I am trying to look up some information for some cousins of mine. They have an ancestor named John Short. My uncle told me this man had some connection to McClennan County Texas and received a Confederate pension. My uncle seemed to actually have met the man, which meant he must have lived into the 1930s.

Looking through census information, my guess is the man is John H. Short. In the 1930 census, John H. Short, age 85, is in McClennan County. Tracing back through the census, he also appears to have previously lived in the county in which my uncle was born, and is probably the 14 year old John Short in the 1860 census in Washington County. Per the online directory, a "J.H. Short" did file for a pension, from McClennan County.

Per the NPS site, a "John Short" served in the 5th Texas Infantry Regiment (Company I), a "John H. Short" served in the 16th Texas Infantry Regiment (Flourney’s Regiment)(Company B),and a John J. Short in the 25th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Gillespie’s Regiment). I am inclined to think it is the one in the 16th Texas. While I do not know the middle initial of the John Short in the 5th Texas, the John Short I believe is the correct one would have only been 15 or 16 when the companies headed east in 1861. However, Company I was raised in Washington County, as I understand were parts of the 16th Texas Infantry.

Perhaps someone with some knowledge of the 5th Texas or 16th Texas can help. For example, if I could confirm the 5th Texas' John Short's middle initial, or whether he lived into the 20th Century, it would probably answer my question.