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One veteran of the Mexican War lived in our community. He was John S. Reed. According to B. J. Wolcott of the armed forces graves registration service, Des Moines, Iowa, John served in Co. H, 5th Indiana Infantry. He served for about two years in the Army. John was with the occupation forces in Mexico City.
John S. Reed was born on December 21, 1820, at Coshocton, Ohio. He was the eldest of the five children of Simon and Elizabeth Clark Reed. John's early life was spent in central Ohio. He learned the trade of a tailor.
John traveled with a covered wagon train to Hartford City, Indiana, where he established a tailor business. He married Nancy Russeau. They moved to Illinois Grove, Marshall county, Iowa, in the spring of 1865.
Nancy was born in Indiana on May 12, 1831. John and Nancy were the parents of nine children. They were J. Fred, Edgar, Viola, James, Robert, Frank, Clay, and Claude. A daughter died in infancy.
John died on September 21, 1899. Nancy died on'December 5, 1903. They are buried in the Illinois Grove Cemetery.
The history of Andrew Patton Post 239 could not have been written without the help of Amy Noll, G. A. R. office, Des Moines, Iowa.
Andrew Patton Post 239 was one of the important organizations in the history of our community. The members fought for their country. They were also pioneers who helped to build our community.
The post was named, in honor of Dr. Andrew Patton of Nevada, Iowa. Andrew Patton served in the Civil War as Surgeon of the 60th United States Colored Infantry. His residence was at Newton, Iowa, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon on December 9, 1863. He was promoted to Surgeon on September 19, 1864. Dr. Patton was discharged on October 15, 1865, at De Valls Bluff, Arkansas.
Andrew Patton was born in Ohio. He died on August 23, 1883, at Nevada, Iowa. Anyone entering the north gate of the Nevada Cemetery will immediately see the large monument marking the graves of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton. The monument is located a short distance from the gate on the east side of the north-south road.
When Zearing veterans named their G. A. R. post in honor of Dr. Patton, his widow was very pleased. She presented to Post 239 a choice steel engraving of her husband mounted on his war horse. The engraving was one of the prized possessions of Post 239.