Kendall County, Illinois Genealogy

Jerome Dann Obituary

Twentieth Illinois Veteran

Lived in Lisbon - Died in Beatrice, Nebraska

Published in Kendall County Record, July 27, 1900

Jerome Dann was born in Pennsylvania sixty-six years ago. While yet a boy he came to Illinois and worked a few years in the vicinity of Lisbon and Plattville. When war came and the country called for volunteers to defend its integrity and honor, he abandoned peaceful pursuits, donned the Union blue, and during the long hard years of the Civil War was a soldier. At first in K Company of the 20^th Illinois regiment. While furiously engaged in front of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, the company was overpowered and captured. All were taken to Andersonville prison. After being in Andersonville for some months, Comrade Dann and James Jennings effected an escape and made an attempt to reach Union lines. They took to the woods, lay in concealment during the day and traveled by night guided by the North Star. They were making a desperate attempt for liberty. They had no food and very little raiment. After traveling for many nights, faint and weary and footsore, they came to a river and crossed it. After crossing the river they disagreed as to the course to take. Each thought his way was the right course to take to reach Sherman's army. Neither would yield to the other, and finally they started off in different directions to get to the same goal. Within two days they met again, each in charge of a Confederate escort, and they were marched back together and delivered to Colonel Wurtz inside of the Stockade at Andersonville.

Jerome Dann was a man of many good qualities. He was brave, generous and honest. Never did he shirk his duty. After a long, hard day's march, he was always ready, if called, to stand picket during the night and would be back in the ranks at dawn to perform the duties of another day. In battle, he never budged from the line. There was none more brave than he.

Jerome Dann served as a soldier until the final muster out of the Union army at the close of the war in 1865. He came back to Kendall County, where he married. He became a farmer; lived in Lisbon Township, and after a few years went west. July 13, 1910, he died at Beatrice, Nebraska. Among those who mourn his loss are a widow, two sons and five daughters.