John S. Louderback, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of John S. Louderback
CAPT. JOHN S. LOUDERBACK.
CAPT. JOHN S. LOUDERBACK, grocer and baker of Valparaiso, Indiana, was born in Cass County, Indiana, August 28, 1835. His father, Andrew Louderback, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his grandfather was a native of Germany, coming to America shortly after the Revolutionary War. Andrew Louderback removed, with his parents, to Brown County, Ohio, when about twelve years of age, and was there reared to manhood. He learned the blacksmith's trade and followed that as a business until about 1840, when he began farming in connection with his trade. He was married to his first wife, Nancy Washburn (who was the mother of the subject of this sketch), about 1823. This lady was born in Kentucky in 1802, her father having been a native of Massachusetts and of Irish descent. In 1830 they moved to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1834 to Logansport, Indiana, and in 1836 to Fulton County, Indiana, where Mrs. Louderback died in 1864. To this union there were born ten children. Mr. Louderback took for his second wife Martha Jones, but was himself called from life soon afterward. John S. was reared on a farm till seventeen years of age, when he began learning the wagon and carriage-making trade with Otis Whipple, in Delphi, Indiana, and when nineteen years of age he began working at his trade on his own responsibility at Fulton. August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and October of the same year was made eighth sergeant. In March, 1863, he was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant, and a few months later was made orderly sergeant, retaining this position until July 1, 1864, when he was made a first lieutenant. October 1, 1864, he was promoted to Captain of his company, but owing to the previous captain having been wounded, Capt. Louderback had, for one year previous to being commissioned, served in that capacity. He was made quartermaster of the Sixth Indiana Cavalry Regiment on its being mustered out of service, and he disposed of its effects to the government. He was a participant in the campaign in Kentucky, against Morgan, and assisted in the thirty days raid that resulted in Morgan's capture. They then joined the army of the Cumberland in Tennessee, in 1863, and participated in the engagement at Knoxville and a number of its- surrounding battles. Their horses being worn out, they were dismounted and returned to Paris, Kentucky, crossing the mountains on foot, and were re-mounted, after which they joined Sherman's army at Ringgold, Georgia, and were placed under Gen. Stoneman's command. For seventy-one days they were in active fighting, participated in the battles of Resaca, Lone Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and various others. July 24, 1864, under Gen. Stoneman they started on their trip south, with the intention of releasing the prisoners at Andersonville, Georgia, and passing through the enemy’s line, at Stone Mountain, they fought an engagement at Macon, and afterwards learned that a general who was to co-operate with Stoneman had been defeated. They fought till they had used up all their ammunition, when the officers, holding a council, deemed it wise to surrender, which they did July 28, 1864. Capt. Louderback was taken to Andersonville on August 1st, and instead of going into other quarters as an officer, remained with his men, suffering all the agonies and tortures of that foul pen. Capt. Louderback states that while in Andersonville prison, and while the prisoners were all famishing and perishing for water, there came up a heavy rain storm, which re-opened an old spring that followed the line of the stockade in its digging. This was looked upon by many as a special act of providence, and was, in fact, a Godsend, and was the means of saving many lives. October 1, 1864, he and a portion of the prisoners were removed to Charleston, and at the end of twenty-six days were again moved to Florence, where he received his liberty and was sent to Annapolis. After getting strength sufficient to travel, received a thirty days furlough, and, after a visit home, rejoined his company and remained in the service until the close of hostilities, receiving his discharge June 27, 1865. He went to Fulton for a short time, and in August, 1865, he came to Valparaiso, Indiana, and purchased a grocery stock and carried on the business for six years with a partner. In 1871 he began business at his present stand and has since been engaged successively in the grocery and bakery business. He was married in Fulton County, Indiana, May 29, 1856, to Sarah J. Clevenger, and by her has had nine children: Andrew J., Effie F., Judson D., Eddie, Cora, Mamie and Gracie, living, and Edgar and Alva, deceased. Capt. Louderback is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Source: Goodspeed Brothers. 1894. Pictorial and Biographical Record of La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke Counties, Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Brothers. 569 p.
Page(s) in Source: 150-151
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook