'John Wesley Dixon, who was my 2nd great-grandfather, served in the Union Army as a Private in Company "I" of the 77th Regular Illinois Infantry. He married Sarah Jane Starwalt on February 26, 1862, in Knox County, Illinois, and they had two children, George W., and John Wesley Dixon Jr.
On December 23, 1863, John enlisted at Elmwood, Ill., for three years. The muster roll noted that he had gray eyes, dark hair, a light complexion, and was 5 ft. 11 inches tall. He was mustered in at Camp Butler and paid a $60 bounty.
Although present on the January and February 1864 Company muster, John was absent in March and April, with a note indicating that he had been sick in New Orleans since March 9, 1864, and owed a $40 bounty installment. The May and June 1864 Company Muster indicated that he was discharged for disability on May 11th, 1864, in New Orleans.
According to the certificate of disability for discharge, John was "incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of chronic diarrhea with disability 2/3." Tragically, he died on May 15, 1864, aboard a steamboat near Vicksburg, Mississippi, just four days after his discharge. His body was returned to Illinois for burial.
The Bible pictured in the photos was given to me on June 8, 1995, by Art Dixon, the son of William Lynn Dixon, who was the brother of my grandfather, George Ray Dixon. The Bible was carried by John Wesley Dixon during his service in the Civil War, and on the inside page, he wrote his name and unit information: J. W. Dixon, Co. "I" 77th Regular Illinois Infantry.
'John Wesley Dixon, who was my 2nd great-grandfather, served in the Union Army as a Private in Company "I" of the 77th Regular Illinois Infantry. He married Sarah Jane Starwalt on February 26, 1862, in Knox County, Illinois, and they had two children, George W., and John Wesley Dixon Jr.
On December 23, 1863, John enlisted at Elmwood, Ill., for three years. The muster roll noted that he had gray eyes, dark hair, a light complexion, and was 5 ft. 11 inches tall. He was mustered in at Camp Butler and paid a $60 bounty.
Although present on the January and February 1864 Company muster, John was absent in March and April, with a note indicating that he had been sick in New Orleans since March 9, 1864, and owed a $40 bounty installment. The May and June 1864 Company Muster indicated that he was discharged for disability on May 11th, 1864, in New Orleans.
According to the certificate of disability for discharge, John was "incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of chronic diarrhea with disability 2/3." Tragically, he died on May 15, 1864, aboard a steamboat near Vicksburg, Mississippi, just four days after his discharge. His body was returned to Illinois for burial.
The Bible pictured in the photos was given to me on June 8, 1995, by Art Dixon, the son of William Lynn Dixon, who was the brother of my grandfather, George Ray Dixon. The Bible was carried by John Wesley Dixon during his service in the Civil War, and on the inside page, he wrote his name and unit information: J. W. Dixon, Co. "I" 77th Regular Illinois Infantry.
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