Talk:John B. Salling

Census Evidence for John Salling
There could indeed be a John B SALLING. But is this the individual who should be validly recognized as a Civil War veteran of the Confederacy? I don't think so. "Name's the same" is one of the most common errors of beginning genealogists. Based on a further review of the available John SALLINGS in the 1860-1930 timeframe, there are multiple players.

Consistently: John I SALLING [of Twp 5, Chickasaw Reserve, Indian Terr, now Oklahoma, husband of Belle, b Oct 1860 in Tenn] claimed to have been born in 1846. The 1900 census lists him as aged 53, born in Oct 1846 in Missouri, and married for 19 years, say 1881, perhaps in Texas [no evidence whether this was his first or only marriage]; distribution of children in the household makes this plausible. He is not easily found in the 1910 census, but I have not yet checked Muscogee County, Oklahoma line for line. In 1930 John I SALLING [of Brewer, Muscogee, Oklahoma, husband of Belle, b abt 1860 in Tenn] claimed to have been born in 1846 in Missouri, then aged 84, married first at age 26, say 1872. Further, the 1930 census attests to his claim at that time that he was a Civil War veteran. There is no evidence he ever lived in Virginia, ever served in a Virginia mining battalion, or ever married a Mary Flanary.

It is more likely than not that John I SALLING died in Oklahoma some time before 1959.

John B SALLING is identified by his three different wives and surfaces in the state of Tennessee about 1880. His date of birth is Oct 1860 according to the 1900 census. He is associated with wives Hattie, Rebea, Lee, and possibly one other. His responses to the 1910 and 1930 census enumerations do not indicate any claim of Confederate service. A recent copyrighted posting on Rootsweb claims that this is the veteran who died in 1959, and this is in clear error based on NARA interviews.

There is another separate and distinct John SALLING who is identified solely with Scott County, Virginia, chiefly in and around De Kalb Township. No census enumeration assigns this person a middle initial "B" although other initials are used in the 1860 and 1870 enumerations. He is probably the one living with the relict Caroline SALLING and the spinster Caroline SALLING in the 1860 census as a 4-year old, but this is by no means certain. In 1870 a 14-year old John SALLING is associated with George SALLING, and this may be the same pair who were enrolled in Company D of the 25th Cav of Virginia. He is not easily found in 1880. In 1900 he is married to a Mary and has children Ellen, Nancy, Emery, William and Euna. Nancy recurs with the couple in the 1920 and 1930 census enumerations. The ellipsis between 1870 and 1900 is suggestive of a possible identity issue. The Slant, Virginia person using this name (NARA interview) should be identified with this John SALLING; the John SALLING who d 19 Mar 1959 is arguably not the same person as John I SALLING or John B SALLING.

The real John SALLING was indeed ancient in 1930. Rather than age, the question may be the proving of his Confederate service. Missouri was rough country and many irregulars were never documented. The only documented two vets of this name for the Confederacy are the first, of Virginia--and a second John SALLING who died in service and was buried at the Knoxville National Cemetery in Feb 1864.

Most certainly the last Confederate veteran was not buried in the Slant Cemetery at Slant, Virginia. It appears the John SALLING of Scott County may be buried in a small family cemetery instead. Genehisthome (talk) 05:58, 1 February 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Genehisthome (talk • contribs) 05:45, 1 February 2008 (UTC) Genehisthome (talk) 14:52, 1 May 2008 (UTC)