From "The Dension Bulletin", Denison, Iowa, Wednesday, January 2, 1924:
CIVIL WAR VETERAN ANSWERS TO LAST SUMMONS
John James Pioneer Resident Laid To Rest In Oakland Cemetery
Another of the loyal and brave men who fought for their flag and country has been gathered in the arms of the grim reaper. John James, Civil War veteran, has answered the last roll call and peacefully gone to his eternal rest. His death occurred at the home Wednesday.
He came to this city when it was a hamlet and has made it his home and during his entire life here has been one of Denison's respected and beloved citizens. He farmed for a few years after coming to Crawford county and afterwards moved to Denison and was engaged in the house moving business which trade he followed as long as he was able to do active work.
He was one of the first to answer his country's call for volunteers during the early days of the civil war and enlisted and fought for his flag during the entire war. He was engaged in many of the great battles of that conflict, was in the battle of Shilo and Vicksberg, besides many of the minor engagements and could interestingly tell of his many hardships, escapes and incidents of the Civil War. He was honorably discharged from the service on February 11, 1865 by reason of the expiration of the term of his enlistment and was mustered out of the service at East Port, Miss. He was a member of the 21st Missouri Infantry, Company G and he retained his discharge papers at the time of his death. They were signed by E. K. Blackburn, Captain, and Edward Moore, Lieut. Colonel. He was a loyal friend, a neighbor who was always willing and able to lend a helping hand to one in distress, a loving and devoted husband and a kind and indulgent father.
John James was born in Jennings County, Indiana and was 81 years of age at the time of his death. At the age of 5 he moved to Missouri where he lived until his enlistment in the Civil War after which he located at Kohoka, Missouri and was married in that city in 1869 to Miss Martha R. Arnold. They moved to Crawford county in 1873 living on a farm for a few years after which they moved to Denison where he lived until the time of his death. He was an active and industrious worker until about 20 years ago when he retired from active work and has lived among his friends since that time. He enjoyed the intercourse and fellowship of his neighbors and friends and loved to meet with the soldiers of the war in which he participatd and talk over the many incidents of that trying time.
There was born to him and his wife nine children, three of whom: Arthur D., Roy, and Perry, have preceded him in death, those living being Mrs. William Tucker and Miss Alice of this city, Mrs. Chas. Jones of Charter Oak., Clyde of Onawa, Sam E. of Sioux City and Mrs. L. W. Morton of Dubuque. Besides those children and his loving wife he leaves to mourn his demise, 17 grand children, 4 great grand children, one sister, Mrs. Eliza Cook, of Fairfield, Nebr., many other relatives and a multitude of friends.
He was one of eight children and the family were noted for their longevity, as nearly all of them lived to be eighty or more years of age.
He was a member of John A. Logan Post of the G.A. R. and early in life united with the Baptist church and has been a loyal and faithful member of that organization for many years.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Friday) Rev. Robins of the Baptist church will conduct the ceremony. Interment will be in the family lot at Oakland cemetery. The G. A. R., S. O. V., W. R. C. and American Legion will be in attendance at the funeral and at the cemetery the American Legion will sound taps as he is laid to rest.
The Bulletin joins in extending sincere sympathy and condolence to the family
[John JAMES was the son of Daniel JAMES and Eve FIFER of near Luray, Clark Co., Missouri.]
Biographical information generously provided by Linda Brandt .
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