The Early Years

John Henry Callahan was born on 25 Jan 1845 in Shelby, Kentucky, United States.

In 1850, John H., age five, resided with his mother Nancy R. and brother Andrew J. in the home of Jacob Miller in District 1, Spencer, Kentucky, United States.  John H., age fifteen and a Farmer, resided in the home of Jacob Miller in Township 11 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois, United States.

The Civil War

John Henry Callahan, a resident of Macoupin County, Illinois, United States, enlisted in the Union Army on 13 Aug 1862 for three years as a Private. On 4 Sep 1862, Private Callahan was assigned to Company B, 122nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry.

Due to his bravery at Fort Blakely, Alabama (Capture of flag) on 9 Apr 1865 Private John Henry Callahan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was awarded by President McKinley on 8 Jul 1896.

Private Callahan was discharged on 15 Jul1865 at Mobile, Alabama, United States. Medal of Honor Recipient John Henry Callahan died on 13 Mar 1914 in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, United States and is buried in Sunset Cemetery.  John was in a pension record in 1890 in Kansas, United States.

Civil War Engagements with the 122nd Illinois Infantry Regiment (Organized: Camp Palmer, Carlinville, Illinois, United States on 4 Sep 1862; Mustered out: 15 Jul 1865):

Battle of Parker's Cross Roads, 31 Dec 1862, Henderson County, Tennessee, Disputed Victory

Battle of Paducah, 25 Mar 1864, McCracken County, Kentucky, Confederate Victory

Battle of Tupelo (aka Battle of Harrisburg), in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, 14-15 Jul 1864, Near Tupelo, Mississippi, Union Victory, End of the Army of Tennessee as an effective fighting force

Battle of Nashville, 15-16 Dec 1864, Nashville, Tennessee, Union Victory

Battle of Fort Blakeley, 2-9 Apr 1865, Baldwin County, Alabama, Union Victory, Fort Blakeley surrendered to the U.S.

Private John Henry Callahan fought in the American Civil War. Private Callahan received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Fort Blakeley, Baldwin County, Alabama, United States on April 9, 1865. Private Callahan was one of fourteen soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in action against Confederate forces at Fort Blakely. He was one of two 122nd Illinois soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the other being Private George Stokes of Company C).

President Andrew Johnson of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, took pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private John Henry Callahan, United States Army, on 8 Jun 1865 for extraordinary heroism on 9 Apr 1865, while serving with Company B, 122d Regiment, Illinois Infantry, in action at Fort Blakely, Alabama, for capture of flag.

Medal of Honor Citation:
Capture of flag.

Later Years

John married Lucinda Crum on 16 Oct 1868 in Macoupin, Macoupin, Illinois, United States. They had at least seven known children: athias Sheridan Callahan (16 Aug 1869-6 May 1944), Adaline (Ada May) Callahan Graves (9 Mar 1874-17 Mar 1948), Josephine Riley Callahan (12 Oct 1875-11 Sep 1923), Lucinda Margaret Callahan (16 Nov 1881-24 Apr 1924), Charlotte S. Callahan (16 Nov 1881-22 Apr 1966), Andrew Logan Callahan (6 Mar 1885-1 Jul 1981), Ralph William Callahan (6 Mar 1893-6 Sep 1948).

By 1870, John H., age twenty-five, head of household and a Farmer resided with his wife of two years Lucinda, in Township 11 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois, United States. Lucinda managed the home and raised Mathias Sheridan (M S). The real estate value was $800 and the personal estate value was $600.  As of 1880, John H., age thirty-five, head of household and a Farmer resided with his wife of twelve years Lucinda in Shannon Township, Pottawatomie, Kansas, United States. Lucinda managed the home and raised Mathias, Adaline (Ada), and Josephine.  John was in a military record (Kansas, U.S., Grand Army of the Republic Post Reports, 1880-1940).

John H., age fifty-five, head of household and a Hotel Keeper resided with his wife of thirty-two years Lucinda on 106 Houston Street in Manhattan, Riley, Kansas, United States in 1900. Lucinda managed the home and raised Andrew L. and Ralph W. In addition, his adult daughters Josephine and twin daughters Lucy M. and Charlotte S. and three boarders were residents of the household. The census showed that Lucinda gave birth to seven children and all are living in 1900.  John's wife of thirty-nine years Lucinda Myra Crum Callahan, died on Sunday, 5 May 1907 at the age of 57 years, 4 months, 17 days. Find A Grave: Memorial #68035010 As of 1910, John H., age sixty-five and widowed, resided with his daughter Adaline (Ada) and son-in-law Lafayette Graves, the head of household and Stonemason. They resided on Colorado Street in Manhattan, Riley, Kansas. His daughter Ada managed the home and raised his grandsons Archabald Reed (Archie), Vernie Lafayette, John (Wendell), and Firman Leonard.

Death and Burial

Medal of Honor Recipient John H. Callahan died on Friday, 13 Mar 1914, at the age of 69 years, 1 month, 16 days in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, United States, and is commemorated and interred at Sunset Cemetery, Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, United States.