From the MSR Legacy Archives
As part of our celebration over the next several months of our 80 years of continuous publication, the MSR will be republishing notable stories from our extensive archives of more than 4,000 weekly issues of African American news in Minnesota. Many of our readers will be sure to recognize friends, family and neighbors from the distant and not-so-distant past — such as the passing of one of the last surviving Black Civil War veterans reported in the April 13, 1945 issue of the Minneapolis Spokesman.
Funeral services for Henry Mack, reported to be one of the oldest Civil War Veterans in the country, who died at the Veterans hospital, Sunday, April 8, were held Wednesday, April 11, at Zion Baptist church with Reverend Claude Ireland, chaplain at the Minnesota Soldiers Home, officiating.
Mr. Mack, a native of Fayette City, Ala., was 107 years old at the time of his death. He was vice commander of the Minnesota department of the Grand Army of the Republic. He fought in the Civil War with the Fifty-seventh Infantry Colored Volunteers from Arkansas.
Members of the Johnnie Baker Post were the active pallbearers. Interment was at Crystal Lake cemetery.
Surviving are a step-son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Johnson, with whom he made his home. Woodard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Reach the staff at the MSR at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.