Chariton's last standing Civil War veteran

Civil War veterans participated in Chariton's Memorial Day parade for the final time during 1934 when a big black sedan transported Asa F. Callahan and Henry Mingles, both of Chariton, and Henry Newhouse, of Lucas, from the courthouse to the cemetery and back again. In all that year, there were believed to be seven veterans of that war still alive in Lucas County.

A year later, during May, the health of both Mr. Mingles and Mr. Callahan was failing and before 1935 ended, both had been laid to rest in the Chariton Cemetery themselves. Three Civil War veterans were buried in Chariton that year, the last of their kind.

William F. Graham, 90, who had been living in Winterset for the last five years, died at his home there on July 29, 1935, and his remains were brought to Chariton for burial. Mr. Mingles, age 91, followed a month later, on Aug. 30; and on Dec. 26, Mr. Callahan died, too.

Here's how The Herald-Patriot of Dec. 26 reported his death:

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Asa C. Callahan died here at 2:30 a.m. today. He was Chariton's last survivor of the Civil War available records show.

Mr. Callahan was 92 years old. Born in Brown county, Indiana, he had lived in Lucas county since 1848.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Beardsley Funeral Home, followed by burial in Chariton Cemetery.

Mr. Callahan served four years with the federal forces in the Civil War, enlisting with Co. B of the Sixth Iowa Infantry in July, 1861. He saw action in several of the war's major battles.

Surviving Mr. Callahan are three children and eight grandchildren. The children are Mrs. Emma Friel of Des Moines, Mrs. Ida Zoffka of Fergus Falls, Minn., and J. A. Callahan of Chariton. His wife died nine years ago.

Mr. Callahan was the second Civil War veteran to die here recently. Henry Mingles died Aug. 30 at the age of 91.

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Henry Newhouse still had good years ahead of him as 1935 ended. His end came on July 25, 1940, age 94, and he was buried in the Niswender Cemetery. See "Henry Newhouse: Not the Last Man Standing."

Lucas County's last men standing expired on the same day early the next year --- on January 25, 1941 --- William Humphreys at the age of 96 at his Oakley home and Robert Killen, also 96, at the home of a daughter near Norwood. They were buried, respectively, in Mount Zion and Graceland cemeteries. See "Lucas County's Last Men Standing to be Honored" and "Going to Graceland: Honoring Civil War Veterans."