DELAP, John Mitchell of Markham, Morgan County and CHRISTISON, Luther of Winchester, Scott County
Contributed by Dorothy Boyle

SHARP, Henry Hunter and his brother John SHARP
Contributed by Stan Jacobs








DELAP, John Mitchell of Markham, Morgan County and CHRISTISON, Luther of Winchester, Scott County - Contributed by Dorothy Boyle
Hopefully this will help those looking for more information concerning their family members who fought in the Mexican War from the Morgan,Scott Counties, Illinois. My 3rd-g-grandfather, John Mitchell DELAP of Markham, Morgan Co, Ill. served from Morgan Co. My family has a newspaper article (I have no idea which paper it came from.) referring to Co H 1st Ill Infty 1846. It concerns Luther CHRISTISON but would apply to all 100 men who left from the Morgan, Scott County area. Luther Christison, A veteran of the Mexican War. Sunday before last a short sketch of our fellow citizen, Luther Christison, appeared in the St. Louis Republic, together with his portrait. For the benefit of our readers we herewith reproduce thesketch, with such modifications as has been suggested, and also his picture, which is an excellent likeness of this sturdy old veteran. At the time of the Mexican war Mr. Christison was among the many patriots from this section of the state, who enlisted to fight for the cause of their country. A company of 100 men was organized under Col. John J. Hardin; Samuel Montgomery was elected captain, Hez. Evans, an uncle of Alderman H. Evans of this city, was chosen first lieutenant, and Thos. H. Flynn orderly sergeant. ( After the battle of Buena vista Flynn was promoted to second lieutenant for meritorious services.) Upon taking their departure from Scott county, the ladies of Winchester presented the company with a handsome flag, the presentation speech being made by Miss Emily Devore. On behalf of the volunteers, Mr. Haskell, a school teacher, accepted the gift in a neat little address, and was made flag-bearer. The article from the Republic is as follows: "Luther Christison of Winchester, Ill, is a veteran of the Mexican war. A company of 100 men left Scott County in 1846 under Colonel John J.Hardin and Lieutenant Houghton to serve their country and participate in the war then waged against Mexico. After careful inquiry it is foundthat there remains but one of these sturdy veterans in this vicinity. This veteran of 1846 is Mr. Luther Christison, one of the sturdy Democrats of Scott county, who is now a resident of this city. Mr.Christison was born near Liberty, Casey County, Ky., December 6, 1824. When he was 6 years his parents moved to Illinois, settling on a farmfour miles west of this city (then Morgan County). When in his twentieth year he enlisted in the army as a private in the first regiment, Illinois Volunteers. The company rendezvoused at Alton, Ill., and took a steamer down theMississippi to New Orleans. Here they were placed on board a steamship and conveyed to Port Lavaen, Tex., where they landed and then marched 20miles into Texas, stopping at Camp Irwin several weeks. The summer, fall and part of the winter was spent in Texas, after which they started on a forced march into Mexico spending Christmas there. His regiment joined General Taylor's forces the latter part of February, 1847, and participated in the famous battle of Buena Vista, February 23 of thatyear. In this battle Colonel Harding and a number of Mr. Christison's comrades fell." So far as known, out of the 100 gallant men from Scott county who volunteered at that time, only four besides Mr. Christison survive,namely: James J. Evans of Stockton, Cal.; Jas. C. Evans of Bement, Piatt county, Ill. John M. DeLapp of Markham, Morgan county, Ill., and WilliamShibley of Pittsfield, Ill. Mr. Christison served fourteen months, and was honorably discharged June 17, 1847. During his enlistment he carried a hatchet and canteen, which are in his possession to-day, and are highly prized by him. There is an obit on the same page for Mrs. Amelia Hawk, wife of J. Hawk. She passed away on Feb. 21, 1898 and her funeral was on the Feb.23, so this paper must have come out soon after that. Hope this will help someone. Dorothy

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SHARP, Henry Hunter and his brother John SHARP - Contributed by Stan Jacobs
SHARP, Henry & John: This was evidently the same mustering period that my GGgf, Henry Hunter Sharp & his brother John were in. They were in the 1st Illinois, Co. G, under Capt. John Wyatt, the regiment under command of Col. Hardin. In the battle of Buena Vista, the brothers were reported being "near" Col. Hardin when he "fell".

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