When fourteen year old John Stenger Cameron lived with his parents in Tiffin Township in 1850, he probably never imagined that he would be called to be a soldier. Named first after his father and then with his mother's maiden name, John pursued the study of medicine in 1855, at the age of 19, and began practicing by 1858. Born on January 30, 1836 , he enlisted in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 15, 1861 into Company G, 38th Ohio Regiment. He eventually worked as a Hospital Steward, probably a gruesome job in those days.
Not to be left behind, John's younger brother, William Wallace Cameron, born 1843, also enlisted into the same unit. Unfortunately, William met his death in a Lebanon, Kentucky hospital in March of 1862 of disease.
The Defiance Democrat reported on March 15, 1862 that William's father had retrieved his son's body. "John Cameron, Esq. returned from Kentucky on Wednesday with the corpse of his son, William Wallace Cameron, of Captain Miller's Company, 38th regiment, who died in Lebanon Hospital on Sunday evening last in the 19th year of his age. Mr. Cameron reports 1400 sick there and more arriving daily and they fare badly."
William was laid to rest in the Evansport Cemetery, having died on March 9, 1862. His stone lists several siblings who died young.
Sgt. John S. Cameron wrote home to his father on January 24th, 1863, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. "Dear Father,
Everything is quiet in camp, and there is nothing to indicate any forward movement soon; all of this department of the army is in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, waiting for supplies to come up. They will arrive more rapidly now as the railroad from Nashville to Louisville is in running order again, and if it can be kept so, supplies will be rapidly forwarded over it, but you have no idea of the amount of provision it takes to supply so large an army.
The Battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River was a hard fought one, and closely contested on both sides; the sacrifice was dearly bought by the sacrifice of many valuable lives; it is said that at one time nothing but the daring charge of Rosecranz at the head of the regular cavalry saved our army from a defeat: that charge turned the fortunes of the day, and scattered the enemy in confusion. Rosecranz has the unbounded confidence of his men and this army would be in another fight under his command almost invincible.
I can learn nothing definite in regard to the loss of either army, but it is very large. I gave all the particulars of my journey in my letters to Lib (his wife) which I suppose you have seen. Health is pretty good at present. The Donaldson, Evans, Straswers boys are well, also Shuter, Snider, Stenger, Dawson, Doll and Capts. Kintigh and Miller.
It is reported here that Burnside has again crossed the river and that fighting is once more going on there; I hope he will be more successful than before. There is no way to settle this war but by fighting, and the people of the north may as well make up their minds to that at first as at last. I know the spirit and determination of the South, and we must either recognize them as an independent nation or whip them into submission. The latter is my doctrine, because if we recognize the right of any state or states to withdraw from the Union at pleasure, we establish a precedent that will in a few years divide our nation into petty governments, and destroy it.
The Union, the whole Union, and nothing but the Union, if it cost one half of all the lives in it is my policy. Who wants to live to be a member of a divided, broken and dishonored country? If we have not men enough in the field, call for more and if they do not volunteer, conscript them in lieu of death.
Yours, JSCameron"
John Cameron was promoted to First Lieutenant on July 13, 1864, and once more to Adjutant on April 10, 1865. He served in both companies D and G of the 38th Ohio. When he mustered out in 1865, he went home to Tiffin Township to join his family and wife, Elizabeth (Lib) and their two children, Edwin and Nancy. By 1870, John, Jennie and Lydia had joined the family. He had married Elizabeth before the war on August 26, 1858.
The 1890 Veteran Census reported that he served in the war 3 years, 11 months and 10 days. He had suffered a gunshot wound to his head and a shell wound to (unreadable) and his forearm. He came back to farm and to serve his community as a doctor with his brother, Dr. Robert Bruce Cameron. He filed for his pension on December 26, 1879.
In reviewing all the businesses of Evansport on August 31, 1882, the Defiance County Express noted that among the professional men in Evansport, "Dr. John S. Cameron, together with Dr. R. B. Cameron, a younger brother, are the principal practitioners and are kept briskly engaged in time of sickness." John was also an active member of the Masons and was a charter member of the Joseph Rath, G.A.R. Post 402.Dr. John S. Cameron died on October 9, 1902, at the age of 66, having served his country and community in many, many ways.
Defiance Express, Oct. 10, 1902, page 1 (above)
A slightly different obituary (below) appeared in the Defiance Crescent News on the same day.
"A PIONEER IS CALLED.
Dr. J. S. Cameron of Evansport Dies of Heart Failure
Death Came Suddenly and Causes Sorrow Among Many. Was Born and Reared in Defiance County.
Defiance people were again shocked this morning when news was received that Dr. John S. Cameron, of Evansport, had died suddenly last evening of heart trouble.
Dr. Cameron was a visitor in Defiance the first part of this week and only yesterday morning was about feeling as well as usual. Later he became suddenly ill and expired at 10 o'clock last night. The deceased has been a sufferer of heart trouble for the past ten or twelve years and at times has been seized with sinking spells until he was thought to be dying. He was one of the pioneer physicians of this county, was widely known and enjoyed the friendship and respect of all.
John Stenger Camron, son of John and Lydia (Stenger) Cameron, was born in Tiffin Township, Defiance couny, on January 30th, 1836, and had he lived until next January would have been sixty-seven years of age. He lived with his parents in Tiffin Township during his boyhood days. In 1855 he studied medicine and later began to practice. In September of 1861, he enlisted to fight for his country, joining at Defiance Co. D, 38th O.V.V.I. He began his soldier life as an orderly sergeant, was later made hospital steward and finally promoted to adjutant which position he filled until the rebellion was ended.
Mr. Cameron returned to Defiance county and again resumed the practice of medicine at Evansport. This life was continued until the very day of his death.
On August 26, 1858, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Snider. To this union was born seven children, all of whom with their mother, survive. The children are, in the order of their ages, as follows: Edwin R., of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Ella Ferris, of Denver, Colorado; James of Kansas City, Mo.; John of Evansport; Mrs. Jennie Ray of Denver, Colorado; Donald and Grace, both living at home.
S. M. and J.P Cameron of this city; Dr. R.B. Cameron of Jewell; Mrs. Amos Snider of Evansport; and Mrs. Jennie Stires of Herndown, Kans, are brothers and sisters of the deceased.
Telegrams announcing the death of their father were sent to the children in the West, and pending answers from these, there will be no funeral arrangements made."
John died on a Thursday night and was buried the next Sunday afternoon with services from the M.E. church in Evansport. Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.
W
