According to copies of government records, John Killough of Camden, Preble
Co., Ohio, enlisted in the U. S. army when he was a young boy in 1812. He was too young to be drafted in the War
of 1812 with Great Britain but he served for six months as a substitute for his father, James Killough, who had been
drafted. A few months later, he served as a substitute for William Wilson, who had been drafted. His exact
birth date in South Carolina has not been found, but estimated at 1795-96. He had the measles at the time of his
discharge at Ft. Meigs, Ohio, about the 10th day of April, 1814.
According to their marriage certificate, he married Eliazbeth Ann Owens on the 24th of December 1840. She was 21 and he was about 45 years of age. They had eight children. In 1850, the government passed an act giving bounty lands to men who had been in service according to how long they served. John Killough was granted 80 acres for serving for his father. G. A. R. records show his service in the War Between the States 1861-1865.
On the 12th day of April 1871, he applied for a pension for serving in the War of 1812. He claimed to be 69 years of age at that time. He died Aug. 18, 1880 near Camden, Preble Co., Ohio. On the 21st of February 1881, his widow, Elizabeth Ann Owens Killough, applied for a widow’s pension at age 62. In her application, she described her husband as he was at the time of enlistment: Age about 17 yrs, 5ft. 6 in. high, light complexion, blue eyes and black hair.
The U. S. Pension Agency said she was last paid $12 a month for the time up to 4th of Sept. 1890 due to her death on the 19th of November 1890. Both she and her husband are buried at Fairmont Cemetery, Camden, Ohio.
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The following record is a copy of John Killough’s application for bounty land he was due according to his War of 1812 records. It is a detailed record of his service.
State of Ohio
Preble CountyOn this Thirtieth day of October eighteen hundred and fifty before me a Notary Public in and for the county and state aforesaid personally appeared John Killough aged Fifty years a resident of Preble County Ohio who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical man who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Richard Sloane of the 32nd regiment of 2nd brigade & 5th division of Ohio Militia commanded by Major Alexander C. Lewis stationed at Fort Nesbit in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812—That he was drafted and served as a substitute for his father James Killough - at Eaton, Preble County Ohio on or about the 11th day of October A. D. 1812 for the term of six months and continued in the actual service in said war for the term of six months and was honorably discharged at Eaton Ohio on or about the 10th day of April A. D. 1813—as will appear by the muster rolls of said company—He having received a certificate of discharge which has been since lost or mislaid—
He also declares that he is the identical man who was a private in the company commanded by Captain William Ramsey in 3rd Regiment, 2nd Brigade 5th Division commanded by Major Alexander C. Laneer or Maj. Price in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June AD 1812—That he was drafted at Eaton, Ohio on or about the 10th day of October AD 1813 as a substitute for William B. Wilson for the term of six months and continued in the actual service in the said war for the term of six months and was honorably discharged at Dayton Ohio on or about the 10th day of April AD—1814—that he was sick at Fort Meigs with measles at the time the company was discharged but he afterwards received a certificate of discharge which has been lost or mislaid as will appear by the muster rolls of said company.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States, passed Sept. 28th 1850—
(signed) John Killough(signed) John _____
Notary Public
Mrs. Emmereta Newton Killough
Daughter-in-law of John H. and Elizabeth Killough
Born at Sommerville, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1846
This is a crayon drawing by Jeanie Killough in 1872.
