James W. Bledsoe














The Rock Island Argus

Tuesday, March. 8, 1927

Rock Island - Funeral Services for James W. Bledsoe, a Civil War Veteran who died at the Old Soldiers and Sailors home in Quincey Sunday, Will be held in Knox Chapel in Rock Island at 2 tomorrow afternoon. Burial will be in Chippiannock Cemtery.

Mr. Bledsoe served in the Civil War as a member of an Iowa Company of Infantry. He enlisted at the beginning of the war and served throughout. He was also wounded in action. He participated in General Sherman's famous "March to the Sea". He was a memeber of John Bufard's post. Grand Army of the Republic in Rock Island.

Mr. Bledsoe was born in Iowa on Dec. 11, 1845. In 1879 he married Amanda Ranbarger in Rock Island. She died five years ago. At the close of the Civil War he went out to the western states but later returned to Iowa. Later he moved to Rock Island where he lived for 30 years ago. Mr. Bledsoe was a methodist.

Survivors are four daughters Mrs. Cora Swim, Mrs. Raymond Slater and Mrs. Fred Pruter of Rock Island and Mrs. Margaret Siedler of Moline and six sons John Bledsoe of Detroit, MI, Charles Bledsoe, Harry Bledsoe, and Jeffery Bledsoe of Rock Island, Edward Bledsoe, Geneseo and Frank Bledsoe of Moline.

A brother Mark Bledsoe and a sister Dr. Margaret Bledsoe both of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma also survive.

Submitted by Wini Hartley.