Private John James
Pvt. John James
Private John James was born about 1830 in Franklin County, Virginia. He was 34 years old when he voluntarily enlisted in the 29th United States Colored Infantry, Company E on March 22, 1864, in Alton, Illinois. Exactly how he came to be in Illinois is unclear. Later in his life, when making an application for a pension, he testified that he was enslaved for 14 years in Morgan County, MO and Madison County, IL. John reports his former Missouri slaveholder as Dr. James, whose name he took. On a marriage record later in life, John reported that his parents' names were Samuel and Esther James. Prior to enlisting he had two children with Betty Woods, while in Missouri, a boy Everett James in 1861, and a daughter Louisa James (Anderson) in 1863.
Military records described John James as 34 years old, 5’9 1/2” tall, with a dark complexion, black eyes, and black hair. His occupation was listed as farmer. His regiment was officially accepted for service in April 1864, just after his enlistment, and was sent to fight in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Its first major action was at the Battle of the Crater in July, where it suffered heavy casualties. Pvt James survived but was treated at regimental hospitals at Camp Casey and Alexandria, VA, for sunstroke, scurvy and bronchitis that summer. This soldier fought in other actions during the Siege of Petersburg and participated in the final Appomattox Campaign in April 1865. The 29th USCT was moved to Texas in May and June and mustered out in November 1865 at Brownsville, Texas.
John James returned to Madison County, IL, after his honorable discharge. In interviews with the special examiner for the Pension Bureau, he recalled that he legally married Betty Woods in 1871 and was subsequently married two more times. Besides Betty, his wives were Sarah Vanderburg, and Lucy Ann Freeman who he married in 1878.
In the 1880 Census, John was described as age 48, a laborer, married to Lucy, 32, a laundress in Edwardsville, Madison, IL. There were no children living with them. Lucy died in 1884, and in the 1900 Census, John is recorded as a widower, a laborer, living with Tursey and William Rutledge in Litchfield Ward 3, Montgomery, IL. He did not read or write.
An application for disability benefits was granted in 1902 at $12 per month. James died at age 78 on December 24, 1907, from diabetic gangrene and was nursed in his final weeks by Rachel Green, to whom he left his belongings in a will dated November 7, 1907. In addition, he left $1 to each of his children, Everett and Louisa. James was interred in Litchfield, Illinois in the Elmwood Cemetery with a headstone marking his grave. Upon his death, bills were
left of $92.50 for burial expenses, $21 for nursing care by Rachel Green. He did not own any property or belongings of value.
Census records for 1900 identified Everett James, John James' son, age 39 (born in 1861 in Missouri) as a laborer in Lookout, Albany WY, laying track for the railroad. A marriage record was found for Everett James and Minnie Martin dated 1910, Nov 25, in Jackson, Missouri. Everett died on July 12, 1914, in Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri. The informant on the death certificate was Henry Woods, possibly a relative through his mother. His parents were recorded as John James and Betsy Woods, both born in Virginia. Louisa James may have become Louisa Anderson, but no further records were discovered of her. In the 1920 Census, Rachel Green, James’ caregiver, was 59, widowed, a laundress living in Litchfield Ward 3, Montgomery IL on Douglas Street.
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Contributors: Sheridan Brown, Breanna Helton, Toni Smith and Cathie Cummins
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