John Layport

LAYPORT, JOHN — Lytle City. Was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1831, and lived there until three years of age. Then moved with his parents to Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, where he received the advantages of a common school education. In 1852 he was united in marriage to Isabell McConkey of Hopedale, Hardin county, Ohio. The marriage taking place in Bethany, Brooks county, Virginia, the marriage ceremony being pronounced by the celebrated Rev. Alexander Campbell. In 1855 he moved from Ohio and located in Iowa county, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming till 1861, when he enlisted as private, October 2, of said year, in company I, Thirteenth Iowa infantry. At Corinth, Mississippi, July 1,1862, was promoted to second lieutenant of his company; was in all the numerous engagements with regiment, including Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Iuka, Battle of Corinth. Was with Grant in his first march to the rear of Vicksburg, in the latter part of 1862. Was all through the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863, and immediately afterward in the Battle of Jackson, Mississippi. Re-enlisted as a veteran January 1, 1864, and was elected captain, but owing to the active service in which his regiment was engaged, and a misunderstanding with the mustering officer, he never was mustered in as captain but served as lieutenant, and often had charge of several companies. Marched to Meridian and back on what is known as the "Meridian Raid." Was then furloughed for thirty days. The regiment was then re-organized at Cairo and joined in the march with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, and participated in all the various engagements of that memorable march; not, as he says, in any particular battle, because, as he frequently observes, "at that time we were not fighting by the day but by the month." At a charge on the rebel works at Atlanta his regiment went in four hundred strong and left ninety-nine dead and wounded on the field, and the next day lost two hundred and thirty of the remainder. In these engagements Mr. Layport gained the unbounded admiration of his comrades for his kindness and courage. Was mustered out at Chattanooga, November 2, 1864, and it must be said that few men left the army with a better war record than Mr. Layport. Since returning from the army he has visited Dakota, Texas and other parts of the West, but is now located at Lytle City, and is engaged as mail-carrier, having charge of several mail routes in this and adjoining counties. His family consists of seven children: Nancy Jane, Levi N., John, Mary, Wilson W., Sherman and Charlie F. His father, Geo. Layport, aged 80, and his mother, Jane Layport, aged 78, reside with him, and certainly if aged parents ever had a staff for their declining years they have it in John Layport and his estimable wife. As a school officer Mr. Layport has always taken an active part in the advancement of education in his neighborhood.

SOURCE: Union Historical Company, The History Of Iowa County, Iowa (1881), p. 725-6