John H. Jefferson was a mystery. I did find information about him, however, there was nothing telling about his military service.
John was born in Virginia Feb. 12, 1859, to William and Phebe Jefferson, and had at least two younger brothers, James and Edwin.
He would have been a child during the Civil War, 40 years old during the Spanish-American War, and 55-59 during World War I. I could find no records of him being in either of those last two wars, which I thought that he might have served in.
Because of his age, I assumed it was probably during the Spanish-American War. In his obituary in 1933, however, there was no mention of the military aspect.
By the time he was 11 years old, in 1870, John’s family had moved to Danville, IA, which is about 80 miles southwest of Davenport. The 1880 census shows him living by himself in Douglas Township in Page County, IA, working as a farmer.
The 1890 census has been lost, but John’s obituary states that he came to Osmond in the early 1890s, and I found an old page of the Osmond Republican on newspapers.com from 1897 that says “John Jefferson will do all kinds of kalsomining, paper hanging, etc. Give him a call.” [Kalsomine is whitewash.]
(As an aside, when I found the 1897 file of the Osmond Republican, I found that there are many Osmond Republican files from the early years that were thought to have been lost, and I’m working to get them saved and printed out.)
In his obituary, it says John followed his vocation, that of a plasterer, for many years. The 1900 census lists his occupation as a farmer. It also says he had been married for four years; his wife was the former Lizzie Matteson, an Osmond girl. At that time, they had two daughters, 2-year-old Ruth, and 6-month-old Phebe, named after John's mother.
He was appointed postmaster at Osmond on June 13, 1905. That is also the year listed in the U.S. Register of Civil, Military and Naval Services for 1863-1959. When I first found that register, I thought it had something to do with his military service; however, I then realized it was referring to his civil service as a postmaster.
He served as postmaster here until 1913 when he moved to Plainview. From at least 1910 (where she was listed on the census with them), Hancy Matteson, Lizzie’s mother, lived with them, probably until her death in 1923, since she is also listed on the 1920 census with them in Plainview.
Also on the 1920 census, John’s occupation is now listed as plasterer and brick mason. By the 1930 census, John and his wife Lizzie are living in Foster. He is 71 years old and she is 63.
I checked the 1930 census to see if he was actually working, because some censuses have a space to say whether the person is currently working. He was, at 71 years of age!
And then while looking through that census, I found the information I was looking for. There is a space that asks if the person is a veteran of the military or naval forces, and his answer was “no.”
So the question is, why is he on the list of departed Legion members? Unfortunately, since he is one of the earliest names on that list, there is probably no way to know why he was included.
John Jefferson moved to Niobrara sometime between 1930 and 1933 when he passed away, but he was brought back here and is buried in the Osmond city cemetery. His obituary states burial took place at the public cemetery “where also repose the remains of Mr. Jefferson’s father and one brother.”
I found, in the Osmond centennial book cemetery listings, where his brother, Edwin is buried in the city cemetery, as are his wife, Lizzie, and Edwin’s wife, Laura, but I couldn't find a listing for his father, William.
So like I said, John Jefferson was a mystery. But someone, at some point, must have decided there was reason to honor him by placing him on the list of deceased veterans, so I will honor him as such.
