John F. McLaughlin, of Birmingham, Alabama was a veteran of the Civil war and tax assessor of Jefferson County. He was a native of Jefferson County, Alabama, born on Sept. 16, 1842, to Duncan S. McLaughlin.
He was the third white child born within the present boundaries of Jefferson county, Alabama. His mother, a Caroline Addington descended from an old and respected family and was also a native of Jefferson county. He was born near Jonesboro, Jefferson County, Alabama.
John F. McLaughlin was reared on a farm and first took hold of the plow handles on a plantation where the city of Bessemer now stands. He received a fair education in the local schools and during the Civil War, he offered his services to his native State. At the age of eighteen enlisted in Company B, Tenth Alabama regiment assigned to Wilcox’s brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia and remained with that historic command until the close of the war. He participated in a score or more of noted engagements, and at the battle of Gettysburg, he was severely wounded and temporarily furloughed home until his recovery. As soon as he was able he rejoined his command and valiantly fought with it until the surrender at Appomattox. At the close of the war, he returned home and resumed farming but soon changed his vocation to teaching.
John taught for twenty-five years, until elected tax assessor of Jefferson county in 1896.
On July 21, 1871, he married to Ella Meredith, the daughter of Jasper N. and Jerusha (Carroll) Meredith, both of whom were natives of Alabama. She was a descendant of Jesse Meredith, (b. 1771- 1834) a Revolutionary War Soldier who died in Dallas County, Alabama.
Their union was blessed with three daughters and one son:
His son Jason assisted his father in the assessor’s office. John McLaughlin spent his entire life in Jefferson county, and was held in high esteem by all who know him. John Felix McLaughlindied in 1923 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama. Ella Meredith McLaughlin died in 1940.
SOURCES
Notable men of Alabama By Joel Campbell DuBose Vol. III
![Arlington - the only antebellum house left in Birmingham has ties to the city's founders. [photographs & film]](https://www.alabamapioneers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Arlington-Alex-Bush-Photographer-March-4-1937-FRONT-NORTH-AND-WEST-ELEVATION-Arlington-Place-331-Cotton-Avenue-Southwest-Birmingham-Jefferson-County-AL1-400x150.jpg "Arlington - the only antebellum house left in Birmingham has ties to the city's founders. [photographs & film]")
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