John M. Whitehead (soldier)

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John M. Whitehead
BornMarch 6, 1823 (1823-03-06)
Wayne County, Indiana
DiedMarch 8, 1909 (1909-03-09) (aged 86)
Topeka, Kansas
Buried
Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas
RankChaplain
Unit15th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsBattle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
AwardsMedal of Honor
Spouse(s)Mary Whitehead
ChildrenJohn W. Whitehead

John Milton Whitehead (March 6, 1823 - March 8, 1909) was an American chaplain who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War.

Biography[edit]

Whitehead was born in Wayne County, Indiana on March 6, 1823.[1] He was ordained as Baptist Minister at age 21 before the war and would continue working in that profession after the war.[2][3]

He served as a chaplain in the 15th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War after enlisting at Westville, Indiana at age 39.[3][4][5] He earned his medal in action at Battle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee on December 31, 1862.[4][6]

Whitehead was married to Mary with whom he had a son named John.[2] He also had a sister named Linda.[2] He moved to Kansas in the 1880s and stayed in Silver and eventually Topeka.[4] He helped found the First Baptist Church in Topeka. Whitehead received his Medal of Honor on April 4, 1898.[1] Whitehead died in Topeka, Kansas on March 8, 1909, and is now buried in Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas.[2][4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "John Whitehead - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Rev. John M. Whitehead". topekacemetery.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  3. ^ a b Rutter, David (November 11, 2015). "On Veterans Day, remember 'The Angel of Stone River'". Chicago Tribune. p. 95. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "John Milton Whitehead | U.S. Civil War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  5. ^ United States. Congress., Senate. Committee on Labor and Public Welfare (1964). Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1963. The Ohio State University: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 608. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  6. ^ "Whitehead, John M". The National Medal of Honor Museum. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.