NEU, JOHN C. (deceased). - Few veterans of the Civil War are left of the vast army that bravely responded to the country's call and risked their lives on the battlefield, or languished in loathsome prisons. An honored soldier of Springfield was the late John C. Neu, born in Prussia, in 1840, a son of Peter and Elizabeth Neu. Leaving school at fourteen years of age, John C. Neu began working and when sixteen came with a cousin, Chris Neu, to the United States. They landed in Baltimore, where he learned his trade of cooper. When his country had need of his services, he enlisted, serving in many hard fought battles. Being taken prisoner he endured for ninety days the unspeakable horrors of Libby prison. He left the service when the war was over.

When he was twenty-six years old, Mr. Neu was united in marriage with Elizabeth Neu, and in 1869 they came to Springfield, where he obtained employment in a cooper shop. Following this, he worked in a woolen mill until it closed, when he employed his time doing odd jobs, always discharging his duties faithfully and well. His death occurred on June 16, 1910, and his remains are interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery. He was a member of the German Methodist Church, and acted as one of its Trustees for many years. In political faith he was a Democrat, but never aspired to office.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Neu were as follows: John of Springfield, connected with the Otto Rededer Company, dealers in wall paper, married Lydia Schutz, of St. Louis; Ida K., at home; William T., a farmer of Sangamon County, married Minnie Schniep; Edwin went to Texas; Charles, a grocer of Springfield, married Elizabeth Irwin. Mr. Neu's memory is tenderly cherished by his family, for he was a man who gave liberally of himself and never spared his efforts at the expense of others.