Welcome to...
The Licking County Historical Society
The Licking County Historical Society
Where the Past Meets the Present
LCHS "Kid Connection"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Check out this page for interesting Biographies, Facts & Fun about the People, Places & Events which are pieces of Licking county's Past! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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| Focus on... Johnny Clem |
| Let's Learn about Johnny... |
Can you imagine leaving your home to fight in a war when
you were just 10 years old? Well, that's what our Johnny
did! This brave boy from our city of Newark, Ohio was
determined to join other soldiers fighting during the Civil
War, to help President Lincoln save our union---to keep our
country together. So, many, many years later, we continue
to honor this little Newark, Ohio hero for all of his brave
deeds during the Civil War, as well as for his outstanding
military service throughout his long life.
Yes, Johnny was born right here in Newark on August 13th,
1851. He had a sister named Lizzie and a brother named
Louis. By the spring of 1861,before he reached the age of
10, his mother had tragically died in an accident in the train
yard, and a horrible war, the Civil War, had begun
---dividing our country apart.
SO WHAT DID JOHNNY DECIDE TO DO?
RUN AWAY TO JOIN THE WAR!
He just KNEW he could help to bring our country back
together. First, when he told his father that he wanted to
go, his father said "NO!" Next, the army units he tried to
join said "NO!", for he was "TOO YOUNG & TOO SMALL".
But Johnny tagged along with them anyway, first becoming
a drummer boy, later as a soldier joining in on the fighting.
He was probably the youngest and smallest of the "boy
soldiers" who were an important part of this Civil War.
The other soldiers grew to love young Johnny, and before
he was an official soldier they collected money among
themselves to give him the $13/month pay just like they
received!
Many stories tell us of this boy's adventures and bravery
during the war, some are true and some may have been
added to over the years. For instance, many people now
think that Johnny couldn't have been at the battle of
Shiloh, where he was originally honored. But we do know
he received a medal for his actions at the Battle of
Chickamauga as well as many other brave deeds throughout
the war before coming back home to life in Newark.
Did you know that Johnny's name was originally John
Joseph Klem??? During the war, Johnny's name was
changed to John Lincoln Clem due to his love of President
Lincoln, and possibly the "K" to a "C" in Clem due to a
mistake on some military record.
After the war, Johnny would make the military his life-long
career, making Texas his home. But he'd often come back
home to visit his Newark hometown. He would be married
two times, and have two children live to adulthood. And
wouldn't you know--when World War I began--Johnny
would again offer his help to win the war --but this time he
was told--HE WAS TOO OLD!
When Johnny retired from military service in 1915, he was
the oldest living Civil War Army Soldier still on the
records. He continued to help work for rights for
Veterans, and would receive many honors.
Here at home we honored Johnny with an Elementary
School in his name, as well as a bust-statue of him in the
school and a statue downtown in Veterans' Park.
Johnny died May 13th, 1937, and was buried in a famous
military cemetery--Arlington National Cemetery, and was
give a "13 Gun salute" (The number "13" comes up a lot in
Johnny's life...we're told he felt the number 13 was his
lucky number).
WOW! What a life he had!
you were just 10 years old? Well, that's what our Johnny
did! This brave boy from our city of Newark, Ohio was
determined to join other soldiers fighting during the Civil
War, to help President Lincoln save our union---to keep our
country together. So, many, many years later, we continue
to honor this little Newark, Ohio hero for all of his brave
deeds during the Civil War, as well as for his outstanding
military service throughout his long life.
Yes, Johnny was born right here in Newark on August 13th,
1851. He had a sister named Lizzie and a brother named
Louis. By the spring of 1861,before he reached the age of
10, his mother had tragically died in an accident in the train
yard, and a horrible war, the Civil War, had begun
---dividing our country apart.
SO WHAT DID JOHNNY DECIDE TO DO?
RUN AWAY TO JOIN THE WAR!
He just KNEW he could help to bring our country back
together. First, when he told his father that he wanted to
go, his father said "NO!" Next, the army units he tried to
join said "NO!", for he was "TOO YOUNG & TOO SMALL".
But Johnny tagged along with them anyway, first becoming
a drummer boy, later as a soldier joining in on the fighting.
He was probably the youngest and smallest of the "boy
soldiers" who were an important part of this Civil War.
The other soldiers grew to love young Johnny, and before
he was an official soldier they collected money among
themselves to give him the $13/month pay just like they
received!
Many stories tell us of this boy's adventures and bravery
during the war, some are true and some may have been
added to over the years. For instance, many people now
think that Johnny couldn't have been at the battle of
Shiloh, where he was originally honored. But we do know
he received a medal for his actions at the Battle of
Chickamauga as well as many other brave deeds throughout
the war before coming back home to life in Newark.
Did you know that Johnny's name was originally John
Joseph Klem??? During the war, Johnny's name was
changed to John Lincoln Clem due to his love of President
Lincoln, and possibly the "K" to a "C" in Clem due to a
mistake on some military record.
After the war, Johnny would make the military his life-long
career, making Texas his home. But he'd often come back
home to visit his Newark hometown. He would be married
two times, and have two children live to adulthood. And
wouldn't you know--when World War I began--Johnny
would again offer his help to win the war --but this time he
was told--HE WAS TOO OLD!
When Johnny retired from military service in 1915, he was
the oldest living Civil War Army Soldier still on the
records. He continued to help work for rights for
Veterans, and would receive many honors.
Here at home we honored Johnny with an Elementary
School in his name, as well as a bust-statue of him in the
school and a statue downtown in Veterans' Park.
Johnny died May 13th, 1937, and was buried in a famous
military cemetery--Arlington National Cemetery, and was
give a "13 Gun salute" (The number "13" comes up a lot in
Johnny's life...we're told he felt the number 13 was his
lucky number).
WOW! What a life he had!
| What did you learn about Johnny? |
1. In Newark an________ ______ is named in his
honor.
2. When he tried to join the army, Johnny was told
he was "too_______ &_______.
3. The number ___ was Johnny's lucky number.
4. Johnny was saluted as he was buried in _______
_________ _______ near Washington,DC.
5. Lizzie & Louis are Johnny's _______ & ______.
6. Johnny received his first medal for bravery at
the _____ __ ___________.
7. Johnny's name was originally _____.
8. Soldiers took up a collection so Johnny could get
______ like they received each month.
9. Johnny's first army job was as ________ ___.
10. This war that divided our country was called the
_____ _____.
honor.
2. When he tried to join the army, Johnny was told
he was "too_______ &_______.
3. The number ___ was Johnny's lucky number.
4. Johnny was saluted as he was buried in _______
_________ _______ near Washington,DC.
5. Lizzie & Louis are Johnny's _______ & ______.
6. Johnny received his first medal for bravery at
the _____ __ ___________.
7. Johnny's name was originally _____.
8. Soldiers took up a collection so Johnny could get
______ like they received each month.
9. Johnny's first army job was as ________ ___.
10. This war that divided our country was called the
_____ _____.
Word Choices
- brother
- sister
- 13
- Chickamauga
- Elementary
School - young & small
- military
- Arlington
National
Cemetery - Klem
- drummer boy
- Civil War
- $13 pay
*Teachers... LCHS has many educational materials to supplement your curriculum. Our "Tote" program includes artifacts of various eras. Call our office at 345-4898 or email- sherwooddavidson @yahoo.com or lchspublicity@ yahoo.com to schedule these materials/guest teacher. We also have speakers who can give talks on various people & subjects to your class or your organization. |
| ~Teacher Links~ >Lifestyle "Totes" >Biographies |