John Lindley

John Lindley was born on 8 June 1829 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. He moved to Texas with his parents, Samuel Washington Lindley and Elizabeth Whitley, in the early 1830s.

He was a brother of James Lindley and Elijah Lindley, as well as of Rachel Lindley Kelton O’Banion, wife of Hamilton O'Banion.

He was married on 4 September 1851, to Eliza Ann Martin. They were married in Walker County by J. P. Jos. W. Hackett; she was the daughter of William B. Martin and was born in Alabama on 3 June 1833. John Lindley is enumerated in the 1860 census of Walker County, Texas, with his wife, Eliza, and three children.

John enlisted in the Second Regiment Texas Lancers on March 29, 1862, at Danville under Capt. S. D. Wooldridge, and was sworn in on the 28th April, at Camp Carter near Hempstead. The Second Lancers later became the 24th Regiment, Texas Cavalry. His home was fifty miles from the place of rendezvous, and he gave his age as thirty-three.

Also joining Captain Wooldridge's company, in addition to his two brothers and a brother-in-law, were his two first cousins once removed, William B. Lawrence and Charles Lawrence.

John rode with the other men to Arkansas, leaving home in May of 1862. He was dismounted with the others upon arriving in Arkansas, and his horse was sent home. He fought in the Battle of Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863, and was sent to Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis.

Gratiot Street Prison, St. Louis, Missouri

He was received there on January 21 but was discharged on February 4 to Burnett House Hospital. He was sent back to the prison and his name appears on the prison report of February 28, 1863. On the discharge report was the notation “Washington.” It is not clear whether he was exchanged in Virginia when the other members of his regiment were exchanged.

However, John was present for muster in June, August, October, and December of 1863, and February and April of 1864. During those months, the men of the 24th were fighting with the Army of Tennessee.

Whether for a wound or illness, John was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in La Grange, Georgia, in the summer of 1864. A notation on the 17th of August shows that he was returned to duty. Another, undated hospital report states that he was “able to bear transportation.”

John may have been furloughed to return to Texas because of his illness, and there is no record in his file of his being paroled at the end of the war.

After the war, John and Eliza settled in Madison County, Texas. John and Eliza’s daughter, Martha Elizabeth (Lizzie) married Percy Viser, the son of W. W. Viser.

John applied for a pension in 1906, based on his service in the Confederate forces. One of his witnesses was James M. McCan. He was approved and drew a pension until his death.

Eliza died on 17 January 1898, and John died 20 February 1911. (Another death date found in some records is 23 December 1911.) They are buried in Madisonville City Cemetery, Section I.

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© Karen McCann Hett  All Rights Reserved 2003-2009

Sources for information on John Lindley include county and family records, census records, and Compiled Service Records accessed on microfilm at the Confederate Research Center, Hillsboro, Texas.

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