John Wesley DeBord was born March 9, 1845 in Owen County, Indiana to Martin Debord and Sarah Elizabeth (Baker) Debord. By age 15, the family was living in Mercer County, Illinois.
On August 14, 1861, John Debord and his father Martin enlisted in Company A (Capt Jordan), 37th Illinois Infantry (also known as the Fremont Rifles.) Per an entry by S. Buttnor on the Illinois Civil War Project, "John W. Debord volunteered along with his father, Martin, at Millersburg in August 1861. Martin cited the defeat at First Bull Run as impetus for their enlistment. Martin developed acute pleurisy and was honorably discharged after 90 days. While in camp in Springfield, Missouri during the fall of 1861 John contracted typhoid fever, developed gangrene and had several toes amputated. Although eligible, he would not accept an honorable discharge for disability and wrote that he would, "rather have died than to have returned home...without doing [his country any good whatever." Thus, with unwavering devotion to the Union, John set out to rejoin his regiment near the Arkansas line. During the journey he contracted the small pox and was hospitalized in Rolla, Missouri. He was finally well enough to rejoin the 37th at Cassville, Missouri in May 1862. Primary engagements in which John was involved included: the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Yazoo City. He re-enlisted as a Veteran [on Feb 10,] 1864 and was mustered out with his company in May 1866."
http://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/photos/debord.html
Of note, John was only 16 years old when he enlisted but his muster-in roll says he was 19. John's father, Martin, might have helped the under-age John lie about his age so he could enlist. According to his company's muster-in roll, upon his reenlistment PVT John Debord had blue eyes, sandy hair, a fair complexion, and was 5 ft 10 in tall. As a member of Company A, John was in one of the "flanking companies." In this regiment's case, the flanking companies were armed with 5-shot Colt repeating rifles while the rest of the companies carried single shot rifled muskets.
When the main armies of the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865, John's unit, the 37th IL Infantry, was sent to Mobile, Alabama, until June 1865, then was sent to Galveston, Texas. In Texas, the 37th IL performed duties of an occupying force and also kept an eye on the border, as Mexico was under French control (Emperor Maximilian) and the US was concerned that Texas might be invaded. John was finally mustered out of service with his unit in Houston Texas on May 5, 1866.
By 1870, John was living in Douglas County, Minnesota, with his brother Andrew. John was a surveyor and Andrew a farm laborer. John married Ella Maria Lyons on Jan 13, 1884 in Douglas County, MN. She was born 26 Mar 1855 in WI, was married previously to Albert Davis and brought three children into the marriage; Verne (b 1878), Millie (b 1879) and Frank (b 1882). John and Ella had six children together; Cleve Hubert (1884-1923), Harry Harwood (1887-1974), Lloyd Arthur, (1889-1978), Cora (1893-1976), Nina (1896-1974), and Leon Westley (1900-1901). John and Ella stayed in Minnesota until after the turn of the century. They removed from Minnesota to Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where Leon died and is buried. Following his death they removed south to Amisk, Alberta, where John Wesley, Cleve, Harry and Lloyd each obtained adjoining sections of land. John died 21 May 1914 and is buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Amisk, Alberta, Canada. Lloyd DeBord and his wife are buried along side John Wesley. Ella lived much longer, dying Aug 24, 1942 in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.
On August 14, 1861, John Debord and his father Martin enlisted in Company A (Capt Jordan), 37th Illinois Infantry (also known as the Fremont Rifles.) Per an entry by S. Buttnor on the Illinois Civil War Project, "John W. Debord volunteered along with his father, Martin, at Millersburg in August 1861. Martin cited the defeat at First Bull Run as impetus for their enlistment. Martin developed acute pleurisy and was honorably discharged after 90 days. While in camp in Springfield, Missouri during the fall of 1861 John contracted typhoid fever, developed gangrene and had several toes amputated. Although eligible, he would not accept an honorable discharge for disability and wrote that he would, "rather have died than to have returned home...without doing [his country any good whatever." Thus, with unwavering devotion to the Union, John set out to rejoin his regiment near the Arkansas line. During the journey he contracted the small pox and was hospitalized in Rolla, Missouri. He was finally well enough to rejoin the 37th at Cassville, Missouri in May 1862. Primary engagements in which John was involved included: the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Yazoo City. He re-enlisted as a Veteran [on Feb 10,] 1864 and was mustered out with his company in May 1866."
http://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/photos/debord.html
Of note, John was only 16 years old when he enlisted but his muster-in roll says he was 19. John's father, Martin, might have helped the under-age John lie about his age so he could enlist. According to his company's muster-in roll, upon his reenlistment PVT John Debord had blue eyes, sandy hair, a fair complexion, and was 5 ft 10 in tall. As a member of Company A, John was in one of the "flanking companies." In this regiment's case, the flanking companies were armed with 5-shot Colt repeating rifles while the rest of the companies carried single shot rifled muskets.
