several Dayton Civil war veterans who had strength enough to make a pilgrimage back to Gettysburg for the observance of the seventy-fifth anniversary of that battle, which marked the turning point of the Civil war. He was accompanied by his daughter.
After the Civil war, he turned to farming in his home territory near Greenfield and spent most of the remainder of his life there. He came to Dayton 11 years ago to live with relatives here.
As late as last Memorial day, he made his last trip to the cemetery at Greenfield, where many of his comrades were buried. He was an honorary member of the Old Guard post of the G.A.R. in Dayton, although his original affiliation was with a post at Greenfield.
Married twice, he is survived by eight children, at least 40 grand-children and an unknown number of great-grandchildren. The living children are Mrs. Warner, Mrs Etta Mullenix, Mrs. Litha Harvey, Mrs. Minnie Phillips, and Otis and John Lafferty, of Dayton: Mrs. Thomas Hamilton of Greenfield and Doris and Alice Lafferty of Springfield.

"The Press Gazette", Hillsboro, Ohio 12/22/1939
Civil and Indian War Vet Is Dead At Age of 103
John Lafferty Was Only Survivor Of Massacre At Caspar, Wyoming
One of the oldest men in Ohio, a native of Highland county, John Lafferty, 103, died early Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
James Warner in Dayton. He was a veteran of the Civil War and served in exciting battles with the Indians in the West.
Mr. Lafferty was born on a farm near Greenfield on July 7, 1836. He passed his boyhood in the Greenfield neighborhood and after the
Civil War returned to that community and for many years was engaged in farming.
The body was brought to Greenfield and funeral services were held in the Greenfield Methodist church Tuesday afternoon at two 0'clock, conducted by Rev. James R. Colley. Interment was made in the Greenfield Cemetery.
His grandsons served as pallbearers. An American Legion firing squad came from Dayton and at the cemetery conferred full military honors for the veteran.
Mr. Lafferty was married twice and is survived by eight children, 40 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. One daughter, Mrs. Thelma Hamilton, lives in Greenfield.
One day last June Mr. Lafferty was in Hillsboro and the writer had the privilege of meeting him and talking with him. At that time Mr. Lafferty told of one of his most exciting adventures. He was with Lieut. Caspar Collins, when Lieut. Collins was massacred by the Indians at Caspar, Wyoming, in the 60's. Lafferty was the only soldier to escape in that massacre. While here he went to the Hillsboro cemetery
to visit the grave of his beloved commander, Lieut. Collins.
Last summer Mr. Lafferty seemed as well preserved as most men of 70. He danced a little jig to show how active he was and he certainly told a story well. He served throughout the Civil War and was in many big battles, fighting at Gettysburg and marching with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He loved to talk of his war experiences and especially of his adventure in the west in fighting the Indians. In 1938 he
went to Gettysburg with his daughter for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of that battle which was the turning point in the Civil War. He was a most interesting character.

Submitted by Marianna Kerns Morgan
16 May 2014 (Thank you)

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Mr. Lafferty was widowed
Race: Caucasian
Street Address: 1445 Orchard Dr.
Occupation: Timberman
Spouses Name: Emma Lafferty
Fathers Name: William Lafferty
Fathers Birthplace: Ohio
Mothers Name: Myrna Heckathorne
Mothers Birthplace: Ohio
Certificate Number: 74942

Following Inscriptions from Highland County, Ohio
Compiled by David N. McBride and Jane McBride

Here is buried Jon H. Lafferty who lived to the age of 103 years, 5 months and 9 days. In the "Hillsboro Press-Gazette", dated Friday, December 22, 1939 is an article about him which states that he was a veteran of the Civil War and served in exciting battles with Indians in the West. "He was with Lieut. Casper Collins, when Lieut. Collins was massacred by the Indians at Caslpar, Wyoming in the 1860's. Lafferty was the only soldier who escaped the massacre...He fought at Gettysburg and Marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the Sea."