John Shammo (1839-1925)

SHAMMO, BORDNER, HANDSAKER, COOK, BURRELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/30/2022 at 16:01:47

From Nevada Evening Journal February 16, 1925 (page 1)

Taps Sounding Calls Another Veteran Home

JOHN SHAMM, CIVIL WAR VETERAN, DIED SATURDAY EVENING

FUNERAL HELD AT METHODIST CHURCH THIS AFTERNOON BY HIS PASTOR.

John H. Shammo, 86, Civil War veteran and pioneer of Story county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Handsaker on Fourth and Avenue I, Saturday evening at 9:30, and funeral services were held from the Methodist church, this, Monday afternoon at 2:30, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery with military honors conducted by Nevada Post, No. 48, American Legion. At the time of his death Mr. Shammo was Commander of Jason D. Ferguson Post Grand Army of the Republic and was the fifth member of that organization to answer to "taps" during the past six weeks.

Mr. Shammo was a native of Halifax, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 22, 1839, and it was from there that he enlisted in the service in Company E, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, in which he served throughout the war, being lieutenant at the time he receive his discharge. He had been a resident of Story county since 1875 with the exception of a short time that he lived in Nebraska.

Mr. Shammo who was 22 years of age when he enlisted in the service, received wounds in his left thigh and one hand, carrying a bullet in his thigh to the end of his life.

His record as a soldier and member of the Grand Army was a splendid one and for years he had been active in Grand Army circles, having served numerous times as commander of his post.

He was united in marriage to Miss Kate B. Bordner, May 12, 1864, and to this union four children were born, they being Jennie C. now Mrs. William H. Handsker of Nevada; William H. Handsaker of Nevada; William H. Shammo of Hudson, Colo.; Annie E., now Mrs. Jesse Cook of northwest of this city and Alice M., now Mrs. Alfred Burrell of Ogden, Utah.

It was in 186 that they moved to Illinois where they continued to make their home until 1875, when they came out to Story county and settled on a farm in Sherman township, where they continued to live until 1893, when they moved to Nebraska for a short time. They then returned to Story county and located on a farm in Richland township, where they lived for a short time after which they retired and moved into Nevada.

Mrs. Shammo passed to her heavenly reward March 4, 1912, since which time Mr. Shammo had lived with his children, making his headquarters with his daughter, Mrs. Handsaker in this city, but with frequent visits with the others.

He was converted, confessed his faith in Christ and joined the Methodist church, when a young man, February 28, 1855, back in Pennsylvania. He had transferred his membership as he moved from place to place and was a member of the First Methodist church, Nevada, at the time of his death.

He had been a faithful servant of Christ and his church serving in the church as steward and district steward, many years as a class leader, trustee and superintendent of the Sunday school.

Shortly before his death he wrote "I tried to fill these offices as best I could; wherein I failed I hope the church will bar with me. I love the Methodist church. It has always been very dear to me. I was always glad to see it prosper and always done what I could to help it along."

He looked upon these offices as places of responsibility and tried to fill them conscientiously.

As a husband and father, a citizen and man among men, John H. Shammo was a man of the highest type and held the very highest esteem and respect of all who knew him during his long life upon this earth.

After a brief illness, or rather a general breakdown of the machine due to infirmities of old age, he passed away Saturday evening, February 14, at 9:30, having reached the remarkable age of 86 years and 22 days.

He leaves to mourn his death his four children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and a wide circle of friends.

The services were conducted from the First Methodist church by his pastor, Rev. Jackson Giddens, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery, by the side of his department companion, following the interment services by the American Legion.

As stated, Mr. Shammo is the fifth member of the Jason D. Ferguson Post G. A. R. to answer to "taps" during the past few weeks, the others in their order of being M. W. Montgomery, 87, who died December 18, 1924; Henry Tetweiler, 89, who passed away two days later; C. H. Dickey of Eighth st., who died January 1, 1925, and Chas. N. Thatcher, who fell to his death at Daphne, Alabama, Tuesday, February 10 and whose funeral was held Friday afternoon at 2:30, after th body had reached Zearing.