Washington County, Illinois
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John Piper Answers Last Roll Call Summoned by Great Commander. John Piper, born July 2, 1844, near Elkton, Washington county, Ill., died Saturday, April 24, at his home in Oakdale at the age of 70 years, 9 months and 22 days. The old soldier, on a recent trip here to make arrangements for the observance of Memorial Day, took cold, pneumonia developed and neither medical skill nor tender nursing could check the course of the disease. After an illness of five days the Great Change came at midnight -taps sounded, at the sunset of mortal life eternity dawned and John Piper passed from family and friends to the convocation of the Blessed, from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant, from the Grand Army of the Republic to the Great Host of the Prince of Peace. Although the departed had reached the allotted scriptural age he was active and quick in mind and body, with a youthful air. Cheerful and obliging, ever ready to speak a kind word, a good friend and public-spirited citizen, his loss is mourned not only by his relatives and the community in which he lived, but in all parts of the county. Trained in a Christian home, Mr. Piper early in life united with the Reformed Presbyterian church under the pastorate of Rev. A.C. Todd, serving the congregation as faithful member and as deacon since his election Feb. 24, 1897, and as a true Christian he was always deeply concerned about the welfare of the church. When secession threatened the Union and the prairies of Illinois echoed to the tread of marching thousands hurrying to defend Old Glory, Mr. Piper, an 18-year-old youth, enlisted August 13, 1862, in Co. B, 111th Illinois infantry. While fighting in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864, he was wounded and was honorably discharged June 27, 1865, after having been in the service two years and eleven months. His regiment, commanded by Col. James S. Martin of Salem, marched 1,836 miles, was transported by steamers 650 miles and by railroads 1,250 miles and was engaged in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, McAllister and Bentonville, also in seventeen skirmishes. On June 16, 1868, Mr. Piper was married to Maggie Little, his sorrowing widow. The five children resulting from this happy union are: J. Renwick Piper of Oakdale, Rev. R.W. Piper of Belle Center, Ohio, D. Thompson Piper of Oakdale, Mrs. S.R. Davis of Princeton, Ind., and Miss Nannie at home. He also leaves fifteen grandchildren, one brother, Robert Piper of Oakdale, and many other relatives and friends. After his marriage Mr. Piper settled on a farm three miles east of Oakdale and became a successful and prosperous farmer and stock raiser. Known and respected as an energetic, reliable business man he was interested in divers local and county enterprises, among them being the Venedy Mutual Insurance Company of Washington county, of which he has been president for many years. The funeral services took place Monday afternoon at the Oakdale R.P. church and were said to be the most largely attended ever held there. Rev. W.O. Ferguson, pastor of the R.P. church, officiated, assisted by Rev. J.J. Gardenier, pastor of the U.P. church. The pallbearers were: J.M. Torrens, J.C. Auld, Richard Boyd, W.G. Adams, J.R. Hood and Wm. Coulter. The following paid tribute to the departed veteran by marching in line at the funeral: Comrades McIntosh, Mearns, Kingston, Paul Brown, Houston, Ardrey and Capt. Coulter of Co. B, also Osborn, Stokes, McKinley, R. McConnell, W. McConnell, McAllister, Miller, Carrick, Torrens, McLean, Sloane, Duguid, Boyd, Luney, Jones and Neal. The old soldier was laid to rest in Oakdale cemetery until roused by the reveille of resurrection.
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