"TAPS SOUNDS FOR CIVIL WAR VETERAN"
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A. L. Sloan passed on following Illness of Few Months
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          With the passing of Alex L. Sloan, on Friday of last week, McLeansboro has lost one of its most honorable and esteemed citizens. Death came following an illness of a few months. Mr. Sloan was 82 year of age and had been active until this last illness.

          Few men in Hamilton County enjoyed a more extensive acquaintance than Mr. Sloan. This was attested by the packed church building in which relatives, friends, and neighbors assembled to pay their last respects. Hundreds who could not gain admittance stood through out the  services on the outside.

          Mr. Sloan was a soldier in the Civil War, having joined an Ohio regiment at the age of 14. His is the first death in the immediate family of thirteen children, thirty-one grandchildren and four great-grand children in 46 years. Another feature of the family was that veterans of three wars were represented, the deceased of the Civil War. A. H.  Sloan of the Spanish-American War and John Sloan of the World War.

          Deceased was a rural mail carrier for a period of fifteen years, school teacher for sixteen. Rev. Prince who officiated at the services attended his first day of school under Mr. Sloan at Oliver School. He was active in Hamilton County politics and prominently identified with the activities of the M. E. Church here.

          Services were held at the First M. E. Church of which he was a member, Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. C. M. Prince, assisted by J. B. Maulding, S.W. Baker and M. C. Holder. Internment was made in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.

          From the church the burial services were conducted by members of the American Legion and Spanish War veterans with full military honors. The remains were removed to the cemetery carried on a flag draped caisson, drawn by 2 white horses, accompanied by members of all patriotic organizations.

          Pall bearers composed of Spanish War veterans were, Willie Vaughn, W. McDonald, H.G. Sandusky, Will Alden, Sam Wilson and M. M. Grumans. Color bears were Arthur (blurred last name) , George D. Danley and James Morlan.

          Those from out-of-town who attended the funeral of A. L. Sloan, Sunday were: Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Waite, W. A. Kelley and wife, Z. A. Cox and wife, Gus Chaniot and wife, T. P. Carter and wife,  Robert McCord and wife,  N. R. Council (note: tombstone spells it COUNSIL) and wife, George Nipper and wife, Orville Sladen and wife, W.F. Smith and wife, Lynn Vaughn and wife, Ola Barnett and wife, Earl Woods and wife, Ernest Brown and wife, J. R. Partain and wife, G.A. Brown and wife, Mrs. Alice Craul, Mr. Frank Douglas, Mrs. Ina Russell, Mrs. Gus Gann, Mrs. C.A. Summers, Mrs. James Dawson, Miss Laura Dial, Miss Mary Morris, Miss Elizabeth Payne, Messrs. George Kimberlin,  M. M. Fox, Finis Morgan, W. M. Elders, N. P. Wooldridge, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Selvage, Mrs. A. L. Selvage, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Stokes, Mrs. Gus Dulenback, Mrs. Agnes Lampkin, Mr. And Mrs. Pete Wentzel, all of West Frankfort: Mrs. Louise Campbell, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cordes of East St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Newt Arbaugh of Carmi; Mr. Ed Sloan of Belleville; Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Purcell and family of Dix; Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Kimberlin and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Keith of Harrisburg; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Davis of Marion; Mr. Jett West of Carterville; Mr. and Mrs. U. H. Hutson and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Cansey of Mt. Vernon, Ind. and Mrs. Ollie Pearce of Mt. Vernon, Ill.

The Obituary follows:

          Alexander Lee Sloan was born in Washington, Iowa in the year 1850 the 18th day of January. Early in his youth he moved with his parents to Ohio and at the outbreak of the Civil War, when only 14 years of age, the mind of this patriotic youth was so stirred that he ran away to enlist, and despite his youth his enthusiastic spirit prevailed over all obstacles and he entered the conflict to fight for his Nation by the side of his two brothers, David, who made the supreme sacrifice, and Thomas who with Uncle Alex were honorably discharged at the close of the War. Alexander Sloan better know as Uncle Alex, was the youngest soldier to shoulder arms in the strife of the '60's. The patriotic spirit of Uncle Alex was never dimmed and last November 11th, Armistice Day, when his earthly tabernacle was weak and weary, the patriotism of his mind so lifted him up that he was able to deliver an impressive message to the boys and girls, many of whom afterwards spoke in a proud and honorable manner of this loveable man.

          At the close of the Civil War he came to Hamilton County where he has since made his home.

          Following the War, he was united in marriage to Teressa Hutson, December 23, 1869. To this union seven children were born, six of whom are living. In 1885 he was bereft of the mother of these children, the youngest then being only five months of age. The winter following her death in 1885 he was again united in marriage to Mary E. Wheeler and to them were born eight children, all of whom surviving except one who passed away in infancy. Due to the loveable nature of this man and wife these children have been reared in an honorable and religious home, a home of love and devotion where all the children love each as though they were own sisters and brothers. Uncle Alex taught school 16 years and carried the mail 16 years, retiring at the age of 66 to live a quiet life in the home he so dearly loved in east McLeansboro. Uncle Alex and his good wife whom he praised in his last hours for her devotion to him, lived happily together for 46 years. Uncle Alex was converted in 1885 and united with Bethel M.E. Church as a Charter member a short time before his marriage and has lived close to his conviction and Christian experience ever since. He was a member of the First M. E. Church of this city. He was also a member of the K. of P. Lodge and G.A.R.  On Friday, April 21st, at sunset of a beautiful spring day, the death angel visited this home, the second time in 46 years, calling the devoted husband and father to the land where there are no sunsets. Where heartaches never comes.

          He is survived by the following: his wife Mary E. also the following children:
Ora L., Harry, Fred, and Eugene Sloan and Lucreta Stokes all of McLeansboro; Cora Hale, Julia Pharis, Grace Brown and T.O. Sloan all of West Frankfort;  Dave Sloan of Murphysboro;  Rella Dudley of Jonesboro, Ark. ; Rolla Sloan of Lincoln, Ill.; and John Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 31 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, 1 brother, C.O. Sloan of Houston, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends.

          Funeral services were held Sunday 2 P.M. , in the First M. E. Church, conducted by his pastor, Rev. C.M. Prince. Other ministers present who assisted in the service were; J.B. Maulding, S.W. Baker, M.C. Holder, and Paul Stephens. "