John took for-real broadsides and wrote music for them, generally appropriate ones. He sang in the 40s, originally with his wife Lucy; later by himself. Recorings were, by most of today's standards, over-arranged.

John lived in Old Lyme, CT. Probably his best-known songs are Rifleman's Song at Bennington; Tarrytown (Wild Goose Grasses); Bowery Grenadiers. A good scholar.