COBURN, John S (1846-1928)

COBURN, HERRICK, SAWYER

Posted By: Kathy Weaver (email)
Date: 6/30/2017 at 12:36:35

Glenwood Opinion-Tribune
May 3, 1928
Thursday

LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN OF SILVER CITY LAID TO REST
Funeral Services Held at Silver City Sunday for Uncle Jack Coburn Beloved Citizen

ACCORDED MILITARY HONORS
Served in Infantry and Cavalry in Kentucky Regiments. Came to Iowa in 1874 and Settled in Silver City

“Taps” has been sounded the last time for “Uncle Jack” Coburn, last of Silver City’s Civil War veterans. His colorful career during the war between the blue and the gray will be told no more from his lips, only from the lips of others, who remember his tales of his Kentucky rearing, and of his allegiance to the blue during the civil war.

With all the proud glory and dignity of a military funeral, the body of “Uncle Jack” Coburn was taken to its resting place in the Silver City cemetery Sunday afternoon. He died Thursday. Members of the American Legion acted as attendants and gave all their ritualistic honors. At the grave, a farewell salute was fired and “Taps” was sounded.

Rev. T.J. Reese, a former pastor of Silver City, now of Pawnee City, Neb., conducted the services at the Baptist church in Silver City.

Proud of his Kentucky rearing and prouder still of his loyalty to the side of the union in the Civil war, “Uncle Jack” had seen romantic action and had had stirring experiences. Before his enlistment in the army, he guided a group of union cavalry, the 17th Ohio, across the Ohio river between Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Ky. Coburn was living in that vicinity at the time, and was but a school boy when the war broke out.

He enlisted in the 13th Kentucky Infantry. Col. E. Hobson of Bowling Green was his commanding officer. When Colonel Hobson became a general Coburn was transferred to the 16th Kentucky Cavalry, which General Hobson’s son commanded. When he was with Gen. “Billy” Sherman at the siege of Atlanta, he met again some of the men who had been in that 17th Ohio Cavalry which he had led across the river. He received his discharge in September, 1865.

“Uncle Jack” came to Iowa in 1874 and lived in Silver City until he moved to Council Bluffs in 1925. In 1876 he married Miss Stella Herrick, who died in 1915.

He is survived by three children, Elery Coburn of Council Bluffs and William Coburn and Mrs. C.W. Sawyer of Silver City; and four grandchildren, Mrs. Royal Coffman of Kansas City, Mo., Kenneth and Max Sawyer and Robert Coburn of Silver City.

He was a member of Abe Lincoln Post of the G.A.R., Council Bluffs.