Mount Pulaski’s oldest citizen and the last surviving Civil War Veteran in all of Logan County died at 9:45 pm. Friday, July 26th, 1940.

Full military honors were given Monday afternoon in the city park where more than 2,000 people gathered to pay respect.

Mr. Miers’ feebleness began asserting itself more than one year ago due to his extreme age. It was not until the latter part of June that he was compelled to remain bedfast and on the day of his death he had eaten a hearty breakfast. But the record breaking heat was more than he could stand and hastened his final summons. His five sons were at his bedside when he departed from his long career.

John Clarence Mier was born in a log cabin located over 2 miles west of the city. His parents were George and Rebecca (Laughlin) Mier and in the early day surroundings grew into young manhood. Mount Pulaski, Illinois being founded five years before his birth and he watched it grow and took interest in all civic matters from the time of his youth, to the present day a span of life longer than only a few persons attain.

The community in the early 40’s some 0ne hundred sixty eight years ago, was sparsely settled and wild game was the principal source of meat supply of the pioneer settler. From that early period he watched the nation develop through the long years, to the greatest country on earth. And during this period of history he saw the great advancement made in science and inventions of the world has ever known. It was the day of that the railroads came, the telegraph and telephone, electrical appliances, automobiles, moving pictures, radio, refrigeration.

He knew Abraham Lincoln for several years before he was elected President. Often seeing him as Lincoln, the Springfield lawyer who rode the 8th Judicial Circuit and came to Mount Pulaski during 1848 to 1855, to plead cases. Following the election of Lincoln to the highest office in the nation and the outbreak of the civil war, he offered his services to his country. He enlisted in Company I of the 114th Illinois Infantry on September 1st, 1863~one hundred twenty five years ago and made an honorable record during those tragic years. The battles of Vicksburg and Jackson were among the major engagements in which he took part.

Mier was taken prisoner in Guntown, Mississippi and held in Andersonville prison for five months. He suffered an attack of Typhoid which gained him an early release because he was thought not to survive. Determined, John Mier walked home to his beloved Mount Pulaski, where he regained his health and continued to live another 75 years. A most remarkable record! It is said that 2100 Logan County men and young boys enlisted in the Civil War and John Mier was the last man standing. He was honorably discharged on August 3rd, 1865.

Following his marriage to Miss Sarah Smith on September 28th, 1866, Mier continued to farm land near his birthplace for the next 40 years and then moved to town at his retirement to the family home on North Belmont Street. Mrs. Mier died on March 11th, 1926 and Mr. Mier and their son, Allen continued to occupy the home and referred to themselves as "bachelors". All through his declining years his friends and family looked on in amazement at his limitless energy, seeing him make his daily walk regardless of the weather. Or as he would put it; "To see if the boys were taking care of business right". When the city streets were paved in 1936 no one took an interest like Uncle Johnny who followed the progress block to block. The click of his cane on the sidewalk is a sound everyone misses.

To Mr. and Mrs. Mier were born seven sons; five who survived. Allen and Elmer of this fair city; George of Dawson; James lived in Lincoln and Charles was way up in Detroit, Michigan.

Full military honors were accorded and services held under the shade of the trees on the north slope of the public square -- the first and only service ever held on these historic grounds. Rev. J. Wayne Staley of the Mt. Pulaski Christian Church gave the funeral sermon. Rev. Ray O. Zumstein of St. John's Lutheran Church gave a scripture reading. Rev. F. E. Neumeyer of the Mt. Pulaski Methodist Church offered the prayer.

And fitting for the last surviving Civil War soldier which made it much more significant for all attending. Ryman-Fuiten post of the American Legion were in charge of his funeral. The cortege moved from the Hershey Funeral Home to the public square, headed by color bearers, firing squads, the Logan County Legion Band and Legion members from every post in Logan County followed by the flag-draped casket on a caisson drawn by four horses. At the Mount Pulaski Cemetery the firing squad shot three volleys as a salute to the dead and the bugle sounded taps as the last solemn duty to an old soldier and friend.

Pallbears, all Legionaires, were Senator Nicholas L. Hubbard, Dean Foster, Errol Ryan, Louis E. Schafer, Frank Talmadge, Thomas A. Gupton, all of Mt. Pulaski; Buford Beaver of Middletown and Claude Compton of Atlanta.