My Genealogy Hound

Joseph James is now living retired in Creston. He is numbered among the honored veterans of the Civil war, was for a long time actively associated with business interests and now in the evening of life is enjoying well merited rest. He was born in Ohio in 1835 and when a young man came to Iowa, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers who were reclaiming the region for the uses of the white race and converting a wild district into one that today presents all the evidence of a modern and progressive civilization.

In the year 1857 Mr. James was united in marriage to Miss Martha Boyer, who was born in Indiana in 1839 and came to Iowa with her parents at the age of fifteen years. They now have eight living children: Ida E., the eldest, is the wife of A. Chambers, a retired farmer living in Greenfield, Iowa. E. N. resides with his family near Orient, Adair county, Iowa, where he follows agricultural pursuits. Ethel L. is the wife of J. M. Edwards, a well-to-do farmer of Audubon county, Iowa. O. B. resides with his family at Afton, where he follows the blacksmith’s trade. Renna O. is the wife of H. J. Kelley, a prosperous farmer of Audubon county, Iowa. Olive E. is the wife of E. G. Miller, and Mattie C. is the wife of A. V. Mendenhall, both enterprising farmers living near Afton in Union county. Clema B. is the wife of J. H. Whittington, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

At the time of the Civil war Mr. James in response to the country’s call for troops enlisted on the 30th of July, 1861, at Centerville, Iowa, under Captain F. J. Taylor and Colonel Cyrus Bussy, while later he was under command of John W. Noble. He was mustered into the United States service at Keokuk, September 6, 1861, as a member of Company I, Third Iowa Cavalry, and the first battle in which he participated was in Clark county, Missouri, about twenty-five miles south of Keokuk. On the 10th of November, of the same year he went to St. Louis and camp instruction was received at Benton Barracks. On the 1st of February, 1862, he proceeded to Rolla, Missouri, for scout duty and also participated in several skirmishes until the 18th of March. He was next at Pea Ridge, participating in the battle there on the 6th and 7th of April. From this point the troops proceeded to Helena, Arkansas, and Mr. James participated in five different engagements on the way, the more important being those of Bayou, Cauch, Garden Plain and Lagrange. They reached Helena, July 14, 1862, and Mr. James did scout and patrol duty for eleven months, during which time he took part in several contests with the enemy. On the 14th of June, 1863, he embarked for Vicksburg and participated in all the battles and skirmishes of the Third Iowa until the surrender of Vicksburg and the evacuation of Jackson, Mississippi. On the 16th of July, 1863, he sustained a sunstroke that terminated his active military experience for a year. On the expiration of that period he rejoined his regiment, with which he continued until October, and was then mustered out two months after the expiration of his term of service.

During a long residence in this part of the state Joseph James has become widely and favorably known and in matters of citizenship has been as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He is now living retired in Creston in the enjoyment of well earned rest.