Individual Details

Death

John Furr, an old soldier who lived here between the years 1882 and ’86, the foster-father of Nina Furr, died March 30 at his home at Imperial, Chase county, of heart trouble, aged 74 years. He leaves a wife, two daughters and a sister.
The Ulysses Dispatch, Ulysses, Nebraska, April 12, 1911

On Thursday, March 30, death suddenly summoned from our midst John A. Furr, an old soldier, pioneer settler, friend and neighbor, aged 74, years, 1 month and 19 days. He was at his usual place of business greeting friends, and attending to routine duties connected with his confectionery and ice cream parlor in this city, when he was seized by one of those sudden attacks of the heart to which he had for some time been subject. He was conveyed to his home where a short time after ward he closed his eyes forever on the scenes of earth. Deceased was born in Capon Bridge, West Virginia, February 11, 1837. While very young with his parents, he moved to Illinois, where he grew manhood. During the crisis of 1860.62 he was an enthusiastic Union supporter and volunteered his service as a soldier at Senex, Illinois, enlisting with Company D, 94th Regiment of infantry, Illinois Volunteers. Mr. Furr was mustered into service at Bloomington, Illinois, August 20, 1862. During the term of his enlistment he participated in a number of active engagements, among the more important was the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862; the raid over Boston Mountain and the repulse of Marmaduke, at Springfield, Missouri, January 8, 1863. His patriotism deepened with the years that followed, and at the time of his death he was much more concerned about his country’s welfare than his own. Freedom was the word that warmed his heart, and no price was to him too much to pay to obtain it and keep it. At the close of the war he was married to Mary I. Moore at Davenport, Iowa, October 3, 1864. In 1882 he moved to Butler county, Nebraska, and four years later became a resident of Chase county. Uncle John, as he was familiarly called, true to his inbred soldier qualities, with his never complaining wife, bore the disappointments of financial stress incident to the earlier years of our county, bravely, and when the advance of years began to lessen the vigor of his earlier life he left his homestead and engaged in the hardware and implement business in Imperial. Failing strength demanded still lighter work and disposing of his former business, began the confectionery in which he was engaged at the time of his decease. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodge of this city and a member of the G. A. R. The funeral arrangements were of his own choosing, the services occurring at the Methodist church Sunday afternoon at 2:00 P. M., under Masonic auspices, Elder Wine delivering the address. A very large concourse of people assembled in evidence of their esteem in which be was held, and shrouded in the flag he loved so well, beautiful flowers bedecking his casket, he was laid to rest in Mount Hope cemetery according to Masonic rites. Immediate relatives who are left to mourn with many friends, are a wife, two daughters, Mrs. C. F. Townsend, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Frank McLain of this city, and a sister, Mrs. Wheeler Greenwood, of Viola, Illinois. Uncle John will be greatly missed. His name has been long associated with the affairs of Chase county, and his wide acquaintance makes his death an unusual vacancy. Peace to his soul.
Imperial Republican, Imperial, Nebraska, April 7, 1911

Military

Name: John A. Furr
Residence: Padua, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 11 August 1862
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
State Served: Illinois
Unit Numbers: 421 421
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 11 August 1862
Enlisted in Company D, 94th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 20 August 1862.
Transferred Company D, 94th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 29 April 1864
Transfered in on 29 April 1864.
Pension application # 962926 (Nebraska)