James DePew

James DePew

Co. B       4th Ill. Inft.

       From the June 15, 1935 issue of 'The Elgin Courier-News'

Elgin's Last Vet Of 1846-48

     Lt. James DePew, Elgin's last surviving veteran of the Mexican war, 1846-48, died at his home in this city Aug. 18, 1919, in his ninety-fourth year.   For many years Mr. DePew, who was also a Civil war veteran, and his comrade in arms, the late Simeon Eells, Mexican and Civil war verteran who died about 20 years ago, played leading roles in Elgin's annual Memorial day exercises.
     Mr. DePew was born in Indiana Aug. 5, 1826, moving to Bloomington, Ill., as a youth.   He enlisted in Company B, Fourth Illinois volunteer infantry, and served throughout the Mexican campaign, being shot through the arm in the victorious assault upon Mexico City.   Later he served as a lieutenant in the Fifth Illinois cavalry during the war of the rebellion.
     He came to Elgin to make his home in 1909.
     Some six years before his death Mr. DePew's life was saved by the late William Creighton, Confederate veteran, in a dramatic rescue in the Milwaukee railroad yards.   Creighton, awarded a Carnegie medal for his deed, braved death to push his former wartime foeman from the path of an oncoming train.