Rev Cornelius Green Cannon
Reverend Cornelius Green Cannon was born 3 Feb 1846 in Missouri,
the son of Cornelius & Martha. He joined the 23rd Regiment Missouri Infantry
Volunteer Company C for the Civil War. The 23rd Missouri Infantry was organized
from recruits across the state of in September 1861 for the Union Army and
mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Jacob T.
Tindall. The 23rd Missouri Infantry mustered out 18 July 1865 in Louisville Ky.
Cornelius saw action in the Atlanta Campaign 16 Jan 1864 and was involved in
several operations in northern George and southern Alabama. He marched to the
sea and was in the siege of Savannah Dec 10-21. His regiment occupied Raleigh NC
April 14. He marched in Washington DC in the Grand Review of the Armies May 24,
1865.
He died 5 Nov 1944 in Newport Ky. and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. He was married to Katherine in Wilhite 1888. Katherine was born Aug 1867 in Wayne Co Ky. She died 4 Jan 1952 in Newport and was buried in Evergreen.
Children of Cornelius Green Cannon and Katherine Wilhite
Jesse Cannon b-10 July 1889 in Boyle Co Ky.
d-14 April 1904 in Newport Ky and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mary Cannon b-Aug 1892 in Boyle Co Ky. d-23 Apr 1934 in Newport and was buried
in Evergreen. m-? Alexander
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In this later years, Rev Cannon served as pastor of the Corinthian Baptist Church in Newport. In the 1880 census he was in Xenia, Greene Co Oh on West Market Street working as a servant for George and Sarah J Watt. On Jan 26, 1891, Cornelius applied for a pension from Boyle Co Ky. He was listed in the 1890 Census for Civil War Soldiers in Boyle Co Ky.
In 1920 he was an overseer of a Soldiers Home in Newport and in the 1942 city directory was listed as a carpenter. He and Katherine owned their own home in Newport at 29 West Second Street.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 26 October 1899, page 5
A big colored meeting will be held Thursday night at the Corinthian Church, Columbia Street, in the interest of General Taylor.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 2 February 1940, page 11
Rev C G Cannon, believed to be the oldest known survivor of the Civil War, will be honored at St Paul A M E Church, West Seventh street, Newport. The posts participating in this event are Major George Austin Post NO 1878, LIttleton Seals Post No 1913 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Federal Post No 502 American Legion.
Rev Frank K Arnold, Cavalry A ME E Church of Cincinnati, is to be one of the speakers. Talks also will be given by Forrest Mays, Charles Savage and Andrew Jones.
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Kentucky Post, 23 May 1944, page 1
The thinning ranks of the gallant and brave soldiers of the Civil War will be represented by a retired Newport Negro minister, the lone surviving member of the Grand Army of the Republic from Campbell county, in Newport's annual Memorial Day parade next Tuesday.
The former minister, C G Cannon, now 92 and living at Second and Columbia streets, fought with the Union forces.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 25 May 1943, page 1
Completed plans were announced Tuesday for parades and exercises to be held in Newport, Bellevue and Dayton Sunday, with details on lines of march, the makeup of the various divisions and the programs for the Memorial Day ceremonies.
Two motorcycles, Newport Police Department: two fire cars, Newport Fire Department; the grand marshal and his aides; the last Civil War Veteran, Rev C G Cannon, Newport in automobile.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 30 May 1944, page 3
C G Cannon, 92 year old retired Negro minister, Second and Columbia streets, Newport, who fought with the Union forces during the Civil War and is the lone surviving member in Campbell county of the Grand Army of the Republic is scheduled to be in the Newport parade.
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Rev Cannon died 5 November 1944 in Newport and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.