Mahan, John Henry

Passed: 1938-05-26

Age: 90

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1938-06-03

Information:    JOHN HENRY MAHAN CIVILWAR VETERAN IS TAKEN BY DEATH.   DEATH LEAVES ONLY ONE CIVIL WAR VETERAN IN COUNTY.  HE WAS 90 YEARS OLD.  ENTERED ARMY WHEN ONLY A LAD TO FIGHT FOR UNION.  John Henry Mahan, one of Jackson county's two remaining Civil War veterans, died peacefully at his home in Cottageville last Thursday afternoon just three days short of the annual Memorial Day service in which he as a representative of the Grand Army of the Republic was to have taken a part.  He had been in ill health for some time and friends realized that unless there was an improvement in his general health he could not last long yet they had not expected his death so suddenly for the veteran who as a boy in his teens marched away to answer Lincoln's call for volunteers to save the Union in the dark days of the Civil War and who had been spared from the toll taken in that conflict to return to his county of Jackson and there to live a life of usefulness for many years.  His death left only one remaining veteran of that conflict in Jackson county.  He is E.C. McDonough of Ripley.  During recent years Mr. Mahan had been pointed to as the most active member............group of veterans of that in the county until two or three years ago he drove his own automobile and got around much in the manner of a younger man.  Two Cottageville ministers, who had been his friends  Rev.  J.C. Swain of the United Brethren church, and Rev. J.W. Idleman of Methodist church were selected by members of the family to have charge of the last rites and members of the American Legion Post at Ripley bore his flag draped casket to the grave and paid military tribute to the man who marched away to war and the defense of his country nearly seventy-five years before.   John H. Mahan, born February 1, 1884 at Flatwoods and died at Cottageville, May 26, 1938, aged 90 days, 3 months and 25 days.  He was the son of Wm. R. and Susan J. Mahan.  He was one of 11 children and is survived by one brother, E.B. Mahan, of Bloomingburg, Ohio.  He is survived by his wife, Emma L. Mahan and by three children, Susan J. Mahan and Wm. H. Mahan, of Reseda, California and George W. Mahan of Columbus.  He is also survived by two step-children, Floyd Shirley, of Wheeling, W.Va. and Mrs. Forest Durst of Cottageville, W.Va. He is survived by twelve grand children.  He was converted at the age of 21 and joined the M.E. Church living a faithful christian life for over 70 years.  Gave freely of his time and money to the support of the church and other benevolent enterprises.  He served in the 7th Cavalry during the Civil War being one of the last survivors in this county.  He leaves a host of friends to mourn his departure.