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James middle name was in honor of his grandfather McElvaine. He was described as 6', fair complexion, auburn hair and hazel eyes. Events in his life included: 1859 There were a list of notes for him at the courthouse, no specifications whether he owed them or was trying to collect them. 1855 Jonathan Creek Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. He was listed among the taxpayers of that area. 1860 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. In the census, he was a farmer with property = $800. Brother, Nelson, and his two daughters were living with him as well as Elizabeth Purvis, housekeepers assistant. 3/13/1861 He was appointed road supervisor in Dist 10. 9/4/1862 James enlisted and served as First Lieut of Co C, 126th Regt of Ills Vols under Capt. Smiser. Michael Fryburger, a friend from the area serving in the Civil War efforts, made references to James in his letters: 4/5/1860 He hasn't seen James Powell yet. 2/1/1863 - From LaGrange, he saw James Powell. He was moderately well. 7/28/1863 - From Memphis, he asked for news of James & Nelson Powell. He was also mentioned often in the McPheeters family letters: 11/1862 - "anything you wish to send me such as sockes etc can be sent by Lieut Powell or Enoch Purvis who are both at home on sick furlough. 2/15/1863 - "Mrs (James) Powell and Nelson start for Humboldt (TN) next week." 7/3/1863 - from Haines Bluff, Miss "There is a great deal of sickness in our Co & reg. Lieut Powell....and some 10 or 12 more have all had a little brush but are now all on the mend....our sickness was caused by the unhealthy location of our camp. our water was bad and no shade, and then it was right on the roade leading to the river landing where from 1000 to 2000 teams were pasing daily after for comisary stores, ammun. etc. it kept our camp enveloped in a could of smoke from morning till night." 7/5/1863 - "Lieut Powell, Vaugan & 2 or three more are quite sick yet. Powell has camp diarhea very bad, says he feels better this morning." 7/28/1863 - from Helena, Arkansas. "Lieut. Powell has been right sick since you left; he came up the River as we did and got on another boat when he landed here and went to Memphis." 9/28/1863 - "was sorry to learn that Mr. Powell was again prostrate by disease." 10/18/1863 - "Lieut. Powell returned home saturday." 10/20/1863 - "Perry saw Lieut Powell at Memphis, sayes he lookes very bad is waiting for his papers to be sent to Washington for approval." 11/8/1863 - "I am going to send you two pair of socks.....by Lieut Powell." Enoch Purvis testified that "he (James) was never a healthy or sound man on account of his lung trouble being a good part of the time unable to do anything after he came out of the servis and he was the strongest and healthiest man in the country before he went into the war." On or about 10/10/1862, according to the Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, he "incurred Rupture left side; also A Disease of lungs contracted at LaGrange Tenn about the last of December 1862 by reason of exposure." As previously mentioned, Jame's military career was plagued by medical problems and hospitalizations. He was unable to march because of the pain in his side which was later diagnosed as the rupture, he contracted typhoid fever and once he was unable to return to duty from a medical leave of absence due to chronic diarrhea and general problems of the digestive system. 1/4/1864 He was discharged at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, "on account of Physical Disability and for absence without leave, having failed to forward medical certificates as required by existing regulations." At the age of 55 he was given an invalid's pension. 3/10/1864 In a letter to her husband, Mrs McPheeters reported that Mr Cornwell was moving from their home to James Powell's house, the relationship or reason for the move was not stated. 1/5/1865 James bought another 10 acres for $130 cash from the trust of a lady from New York and a Mrs. Hoffman, widow of David, located at NE SE SW 33 14 b E 3/1/1865 He gave estray notice where he claimed a stray animal. 1865 He paid a road tax. 6/21/1865 He bought 2 plots, each containing 10 acres from Addison Guthrie and his wife, Ben, through Addison McPheeters, atty-in-fact, for $297.50 cash. 7/15/1865 For $160 James and Eveline sold a lot containing 10 acres to his brother, Nelson, newly discharged from the army and preparing for a new bride within a few months. 