Great-grandfather of Connie Larson
2nd great-grandfather of Jane Larson

Private     Co. G and C     1st CO Vol. Cavalry
Dates of Service:  24 Nov 1864 - 8 Nov 1865

John Pye Springer was born in Decatur, IN, October 23, 1846. His family later moved to Iowa. June 1861, John Springer, eager to serve his country, enlisted in Co B, 4th Iowa Infantry, under Col. Dodge. Being only 15 years however, his father refused to allow him to enlist, took him home and got him a job!

September 1864, with promise of $45.00/mo pay (in contrast to the $15.00/mo presently earning) he accepted an offer to help drive several yoke of oxen to Denver. He walked from Council Bluff, Iowa - 61 days on the road. Free of Dad, he enlisted in the 1st Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, Co. C, Veteran Battalion, on November 24, 1854.

Five days later, John finds himself at Sand Creek, CO participating in the infamous Sand Creek Massacre Nov. 29, 1864. Although the 1st Co. Cavalry was not part of Col. John Chivington's "bloody third" (3rd Co. Cavalry) he was nevertheless involved. How we would like to know how this green 18-year-old kid felt and reacted. According to family history, he was slightly wounded there.

The remainder of his service was spent mostly in Kansas and Arkansas on courier duty, and guard duty against possible Indian uprisings. After being mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, Nov. 1865, he returned to Iowa.

1866 he married Cenia Mefford, they farmed, and later on he worked for the railroad. They had three daughters (one, our grandmother and great-grandmother).

GAR Membership: Shields Post 83, Iowa and Eaton Post 86, Iowa (added by D. Piechocki, Feb. 2020)

The last of Mapleton, IA's Civil War veterans, he died March 11, 1928 after being married to the same woman over 61 years!

GRAVESITE: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mapleton, IA
Written by Constance Larson, April 2001