James C. Darnell 1846-1923 Civil War Veteran

DARNELL, ROGERS, NEER, LEAR

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 5/6/2011 at 13:26:10

James C. Darnell, seventh child of
Abram and Susan Darnell, was born
in Kendall county, Ill., July 17, 1846.
His boyhood days were spent in Kendall
Co., and when little past the age
of fifteen lie enlisted in the service of
his country. The blood of a revolutionary
hero was flowing in his veins
and prompted by patriotic impulses
he responded to the call to arms; he
enlisted in Co. H, 52d Illinois infantry,
under Capt. Moffatt. He was
mustered into service at Geneva, Ill.,
and spent the first winter guarding
the Hannibal and St. Joe R. R. In
the spring of 1862 he was in southern
Illinois and Kentucky and his regiment
acted as guard to about 7000
prisoners who were being moved from
Fort Donelson to Chicago. He participated
in the battle of Shiloh and the
siege of Corinth, was taken sick at
the latter place and was sent to the
hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, where in
November, 1862, he received his discharge.
In 1865 he re-enlisted in Co.
H, 156th Illinois infantry and did
guard duty in Tennessee, Georgia and
Alabama, until he received his discharge
at the close of the war, at
Memphis, Tenn. He held the office of
First Sergeant during his second period
of service. He was found ever
faithful at his post of duty and in
the ranks no soldier was more ready
to respond than he. At the close of
the war Mr. Darnell returned to Kendall
county, where on Dec. 2, 1868,
he was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Rogers. To this union two sons
were born. The mother passed from
earth March 28, 1902. Mr. Darnell
continued farming in his native county
until 1877, when he came to Randalia,
Iowa. He was active in the
dairy business in early days, helped
start the creamery and for a number
of years acted as its secretary. For
a number of years he was a trustee of
Center township. His neighbors were
wont to say of him "Jim's word is as
good as a bond." He was a member
of Center Post G. A. R. No. 276,
Randalia. He was a lover of fine
horses and spent considerable time in
raising and driving them. He was
regarded as being a capable business
man and his honesty -was never questioned.
He was a loving husband and
a kind father.
On March 1, 1922, while caring for
his favorite horse he received an injury
to his hip, sufficient to fracture
it, and since that time had been a constant
sufferer until he passed away
at the home of his son, George, at
Sumner, Iowa, April 12, 1923.
Those left to mourn his loss are
two sons, George W. of Sumner, Iowa;
Guy B. of Santa Ana, Calif.; one brother,
Alfred, of Yorkville, Ill.; two sisters,
Fanny Neer, of Salem, Ore.; and
May Lear of Codrington, Canada; besides

many other relatives and friends.
The funeral services were held at
the M. E. church at Randalia, Saturday
at one o'clock, conducted by Rev.
Mitchell, pastor of the Methodist
church of Sumner. The singers were
Mrs. D. N. Holmes, Mrs. Herman
Hoepfner, John Schmidt and George
Grace, with Mrs. E. H. Beman, pianist.
There were many beautiful floral remembrances.
The casket bearers were
G. W. Mabon, G. D. Torrey, D. N.
Holmes, H. E. Giles, James Newton
and F. W. King. Interment was in the"
Dunham Grove cemetery beside his
wife.
Those from a distance here to attend
the last sad rites besides the son,
Guy, and brother, Alfred, who were
both here to help care for their father
and brother, during his last weeks
of Illness, were Dr. G. D. Darnell and
Ray Darnell both of West Union, Mr.
and Mrs. Russel Lowe of Sumner, Mrs.
Fannie Wilder, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wilder,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilder, Mrs.
A. Miner, John Newton and 0. H. Ashby,
all of Oelwein, Frank Billings and
George Whiteford of Waterloo, Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Whitley and son of Fayette,
Dr. Dunham of Greeley, Colorado,
Mr. and Mrs. George Austin of Hawkeye.

Fayette County Leader - 19 April 1923