John Greenhalgh, 3 yrs of age and his sister Jane, 6 yr. were brought to America from England in 1850 by their parents John and Alise Greenhalgh.  Alise died of food poisoning either at sea or just after landing in America.  The father, John Sr. who felt he could not care for his two small children alone, left them with families in Peoria County, Ill.   

Jane, the sister was raised by William and Martha Ellen Taylor at Pleasant Hill Farm, at Hanna City, to the West of Peoria, Ill.  She met Job Collinge and they were married just as he was joining the Civil War on Aug 21, 1861. 

John Was reared by the Edmund Wrigley family at Rosefield, near Peoria where he grew to be a farm hand with this family.  At age 14, John left and joined the army as a Private in Company K, 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.  This young man being quite husky, and rather large for his age was accepted as an 18 year old and was 5'5 1/2" tall, with light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  His enlistment was 12 August 1862 at Rosefield.  He was mustered in 9-2-1862 at Peoria, Ill.  John bore the musket with his regiment from Sept 1862 until April 1864 when he was taken prisoner at Sabine Cross Roads, Mansfield, Louisiana.  He was taken along with other prisoners to the stockade at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas where he remained for more than 13 months.  The following describes the conditions there "During the first two months we had no shelter at all and we had to sleep on the ground although it rained nearly every day for about 6 weeks of this time.  Johns health remained good until 12-1864 when he began to suffer from rheumatism.  He was sore and stiff and had to be helped to his bunk.  All this winter he had no coat or blanket for protection from the winter, little fire and only very poor rations.  The men had lost their napsacks when taken prisoners and most only had hat, shirt, pants and shoes.  No medical attention was available at the camp.  John was paroled at Red River Landing, Louisiana on May 27, 1865 and reported at Benton Barraks, Missouri and was sent to the State of Ill. on June 17, 1865. 

Returning home to the Edmund Wrigley's in mid summer, John appeared emaciated and was not in good health.  He tried to work in fields but an attack of rheumatism which put him to bed for 4-6 weeks.  His attacks could last up to 4 months and had his bedfast.  He could not stand to be touched when they turned him in bed they had to give him chloroform to lessen his pain. 

William Wrigley, brother of Edmund Wrigley, stated that he had helped turn him suspended in a sheet fashioned like a hammock.  At other times he had heard him scream with pain.  This rheumatism resulted in heart disease for John.  Soon after returning from the War he met Sarah Fletcher and they were married by the Rev. George Montgomery, pastor of the Methodist Church in Trivoli.  Sarah was born Aug 21, 1846 at Somercotes, England.  The Fletchers came to Peoria in 1856 and moved to Trivoli in 1861.  John and Sarah farmed near Rosefield until 1869 when they moved to Trivoli and he went into the black smithing profession with his father in law John Fletcher.   John and Sarah moved to Nebraska in 1887 where they settled on a homestead in Scott Township, Sherman County.  They were the parents of Edward, Charles, Pearl (my g grandmother), Harry, Arthur and Violet.  John died Jan 25, 1917 at Litchfield and is buried there.  Sarah later moved to Chico, CA to be her daughter Violet Greenhalgh Hand.  She died there Jan 1941 and is buried at Chico. 

John's sister Jane moved to Kansas and died there.

The information used in this article was taken from family notes, family rememberance and a great deal from the National Archives, especially the Military Records.