When the main armies of the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865, John's unit, the 37th IL Infantry, was sent to Mobile, Alabama, until June 1865, then was sent to Galveston, Texas. In Texas, the 37th IL performed duties of an occupying force and also kept an eye on the border, as Mexico was under French control (Emperor Maximilian) and the US was concerned that Texas might be invaded. John was finally mustered out of service with his unit in Houston Texas on May 5, 1866.
By 1870, John was living in Douglas County, Minnesota, with his brother Andrew. John was a surveyor and Andrew a farm laborer. John married Ella Maria Lyons on Jan 13, 1884 in Douglas County, MN. She was born 26 Mar 1855 in WI, was married previously to Albert Davis and brought three children into the marriage; Verne (b 1878), Millie (b 1879) and Frank (b 1882). John and Ella had six children together; Cleve Hubert (1884-1923), Harry Harwood (1887-1974), Lloyd Arthur, (1889-1978), Cora (1893-1976), Nina (1896-1974), and Leon Westley (1900-1901). John and Ella stayed in Minnesota until after the turn of the century. They removed from Minnesota to Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where Leon died and is buried. Following his death they removed south to Amisk, Alberta, where John Wesley, Cleve, Harry and Lloyd each obtained adjoining sections of land. John died 21 May 1914 and is buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Amisk, Alberta, Canada. Lloyd DeBord and his wife are buried along side John Wesley. Ella lived much longer, dying Aug 24, 1942 in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.
John Wesley DeBord was born March 9, 1845 in Owen County, Indiana to Martin Debord and Sarah Elizabeth (Baker) Debord. By age 15, the family was living in Mercer County, Illinois.
On August 14, 1861, John Debord and his father Martin enlisted in Company A (Capt Jordan), 37th Illinois Infantry (also known as the Fremont Rifles.) Per an entry by S. Buttnor on the Illinois Civil War Project, "John W. Debord volunteered along with his father, Martin, at Millersburg in August 1861. Martin cited the defeat at First Bull Run as impetus for their enlistment. Martin developed acute pleurisy and was honorably discharged after 90 days. While in camp in Springfield, Missouri during the fall of 1861 John contracted typhoid fever, developed gangrene and had several toes amputated. Although eligible, he would not accept an honorable discharge for disability and wrote that he would, "rather have died than to have returned home...without doing [his country any good whatever." Thus, with unwavering devotion to the Union, John set out to rejoin his regiment near the Arkansas line. During the journey he contracted the small pox and was hospitalized in Rolla, Missouri. He was finally well enough to rejoin the 37th at Cassville, Missouri in May 1862. Primary engagements in which John was involved included: the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Yazoo City. He re-enlisted as a Veteran [on Feb 10,] 1864 and was mustered out with his company in May 1866."
http://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/photos/debord.html
Of note, John was only 16 years old when he enlisted but his muster-in roll says he was 19. John's father, Martin, might have helped the under-age John lie about his age so he could enlist. According to his company's muster-in roll, upon his reenlistment PVT John Debord had blue eyes, sandy hair, a fair complexion, and was 5 ft 10 in tall. As a member of Company A, John was in one of the "flanking companies." In this regiment's case, the flanking companies were armed with 5-shot Colt repeating rifles while the rest of the companies carried single shot rifled muskets.
When the main armies of the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865, John's unit, the 37th IL Infantry, was sent to Mobile, Alabama, until June 1865, then was sent to Galveston, Texas. In Texas, the 37th IL performed duties of an occupying force and also kept an eye on the border, as Mexico was under French control (Emperor Maximilian) and the US was concerned that Texas might be invaded. John was finally mustered out of service with his unit in Houston Texas on May 5, 1866.
