William Gannon

  General Notes:

Research of:
Susan Hanzlicek
7915 NW Adams RD
Potwin, Ks 67123
A-United States
whesta31@wheatstate.com


Copied from "The Alfalfa County Heritage" 1893-1976
William and Eliba Simpson were married Apr 23 1867. They lived in
Kentucky until 1888. They moved to Kansas, then to Colorado. there
they filed a claim illegally somehow, so they moved back to Kansas.
they moved to Oklahoma in 1893, when the Cherokee Strip opened. They
homesteaded south of Cherokee. Daughters Souse and sons James and
Alonzo also homesteaded nearby.
William and Eliba had four sons, James Allen, Alonzo Perry, Alfred L.
and John William; and four daughters, Susie, Ada, Missouri, Cardelia,
nancy, and Edna. Another infant daughter was born and buried June, 30
1891.
William Gannon died in 1916. Both are buried at Maple Grove Cemetery.
William Gannon lived near Gardnersville, Crittenden, and Williamstown,
Kentucky. He lived on Old Round Hill.
William's father raised race horses. He had his horses ready to take
to the races but during the night, lightning stuck, the barn burned and
killed all the horses. He lost about all he had. His health failed and
he died soon afterward, leaving his four young children to be cared for
by neighbors.
William was about 12 when he entered the Union Army as a drummer boy.
He served in company D, 4th Regiment of the Kentucky Volunteers. He was
in the battle of Shiloh, Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Bull
Run. He was wounded three times, once each in the ankle, elbow and
neck. William and his squad were captured and were put in Andersonville
Prison where he almost starved to death. The squad tried to dig out of
prison. They took turn, watching the guards and digging. Time came to
leave, twelve to fifteen got out and away before the "Dutchman: got
stuck in the tunnel. They were commanded to fill in the tunnel.
William didn't hear the command and went to another place to get away
from the "Dutchman". He and some others dug another tunnel. He was the
first one out and his mess mate was right behind him. A few others got
out too. William was almost eaten up with lice while in prison. he had
scars on his arms about the size of a quarter. He also had many scars
on his head.
William could neither read or write. He would sign a check "William
X. Gannon." He could recognize his name, National Tribune (a newspaper)
and he could figure. He took the paper, National Tribune for years and
years. His old army buddy, Swafford, came and read the paper to him.
At the time William left Kentucky, he was receiving an Army Pension of
$7.00 a month.

William married Eleba Simpson, daughter of John Simpson and Mary Mitcham.