CARMICHAEL, James H. 1840-1925

CARMICHAEL, MILLER, DICKINSON, MCLOUD, EWING, ROBINSON, PHELPS, BRIAR

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/2/2013 at 07:40:10

James Harper Carmichael was born August 5, 1840 and passed from this life at his home in Elgin, Iowa, Sept. 14th, 1925, at the age of 85 years, one month and nine days.

His native state was Penn., town Carmichael, but in boyhood he came to Iowa with the family of his uncle, Henry Carmichael with whom he had made his home since the death of his father when James was about the age of two. The family crossed from Indiana to Iowa in a covered wagon and settled on a farm near West Union in Fayette County. Here the deceased lived until he joined the Union Army in the war of 1861-65.

Co. C, Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, of which Brother Carmichael was a member, was raised mostly in Fayette County. They were enlisted in October, 1861, were mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Union, two or three miles north of Dubuque. After the winter's training in that camp they proceeded to St. Louis and then on to some of the severest battles of the Civil War. The Twelfth Iowa was at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Miss., White River, Ark., Nashville, Tenn., Selma, Ala., besides numerous skirmishes and lighter engagements. At Shiloh they belonged to the famous "Hornet's Nest Brigade" and through the reminder of the war maintained that record of courage and gallantry.

The regiment was at Selma, Ala., when peace was declared, but they were kept in the south for provost duty at Center, Ala., Jacksonville and Memphis, Tenn., until January 20th, 1866 when they were mustered out of the service. They proceeded to Davenport, Iowa, where they dispersed to again enter the pursuits of peace.

Brother Carmichael had re-enlisted as a veteran, Jan. 5th, 1864, so that his army career lasted from the beginning to the end of that strife. His army experiences were very real to him. He enjoyed recounting them to those interested and the reunions with his comrades of Civil War days were great events in his life.

This verse has been written of the discharge of the Twelfth Iowa:
"Never again in line to stand,
And watch the enemy advancing;
To wait the sharp word of command,
To see from hostile bayonets glancing
The bright new gleam of the early day;
Never again in the morning gray
To hear the bugle calling, calling,
To battle where men'll be falling."

And the following was written of later days and is truer today than ever:
"Some rest on distant battlefields
Where first the battery's thunder pealed,
Some far away 'Mid arts of peace,
Whose call they heard when strife did cease.
But we remember every name,
And comrades still each one we claim."

At the close of the war, Mr. Carmichael again came to Fayette County, bringing his wife, formerly Miss Lucinda Miller, of Belle Vernon, Penn., to whom he had been married, March 31st, 1862. In 1883 the family moved to Volga City where the deceased lived until after the death of his wife, Feb. 10th, 1910*. He was again married to Mrs. Martha Dickinson* of Elgin, Iowa, where they have made their home ever since.

Besides Mrs. Carmichael there survive, his children: Mrs. Anna C. Ewing and Mrs. Sarah Etta Robinson of Volga City; James Henry Carmichael of Arlington and Mrs. Belle Louise Phelps of Strawberry Point. There are also five grandchildren: Fred C. Robinson of Oklahoma, Ralph Robinson of Minneapolis, Mrs. Cecil Briar of Monona, Miss Cecil Ewing of Volga City and Jean Mae Phelps of Strawberry Point and two great grandchildren.

The testimony of all who knew Brother Carmichael is that he was a good father and a kind helpful neighbor, a loyal citizen and a consistent Christian. In Volga City he was converted under the ministry of Rev. Montgomery of the Presbyterian church and united with that church, where his membership remained until death. Especially during the latter years of his life his religion was real to him and the promises of the Bible were very precious and his faith was in them. He chose the chapter and verse to be used at the funeral service and the hymns to be sung on that occasion. Indeed might he say with the ancient servant of the Lord, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course."

Funeral services were held, Sept. 16th, at the home in Elgin and at the Presbyterian church in Volga City, conducted by Rev. Ernest J. Starr of Elgin and interment was in Volga Cemetery*.

~Arlington News, September 17, 1925

~Notes
*Lucinda's death notice appeared in the Arlington News, February 16, 1911 -Volga City News column, and conflicts with the dod given in her husband's obit
*Martha died in April 1926 & is buried in Illyria cemetery, Fayette co. IA; she was nee Martha McLoud; her 1st husband was William Dickenson (d. 1909)
*Volga cemetery is aka Hillcrest, Clayton county