John D. Fannin 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

John D. Fannin
14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry
Union Army

John D. Fannin served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was born September 15, 1831 on Bear Creek in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He was the father of Joseph Lewis Fannin and paternal great grandfather of Philip Michael and J. Patric Fannin of Ironton, Ohio.

John D. enlisted on September 8, 1862 at Catlettsburg, Kentucky in the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He was thirty years old and served in Companies C, D & F as a private until he was mustered out with an honorable discharge on August 2, 1865 at Lexington, Kentucky. In his pension records John D. Fannin was personally described as “age 31 years old, 5 feet 8 inches high, fair complexion, brown eyes, dark hair, born Lawrence Co., Kentucky, a farmer.” During this time his unit saw a considerable amount of action including: Salyersville, Laurel Creek, Paintsville, Half Mountain, Kolb’s Farm, Kennesaw Mountain and the famous Sherman’s March to the Sea. During this Atlanta Campaign, as part of the 23rd Army Corps, the 14th Kentucky was positioned on the front line directly in front of General Sherman’s headquarters.

John D. Fannin married Mary Jane Seasor on June 15, 1869. Mary Jane was born December 23, 1855, the daughter of Baptiste Seasor, a German Immigrant, who also served in the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry in Company A, and Matlida Fulks (daughter of Hezekiah Fulks).

The Fannins lived out their lives on their homeplace near the head of Bolt’s Fork, Boyd County, Kentucky. Mr. Fannin was a prosperous farmer and a shrewd livestock trader. They had the following children: Virginia, who died in infancy, Sparah married John W. Field, Mandy married Frank Stewart, Francis married John Pope, David married Molly Hogan, Samantha married Dave Burks, Joseph Lewis married Hermia Ann Bayes, Bascon, who died in infancy, Eden married Lillie Webb and George who married 1st Carrie Webb & 2nd Opal Robinson.

Mr. Fannin was the son of Isaac Fannin and Sophia Ross, the sister of John D. Ross, first judge of Boyd County and later member of the Kentucky Legislature. He had two brothers and two sisters, Joseph Lewis Fannin, Philip Strother Fannin, Keziah, who married Leander Hazlett and Mary, who married Joseph Hatton.

John D. Fannin’s paternal grandparents were the Reverend John & Keziah Fannin, the first of their family to come to Lawrence County, Kentucky from Wythe County, Virginia around 1816. His parents, Bryant and Mary Fannin followed before 1830. Bryant was the son of Achillis, Sr. and Rose Fannin, of Wythe County. His parents, Bryan Fannin, Sr. & wife Elizabeth of Nottoway Parish, Amelia County, Virginia (circa 1700-1765) are the earliest known ancestors of this Fannin family.

John D. Fannin died of a heart attack at home on November 20, 1899. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary who died of consumption on August 27, 1898. They are buried in the family cemetery on their homeplace. They were of the Methodist persuasion.



Submitted by: Christian Michael Fannin
221 North Fifth Street
Ironton, Ohio
500 words according to Microsoft Word Count