John B. Salling

John B. Salling
Birth:	15 May 1856 Slant, Scott County, Virginia, United States
Death:	16 March 1959 Slant, Scott County, Virginia, United States
Age:	102 years, 305 days
Country:	USA
Centenarian

John B. Salling (15 May 1856 (claimed 15 May 1846) - 16 March 1959) claimed to be the second-to-last surviving Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, after Walter Williams, although like Williams his claim of being a supercentenarian has been debunked. He was initially validated by Guinness as aged 113 years, 1 day (Guinness had mistakenly placed his birthdate at 15 March 1846 rather than 15 May 1846), but was then downgraded to 112 years, 305 days. When his claimed age was debunked, Guinness withdrew recognition of the case and abolished the "oldest soldier" category but later gave the title to Antonio Todde.

By his account, he served as a saltpeter digger in the mines, was not enlisted, and never had a uniform. Despite being illiterate, he could, with relative accuracy, name the commanding officer of his claimed regiment of service, as well as three other members of the regiment. Thus, whether or not he genuinely served as a saltpeter digger despite being born in 1856 is unknown. John died of Pneumonia.

Gallery

Salling (age 98, claimed 108) after getting a whole in one during Golf on May 29, 1954.

Salling (left, age 102, claimed 112) lying in his deathbed, alongside with him is his Great-Granddaughter Linda Hawkins, on March 13, 1959, this is the last known photo of Salling, he died 3 days later.

References

• John B. Salling Is Dead at 112 Next to Last Civil War Survivor The New York Times 17 March 1959
• John B Salling Find A Grave