Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Herndon, John E. January 24, 1840 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net August 3, 2006, 2:35 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons

Page 387

JOHN E. HERNDON
	After the crash of battle the winning cohorts are attended with a 
glamour of victorious demonstration that tends to wipe out of sight the 
desperate valor manifested by those who clung to the fateful flag doomed to 
sink with its defeated champions. Histories of half are written and read; 
deeds of daring are recounted with the strains of victorious music, but the 
worthy foe, whose steel met steel where only fate could decide the day, 
meditates in silence upon his prowess, to which the world would have delighted 
to do homage had his home been on the other side of the line. Such an one is 
he of whom we now speak and to whom we accord a place, justly, in the records 
of Umatilla county as an ardent supporter of our free institutions, and a 
representative citizen of this commonwealth.
	Mr. Herndon, son of Joseph S. and Martha W. (Spillman) Herndon, 
natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively, first saw the light on January 
24, 1840, in the Blue Grass state. When but four years of age he was taken by 
his parents to Missouri, and remained there until 1786, gaining in the 
meantime a good education and following the life of the agriculturist with 
remunerative success. 
	On August 1, 1862, he joined the Confederate ranks, where he fought 
with valor becoming his spirited nature, until June 4, 1865, the close of the 
war. He first served under General Hindman, later in the command of General 
Holmes, and at the close was under General Price and Brigadier General Monroe 
Parsons. He was in the battle of Lone Jack, Missouri, Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 
and Helena, Arkansas, where he was taken prisoner with others. He was 
transferred to Alton, Illinois, and languished in a war prison for twenty 
months, when an exchange was consummated and he immediately joined his 
command, with which he nobly stood until the final surrender to General E. R. 
S. Canby, at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 4, 1865. In all this arduous military 
career, from start to finish, he acquitted himself, both in camp duty and 
sanguine conflict, as an honorable gentleman, faithful in trusted service and 
bold and fearless in fight.
	At the close of the war he returned to his home in Missouri, 
continuing there until 1876, when he came to Umatilla county. Here he first 
pre-empted eighty acres, which he afterward sold and bought the place where he 
now lives, five miles southeast from Weston. He has devoted himself ever since 
to its cultivation and improvement, owning three hundred and twenty acres, of 
which he plants one hundred and fifty to wheat, realizing thirty bushels per 
acre from it each year. The balance of his land is used for pasture, as he 
also devotes some attention to stock raising.
	On June 11, 1873, he was married to Miss Tennessee Ditty, the daughter 
of F. F. and Elzira (Dyer) Ditty, the issue of which union is two children, 
Nellie H. and Grady W. Upon his farm he has a fine large orchard and a good 
dwelling house, with other substantial improvements. In every respect Mr. 
Herndon has shown himself worthy of the confidence and esteem of his 
colleagues, which he richly enjoys, and in receiving which he has fully 
maintained his honor as a gentleman and shown his worth as a substantial 
citizen.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.


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