Monday, May 20, 2013

Military Monday: John Franklin Silas, Sr.


This week, looking toward Memorial Day, I'll give some background on the men in our family tree who fought in the United States Civil War. By virtue of location you will find men who fought for the Union Army and the Confederate States of America. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was established to honor those who died while in either the Union or Confederate Armies during the Civil War.

John Franklin Silas, Sr.
REGIMENT: 22nd Regiment, Georgia Infantry
COMPANY: H
RANK: Private

ENLISTMENT DATE: January 5, 1862

AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 28

GA GENWEB BIO: SILAS, JOHN F.-CO H 22nd GA Infantry Born ca. 1835-6. Died prior to 1912. Married Della _________. She died on September 23, 1919. Enlisted on January 5, 1862 Gardner Volunteers (Warren County). No further record. 1910, 1911, 1915 Tax List, Widow's PensionBook 2,3, RCS2-933, 1902 Voter's List Reedy Springs District.


The 22nd Georgia supported the Confederacy in Virginia participating in action in and around Petersburg, Appomattox, and Manassas and in Pennsylvania at Gettysburg. The 22nd Georgia surrendered on April 9, 1865 with 9 officers and 197 men. Less than 20% of the Regiment survived the War. I'll do no surmising as to how he must have felt or what he must have endured during the years of the war because I am sure there are just not words. The National Park Service has a great website commemorating the Civil War along with tons of articles and pictures. Check out National Park Service The Civil War.

According to John's records he was present for all Muster Rolls except for one in May 1862 when he had been admitted to General Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia on May 26, 1862, He was released on June 2, 1862 having recovered from dibilitas.

If you look closely at the picture above, you can see his Southern Cross of Honor Medal just under his left lapel. The Southern Cross of Honor Medal was awarded both during the Civil War for valor and after the Civil War by the Daughters of the Confederacy to honor veterans. This is one family heirloom I would love to track down!

After the War John lived in Glascock County, Georgia and was recorded as having reaffirmed his allegiance to the United States of America by signing the Reconstruction Oath Book and Returns of Qualified Voters on July 31, 1867.

John married Madelon Braddy after the War on May 21, 1868 and spent his life raising his children and farming on the outskirts of Rentz, Georgia. After over 40 years of marriage, Madelon applied for a Civil War Widow's Pension, indicating that John had died on August 16, 1911. According the records at the Court of Ordinary in Laurens County, Georgia, Madelon applied for guardianship of her daughter Velma on December 10, 1911, another indication that John had recently died. Get that ladies? She had to apply for guardianship of her own daughter because she was a widow. Be glad times have changed!



A portion of John's
 Indigent Civil War Veteran's Pension application.


BORN: 1834 in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia

DIED: August 16, 1911 in Rentz, Laurens County, Georgia

PARENTS: Etheldred Silas and Jane Adams

SPOUSE: Madelon Braddy

CHILDREN:  William Silas (1870-1923)

John Franklin Silas, Jr. (1872-1937)
Nannie Olivia Silas (1877-1920)

Albert Nathan Silas (1883-1928)

Edgar Silas (1887-

RELATIONSHIP: Angie Abbate Mood
Eucebia Jane Thomas (Abbate)
Mildred Arlene Silas (Thomas)
John Franklin Silas, Jr.
John Franklin Silas, Sr.

1 comment:

  1. I was shocked to come across this. He is an ancestor of mine as well. I've thought how cool it would be to have that medal as well!

    ReplyDelete