Herald Democrat
16 January 1933
John I. Slack
Collinsville's Oldest Citizen Killed Bear in Grant's Camp
                _______________________
Special to The Democrat
Collinsville - The oldest citizen of this community, John I. Slack, died at the age of 92 at the home of his son, Will Slack, Sunday at 4:45 a.m.  He had been ill for a week with pneumonia.
Funeral services were held Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Methodist church conducted by the Rev. Alba Bates and the Rev. J. T. Brown, with interment in Collinsville cemetery.  Gibson funeral home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Slack was born in Jackson County, Ohio, April 25, 1840, and was married to Miss Rebecca Nunnel in 1858.  Nine children were born to this union of whom three survive: John Slack, Coleman; Harrison Slack, Gainesville, and Will Slack of Collinsville.  His wife died in 1910.  There are 21 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Slack entered the Union Army in 1861, serving under General Grant four years and seven months, in Company A, 56th Ohio Regiment.  He was in the siege of Fort Donaldson, the battle of Shiloh, the sieges of Corinth, Miss., Fort Pemberton, and two battles at Fort Bigson, the battles of Champion Hill and Black River, the sieges of Vicksburg and Cairon Bayou in Louisiana, the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Snaggy Point.
He used to tell of an incident when he was on picket duty near the camp of General Grant.  He heard a noise, decided it was an enemy and shot into the darkness.  The noise aroused the entire army and the men rolled out to investigate, among them General Grant and his staff.  Investigation proved that he had killed a prowling bear.
Mr. Slack came to Texas in 1877, arriving in Sherman, Nov. 22 when he moved to Collinsville and lived five years.  He lived another five years in Fort Smith, Ark., returning to Collinsville, where he has made his home since.