Civil War Veteran
Company C 36th Illinois Infantry
23 Sep 1861 to 30 Mar 1863

Belleville (KS) Telescope - 2 Mar 1922
James Calvin McPherren
James Calvin McPherren, a well known pioneer citizen, and for years a resident of Republic, veteran of the Civil War, and oldest member of the Masonic Lodge, not only in Republic county, but in this part of Kansas, belonging before the Civil War, has just passed away at his home in Republic. Born in Upland county, Indiana, April 3, 1843, he married to Miss Adelin Elizabeth McFaden, Nov. 10, 1864, at Boonsborough, Iowa. Enlisting at the beginning of the Civil War May 1st, 1861, at Young America, Ill., and was enrolled as a private in Co. C, 36th Illinois Infantry, taking an active part in the battles of Pea Ridge, the Siege of Corinth, Perryville and Stony Ridge, and in the last named engagement he was wounded and taken prisoner. Upon his release he again re-enlisted in Co. I, Mississippi Marine Brigade under General Elliott and served in all three years and nine months being honorably discharged at Vicksburg, Miss., in Feb., 1865. With his wife he came to Republic county, Kansas, and settled in Union township, in the spring of 1871, where they remained until 1874, when they moved to Iowa, residing there and in Illinois until 1881, when they returned to a farm now owned by Clarence Stafford, two miles south of Republic, until the summer of 1904, when they moved to Republic, where they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. McPherren were blessed with seven children, two of whom, a son William S. and Maudie Jane, are deceased. The surviving children are, Calvin Herbert, of Republic; Cora Addie French, of Republic, Alvaretta Adelia Lavnon (sp) of Fairfield, Nebr.; George Edward, of Fannie, Wyo.; and Emerald Gant, of Los Angeles, Calif. Last summer Mr. and Mrs. McPherson spent some time in Wyoming for the benefit of his health and to visit their two sons, on of whom, William, a sheriff, was shot down and killed by a gang of bootleggers who he was attempting to round up. A charter member of the Republic Masonic order, he was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church prior to coming here, but since he has been a member of the Republic United Brethren church. The funeral was conducted last Friday afternoon from the latter church by Pastor A.I. Thompson, with interment in the Republic cemetery, the Masons officiating at the grave.

Courtesy of Kenneth E Holmes (#47907279)