10/24/1865 Martin and Catherine Bussear of Warren Co, OH, sold 80 acres in Moultrie Co to James for $550. He sold the same property on 9/4/1866 for $500 to John Glazebrook. 1866 He was mentioned in the country treasurer's report and in 1868 he was in a juror's treasury report. 6/1866 He was among those petitioning for a road change. 6/12/1869 His name appeared on a warranty deed and another on 5/10/1870. 3/1870 James was mentioned again in the county treasurers report. 10/10/1871 Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IL. It is unknown if James and the family actually lived in this location but son, Lycurgus, was born there on this date according to his descendants. 9/9/1872 Moultrie Co, IL. Estray Notice: "Taken up by the undersigned residing 5 miles northeast of Sullivan, one bay horse, 16 years old, about 14 hands high, string halt in both hindlegs, with government brand, running at the nose and believed to be glanders." Signed J. M. Powell, recorded by Geo. Leffler, Town Clerk 2/16/1874 While living in Jonathan Creek Twp, Moultrie Co, he bought 40 acres at E. Nelson from William and Ellen Purvis for $900 cash. 11/2/1874 He bought more Jonathan Creek property, 120 acres for $3600 with $1000 subject to trust deed to McInley & Co from William and Catherine Powers. 1875 Jonathan Creek Twp. James was listed in the atlas as a land owner among the 1001 residents in that township. Also listed was Levi Seass. 8/1/1878 Buying another 80 acres in Jonathan Creek Twp, he paid $55 as the highest bidder at public auction, from the George Buxton estate, James Bath Admin. A few months later on 11/12/1878 he sold the same property for the same amount to James Bathe. 10/2/1879 James and Eveline sold 240 acres in Jonathan Creek Twp to Henry Corley, of Shelby Co, IL, for $6000. 10/13/1879 He bought the land surrounding the Christian Church of Sullivan for $3200 from William and Louise Elder. 1880 Jonathan Creek Twp. At census time, his family lived next door to the Patten family, in-laws of son, John. 1/22/1880 He and Eveline sold another 20 acres in Jonathan Creek Twp, this time to William Merritt for $300 cash. 11/27/1880 He bought a piece of property from the Haney family for $10, the amount of acreage unspecified. 6/23/1885 James applied for, and finally received, an invalid pension based on his Civil War injuries. In a general affidavit, Charley Eilers, 23, of Bishop Town, Effingham Co, with PO address of Dieterich, testified before the justice of the peace "in the matter of James M Powell, of Arthur Moultrie County Ills,' that he had known James for 6 years and that "I first went to work for James M Powell of Moultrie County Ills in the mounth of April 1880 and worked for him until Dec 1880. Durning all that time he was in very poor Health had a very bad cough and had to have his work all done Except what his boys could do I then returned to work for him in April 1881 found him in very poor health not able to make a half hand except at very light work worked for him untill harvist I then were absent till in the fall of 1881 when I returned and hired to him to gather corn his health was still poor and he hired all of his work done Charles W. Eilers" The affidavit was dated 5/27/1886 and signed by Fred Plinke, Justice of the Peace. 5/27/1886 Arthur, Moultrie Co, IL. The preceeding item recorded his residence there but apparently the bounderies later shifted, relocating Arthur in Douglas Co. 11/20/1890 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. James deeded the property around the Christian Church, to a trust for Eveline for $1, subject to a $2500 security note by Orren Taft, Trustee. He died 18 days later. |
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James died of apoplexy which was believed to be the "sequence of disease contracted while in the service one lung seemed to be of little use to him indicated by short breathing for several years post." His estate was settled 1/7/1891, A. J. Buxton, Administrator, and James Bathe supplied the securities. John Purvis was the Probate Judge. The estate was valued at $1500. His heirs included all his children except John, who was already deceased, and John's children, Claude and Elvira. |