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150 Years:  Remembering Worst Civil War Battle on Missouri Soil
Shelby County Herald - by Corby Cochenour
Aug. 20, 2014 - Overview of the event with information from Frank James, published in the KANSAS CITY STAR, Feb 16, 1910 and an article from the PARIS MERCURY,  Sept 29, 1897.  Also a letter written by Enoch Hunt after the battle, Enoch was one of the few survivors. Aug. 27, 2014 - This article covers a PARIS MERCURY article written 6 Oct 1864, concerning the deceased soldiers at the battle site.  Also information about Louis W. Marquette and John Joseph Christine.  The last letter before the battle written by Christine is included.  Also pictures of Marquette's tombstone in the Shelbyville IOOF cemetery.
Sept. 3, 2014 - Article contains a list of the Union soldiers who died at the battle site; information included are names, birthdates and family members.  More information has been added to this list and can be accessed on this website.  Shelby County Historical Society and Museum has the military and pension records on all the soldiers.  These records were researched, as were census, marriage and other resources. Sept. 10, 2014 - Article tells the story of Harriett Matteson, who lost her husband and son in the battle.  There were  four children born to these soldiers just prior to the battle, after their fathers had left for the war.  There were two children born after the battle; all of them are named in this article.  A poem written by 1st Sgt E D L Hawkins entitled "Centralia," gives new insight into the battle.   The survivors of the battle are listed, with names, birthdates,  death dates and place of burial.  An updated list is on this website.  Research on this battle and the soldiers who fought it, is an ongoing project.
Sept. 17, 2014 - This article gives insight into events that happened in Shelby County after the battle.  James F. Murray's letters were written 1 Oct 1864 and 31 January 1865 from Hunnewell. John Murray was the son of James; he survived the battle, but contracted measles on the train that brought the soldiers to Hunnewell.  His brother in law, William Shelton, also contracted the measles and died in the Nashville hospital 13 Jan 1865.  His widow Susan was left with several small children.  The letter also mentions that Lt. Thomas B. Janes has a new baby.    Much info is given relating to the Hunnewell community; seventeen families are named who were affected by the measles.  Several deaths in the area are mentioned and places of burial are given. Sept. 24, 2014 - 1st LT Thomas Benjamin Janes’ life is the subject of this article.  He only survived due to the swiftness of his horse.  He went on to live a full life, dying in 1919.  He did suffer from the effects of measles throughout his life.  His son, Joseph William "Willy," was born 23 Jan 1865.  A four-generation family picture is included in this story.
Oct. 1, 2014 - This article reports the atrocities of the guerillas as portrayed by 60 year-old Henry Spires on 18 March 1862.  His son, Martin, had died 20 Feb 1862; another son, Jonathan, died at Lone Jack Battle 16 Aug 1862.  His daughter, Delilah, died 25 Oct 1862, and son, Zachariah, had died 8 May 1859.  Robert  Spires, age 25 - son of Henry and Rhoda - died at Centralia.   This family is buried in the Kyle cemetery in Shelby County.  Eleazer Evans  died soon after the battle.  Eleaser's son, Eleazer James Evans, was born after the death of his father.  His wife, Mary C. Evans, was left to raise seven small children; she also raised the children of her deceased sister. Eleazer is buried in the Hilton Cemetery in Shelby County.  Homer Dunbar, age 19, died in the battle; his parents lived in the same neighborhood as the Evans family. Oct. 8, 2014 - William T. Smith died at Centralia.  He left his wife, Charlotte, with three small girls who all died within one week.  Charlotte went on to marry George W. Tannehill and have another family.  Charlotte lived her life in Shelbyville and died at the age of 100.  She was a widow for 45 years after the death of Mr. Tannehill.  Major Andrew Van Emen Johnston, the officer in charge of the newly formed regiment, was from Ralls and Monroe Counties.  A. V. E. had had limited military experience - formerly, he had been a school teacher in Ralls County.  His family information is in this article.
Oct. 15, 2014 - Sgt. John Wesley Donahoo was age 37 when he joined Co. G 39th.  He had prior military experience with Col. John F. Benjamin.  He left a wife, Minerva, and five children.  His daughter, Caroline, was born 18 Sept 1864.  Minerva remarried, but he died shortly after the marriage.   Her pension records show her trying for decades to get the pension due her.  She received a pension of $12.00 in 1903. Oct. 22, 2014 - This article deals with the family connections of the Carother and Hardin/Harding families.  Sarah Ann Carothers married John Harding in 1861.  Their daughter, Anna, was born 7 Aug 1864.  John is mentioned in the Christine letter.  John was killed in the battle.  Sarah was a niece of Sgt. James Harvey Carothers, who survived the battle.  Sarah went on to marry Marcus B.E. Blackburn and they had four children.  Marcus was killed in an accident in July 1895.  William and Philip Christman were brothers from the Bethel area and both died in the battle; their brother in law, Theophilus McKinnon, died after the battle.   Matilda, the widow of  William Christman, went on to marry William Vawter and had a family.  Many of the Co. G soldiers had multiple family connections.
Oct. 29, 2014 - Levi D. Sherwood died at the Centralia Battle.  He was one of four Sherwood brothers who were in the Union Army.  Levi had married Sarah Whitaker and they had a son John N. Sherwood born in 1861.  She later married Lewis McClelland.  Henry Clay Sherwood enlisted in 1862 and served under Dr. A. G. Priest.  Noah Flood Sherwood served three years in the war and was cited for bravery.  He refused a lieutenancy in order to remain in the same company with his youngest brother, James L. Sherwood, who was a bugler.  Noah spent the last five years of his life in the Soldiers' Home in Quincy, IL.  The four Sherwood brothers served with distinction during the war.  
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