Napa-Alameda-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Logan, J. I. 1829 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 13, 2006, 5:47 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) J. I. LOGAN, undertaker and dealer in furniture, at St. Helena, was born November 5, 1829, at Beaucoup, Washington County, Illinois, the son of David and Margaret (Phillips) Logan. He remained at home until he reached his nineteenth year, working upon his stepfather's farm at first and afterward learning the trade of carpenter. His education was gained in the country schools of the section and by diligent toil at night, winning in this way a thorough training. In 1858 he removed to Centralia, Marion County, and engaged successfully in the furniture and undertaking business; continuing this until March, 1864, on account of failing health, he sold out and crossed the plains with his family. At the beginning of the war he enlisted a company at Centralia to go into a certain regiment. He failed to agree with the Colonel, however, and so went directly to General Logan, and they were mustered in at Carbondale under him as Company A. At the time of raising this company, Mr. Logan pledged himself to bring his men all back dead or alive after their term of service was over; and he did so, at great peril and loss to himself, although, unfortunately, most of them came home in boxes. The regiment to which the company belonged was with Grant in the series of his terrible engagements in Kentucky and Tennessee. Mr. Logan received a commission to visit the battlefields and prepare and bring back to their friends the dead not alone of his company but also of the whole county. Although at the time no civilian was allowed at the front, by daring and skill he obtained an interview with General Grant, who so much admitted his courage that he gave him a special pass. He spent thirty-five days on the battle-field, doing a great deal of good and finally shipping back no less than thirteen car-loads of bodies of dead and wounded, with their baggage, who were sent back by special train under his care. Among those were all his own company save only twenty-two persons, left alive. This deed of heroism nearly proved his end, for as a result of his efforts he became a severe case of blood-poisoning. Upon recovery, however, he set out for the trip across the plains, hoping to recuperate on the way. He bought fourteen head of mules and horses and four wagon-loads of drugs, liquors, etc. San Jose was his first stopping place, but he soon came up to Oakland and engaged in the real-estate business there and in San Francisco; yet he suffered serious losses from the dishonesty of parties whom he had trusted. As an undertaker and embalmer Mr. Logan has few equals in the State. By means of a preparation devised by him he was enabled to keep dead bodies almost an indefinite time, being most successful in preparing them for shipment to all parts of the world on a special guarantee of perfect condition. Once, on a test, he prepared a body and it was deposited in the vaults at San Francisco, where it lay for six months, at the end of which time it was found in perfect preservation,—a fact very surprising to the undertaker and physicians of the day. In fact, Mr. Logan's discoveries in this direction are the basis of the whole modern system of embalming, and aroused attention in all parts of Europe and America. Mr. Logan has been very active in all matters of benefit to St. Helena, as the incorporation of the town, the laying out of a cemetery, etc. Logan's addition to St. Helena was laid out by him on his ranch at the south of town, where his fine residence is situated. He was married November 15, 1849, to Miss Unity J. Livesay, of Washington County, Illinois. They have seven children: J. Melvin, engaged in the cattle export trade to Europe; M. Hill, a successful physician of San Francisco; Minnie Adelle, the wife of D. B. Carver, the banker of St. Helena; C. Mead, a printer formerly, and proprietor of the Daily News at St. Helena; now engaged with his father in furniture and undertaking; Aura Pearl, Daisy Bell and Lee Ross, who are at home. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/napa/bios/logan368nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb