JOHN WHITTEN was born at Business Corner, Van Buren county, Iowa, Aug. 1, 1842; he died at Farmington, Iowa, Sept. 7,1902. He remained at home with his parents until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in company H, 15th Iowa Infantry. Not long after his muster into the service he was detailed as one of the color guard. He succeeded the color bearer who was shot down at the battle of Missionary Ridge, where his whole regiment was captured. With his comrades he was marched to Andersonville prison, where he suffered untold tortures from starvation, vermin, scurvy, and filth. After his liberation he was discharged, having been in the army four years and seven months. He served his county two terms as auditor, and was deputy state treasurer of Iowa for three terms, also holding many other positions of honor and trust, in all of which be proved himself competent and thoroughly trustworthy. His funeral took place at Farmington, Iowa, Sept. 8. His remains were borne to the cemetery by the members of the G. A. R., who buried him with the honors of the order.
SOURCE: Annals Of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 5 No. 7, October 1902, p. 558-9
