John Henry Thurston

In 1860 he was a 17 year old farm hand living with his parents and siblings in Jackson, Butts County, GA; his father George Washington Thurston (1811-1895) was a blacksmith and minister. He enlisted as a Private in Company C, 13th Georgia Infantry on 8 July 1861 in Griffin, GA.

He was wounded in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was on wounded furlough to 10 January 1863. He was wounded again, and captured at Hamilton Crossing near Fredericksburg, VA on 29 April 1863. He was held briefly in the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, DC. From October 1863 through February 1864 he was detailed as a blacksmith. He was surrendered and paroled at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

By 1870 and to at least 1880 he was a farmer in Butts County. By 1900 and to at least 1910 he was a [black]smith there, along with two of his sons.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3, and from Henderson.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1910. His gravesite is on Findagrave; his grave marker has his birth in 1849, which is probably an error.

He married Mary Martha Collins (1844-1924) and they had 7 children between 1866 and 1884.

02/19/1843; Butts County, GA

10/26/1913; Butts County, GA; burial in Jackson City Cemetery, Jackson, GA