By 1870, John was living in Douglas County, Minnesota, with his brother Andrew. John was a surveyor and Andrew a farm laborer. John married Ella Maria Lyons on Jan 13, 1884 in Douglas County, MN. She was born 26 Mar 1855 in WI, was married previously to Albert Davis and brought three children into the marriage; Verne (b 1878), Millie (b 1879) and Frank (b 1882). John and Ella had six children together; Cleve Hubert (1884-1923), Harry Harwood (1887-1974), Lloyd Arthur, (1889-1978), Cora (1893-1976), Nina (1896-1974), and Leon Westley (1900-1901). John and Ella stayed in Minnesota until after the turn of the century. They removed from Minnesota to Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where Leon died and is buried. Following his death they removed south to Amisk, Alberta, where John Wesley, Cleve, Harry and Lloyd each obtained adjoining sections of land. John died 21 May 1914 and is buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Amisk, Alberta, Canada. Lloyd DeBord and his wife are buried along side John Wesley. Ella lived much longer, dying Aug 24, 1942 in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.
On August 14, 1861, John Debord and his father Martin enlisted in Company A (Capt Jordan), 37th Illinois Infantry (also known as the Fremont Rifles.) Per an entry by S. Buttnor on the Illinois Civil War Project, "John W. Debord volunteered along with his father, Martin, at Millersburg in August 1861. Martin cited the defeat at First Bull Run as impetus for their enlistment. Martin developed acute pleurisy and was honorably discharged after 90 days. While in camp in Springfield, Missouri during the fall of 1861 John contracted typhoid fever, developed gangrene and had several toes amputated. Although eligible, he would not accept an honorable discharge for disability and wrote that he would, "rather have died than to have returned home...without doing [his country any good whatever." Thus, with unwavering devotion to the Union, John set out to rejoin his regiment near the Arkansas line. During the journey he contracted the small pox and was hospitalized in Rolla, Missouri. He was finally well enough to rejoin the 37th at Cassville, Missouri in May 1862. Primary engagements in which John was involved included: the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Yazoo City. He re-enlisted as a Veteran [on Feb 10,] 1864 and was mustered out with his company in May 1866."
http://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/photos/debord.html
Of note, John was only 16 years old when he enlisted but his muster-in roll says he was 19. John's father, Martin, might have helped the under-age John lie about his age so he could enlist. According to his company's muster-in roll, upon his reenlistment PVT John Debord had blue eyes, sandy hair, a fair complexion, and was 5 ft 10 in tall. As a member of Company A, John was in one of the "flanking companies." In this regiment's case, the flanking companies were armed with 5-shot Colt repeating rifles while the rest of the companies carried single shot rifled muskets.
When the main armies of the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865, John's unit, the 37th IL Infantry, was sent to Mobile, Alabama, until June 1865, then was sent to Galveston, Texas. In Texas, the 37th IL performed duties of an occupying force and also kept an eye on the border, as Mexico was under French control (Emperor Maximilian) and the US was concerned that Texas might be invaded. John was finally mustered out of service with his unit in Houston Texas on May 5, 1866.
By 1870, John was living in Douglas County, Minnesota, with his brother Andrew. John was a surveyor and Andrew a farm laborer. John married Ella Maria Lyons on Jan 13, 1884 in Douglas County, MN. She was born 26 Mar 1855 in WI, was married previously to Albert Davis and brought three children into the marriage; Verne (b 1878), Millie (b 1879) and Frank (b 1882). John and Ella had six children together; Cleve Hubert (1884-1923), Harry Harwood (1887-1974), Lloyd Arthur, (1889-1978), Cora (1893-1976), Nina (1896-1974), and Leon Westley (1900-1901). John and Ella stayed in Minnesota until after the turn of the century. They removed from Minnesota to Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where Leon died and is buried. Following his death they removed south to Amisk, Alberta, where John Wesley, Cleve, Harry and Lloyd each obtained adjoining sections of land. John died 21 May 1914 and is buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Amisk, Alberta, Canada. Lloyd DeBord and his wife are buried along side John Wesley. Ella lived much longer, dying Aug 24, 1942 in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.
Inscription
John W. De Bord
Died May 21, 1914
Aged 69 Years
"I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course."
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
