GAR Obituaries from Jackman to Joslyn

Francis Johnson

Francis Johnson

"Obituary,"
The Elgin Daily News, March 28, 1910, p. 3.

Francis Johnson, colored, aged 87 years, a member of the Elgin post G.A.R., died at 5:30 o'clock this morning at his home, 454 Fremont street.

He was born in Virginia and lived in Elgin since 1864. He was a member of Company D, 29th United States colored regiment, during the civil war. He was a member of the Second Baptist church in this city.

A widow and two sons, Frank and Irvin, and three grandchildren survive him.

The funeral will take (place) Wednesday at 1:30 o'clock from the home. There will be a service at Second Baptist church at 2 o'clock. Burial will be at Bluff City cemetery.

Alonzo A. Jones

Alonzo A. Jones

"Alonzo A. Jones, 95, Dies As Result of Grip Attack,"
The Elgin Daily News, January 21, 1916, p. 1.
Epidemic Takes Well Known War Veteran,
Who Hoped to Reach Century Mark.

Alonzo A. Jones, one of Elgin's oldest residents and a veteran of the civil war, died at his home, 932 Augusta avenue, at 6 o'clock this morning following an attack of the grip.

Mr. Jones was 95 years, three months and twenty-six days old. He had been married more than sixty years. Twenty-one years ago he came to this city and had made his home here since that time.

Mr. Jones credited his long life to his regular habits. He always kept the most regular hours, went to bed early and arose early in the morning, never missed his three meals a day and was a total abstainer from tobacco and liquor. Although he was within five years of the century mark he looked no older than a man twenty years his junior.

Alonzo A. Jones was born in Massachusetts, September 24, 1820. They came to Elgin from Janesville, Wis., having come west in 1855. During the civil war Mr. Jones, although over the age limit for volunteers, was attached to the 48th Wisconsin infantry. He believed that he was the oldest living member of the G.A.R., being a member of Veteran Post, No. 49 of this city.

Because Mrs. Jones is seriously ill with pneumonia the funeral services will be private from the late home Monday morning at 10 o'clock. The remains will be placed in a vault at Bluff City cemetery. Friends will please omit flowers.

Mrs. Jones is 85 years of age. Her sister, Mrs. Margaret Jones, aged 75 years, is caring for her.

Besides his widow, Mr. Jones is survived by a son, Henry Jones, and a daughter, Mrs. John Tweedy. Mrs. Tweedy recently recovered from an attack of pneumonia.

Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones

"Died,"
Every Saturday, December 26, 1896, p. 8.

Thomas Jones died, after a short illness, at his home on North Crystal street, Dec. 18, aged 81 years. He had served in the regular army before coming to Elgin in 1844, and served through the war of the rebellion in the 50th Illinois infantry. Seven children survive him, Charles, Susan, and Ida living in Elgin. His funeral was in charge of Veteran post, G.A.R.

Edward S. Joslyn

Edward S. Joslyn

"Col. E.S. Joslyn,"
Every Saturday, October 10, 1885, p. 8.

Early on Tuesday morning the eventful life of Col. Edward Swain Joslyn ceased. That life, full of bright possibilities, is ended.

Col. Joslyn was born in Nunda Valley, (not Nevada, as no such town exists) some time in June or July, 1827, his family disagreeing as to the date. In 1838 he came to Illinois, settling near Crystal Lake. He was a student of the Elgin academy in his boyhood.

In 1861 he enlisted, and was captain of Co. A, 7th I.I.V., afterwards being appointed lieutenant colonel of the 36th I.I.V., which position he held until September, 1862, when he retired from the service, returned to Elgin and resumed the practice of law, in which profession he was a brilliant success. In 1856 he was elected state's attorney of Kane county. In 1858 he was elected to the city council of Elgin, serving two years. He was then elected city attorney in 1860, and in 1861 was elected mayor. This office he resigned in order to go into the army. After retiring from the army in the fall of 1862, Col. Joslyn was again elected an alderman. In 1865 he was again elected mayor, and in 1868 and 1869 sat in the council. In 1870, during M.B. Baldwin's second term as mayor, Col. Joslyn was again elected city attorney. After one year's service he was again elected a member of the city council, which office he held until 1876. At the time of his death he was chairman of the district Democratic committee.

In 1854 the deceased was married to Miss Jennie Padelford, a daughter of R.W. Padelford, of this city. His widow and six children survive him.

During the Buchanan-Freemont campaign Col. Joslyn gave his best energies to the cause of Freemont. After Freemont's defeat, the colonel allied himself to the "Little Giant", and during the Lincoln-Breckenridge-Douglas campaign he was an ardent supporter of Douglas.

A man of rare eloquence, remarkable personal magnetism, an exhaustless fund of general knowledge and a power for argumentative debate, Col. Joslyn was always an interesting speaker. Had not the evil results of dissipation clouded his life with a mist too deep for his natural abilities to tear away, he would have been one of the foremost men in the northwest.

The funeral occurred Thursday from the home at 1:30 o'clock, and later from the Baptist church. It was largely attended, forty members of the Kane county bar and the G.A.R. post attending in a body.