Biographical & Genealogical History of Appanoose & Monroe Counties, Iowa

New York, Lewis Publishing Co. 1903

James Drury page 83

One of the boys in blue of the Civil war, and at all times a loyal citizen, true to the interests of county, state and nation, James Drury is numbered among the representative citizens of Monroe county. He was born in county Clare, Ireland, on the 15^th of August, 1835, and is a son of Michael and Mary ( Sullivan ) Drury, also natives of the Emerald Isle. When our subject was but eleven months old his father died, and in 1845 the mother and son joined an older brother in America, the latter, John Drury, residing in Chester, Vermont. The mother’s death occurred in Springfield, that state, at the age of seventy-five years.

In 1861 James Drury offered his services to his adopted country, enlisting in Company C, Fourth Vermont Regiment, under Captain Farr, and at the close of his three years’ term he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge on the 6^th of August, in Montpelier, and was mustered out of service at Brattleboro, Vermont. He was made color bearer and sergeant of his regiment, was in many of the hard fought battles of the war, and was at all times a faithful and intrepid soldier. After a long service he applied for a furlough, and his application was endorsed by his captain in the following words: “I have the honor to request that a furlough of twenty-five days be granted to Sergeant James Drury, Company C, Fourth Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and I will beg leave to represent that on making this request I have a desire to promote the interest of the service, as well to pay a well earned tribute to existing merit. This veteran soldier, the color bearer of the regiment, has served from the commencement of the war until the present time, with a singleness of purpose—a heart ever faithful to the great principles for which we have been contending. Ever foremost among his comrades, he has carried the colors through victory and defeat. Disregarding danger, he has led his regiment in all the battles it participated in from May 5, 1864, to October 19, 1864. In the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, his coolness and bravery in action commanded the respect of his officers as well as the faith and confidence of his comrades. In the engagement near the Weldon Railroad, when misfortune overtook the greater part of his regiment, he saved its colors. But more particularly did he distinguish himself in the battles in the Shenandoah valley, Charleston, Berryville, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek being names impressed upon the memories of his comrades in common with his. Charles G. Fisher.”

The application was approved as follows: “Approved for twenty-five days, and respectfully forwarded. Sergeant Drury has proved himself one of the best soldiers of the brigade, under every specification mentioned in said order and on every battlefield which his regiment has served upon, and especially in saving the colors of his regiment June 23, on the Weldon Railroad, when almost the entire regiment was captured. George P. Foster.” The furlough was granted as follows: Headquarters Army of the Potomac, February 27, 1865.—Sergeant James Drury, Company C, Fourth Vermont Volunteers, is granted a furlough for twenty-five days as a reward for soldiery conduct.—By command of Major General Parke.—(Signed) Chas. E. Pease, Assistant Adjutant General. For his bravery at the battle of Weldon Railroad, on the 23^rd of June, 1864, Mr. Drury was rewarded with a medal by a special act of congress. As a further reward for his services Sergeant Drury was tendered the position of second sergeant of Company D, Fourth Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry, by Governor J. Gregory Smith, of Vermont.

After the close of the war our subject returned to his hold home in Vermont, where he remained until his removal to Albia, Iowa, on the 15^th of October, 1869. In his youth he learned the stone-mason’s trade, which he followed in Iowa, in company with his young wife, his entire capital consisted of two dollars and fifty cents, and out of this amount he was obliged to pay fifty cents to have his truck taken to his home, eight miles north of Albia. He immediately resumed work at his trade in this locality, and now owns his present farm of two hundred acres of fertile and well improved land. On the 28^th of December, 1868, in Vermont, he was united in marriage to Jane Daugherty, a native of Ireland, and they have become the parents of ten children, all of whom are living. Charles Thomas is a stone mason in Albia. John Sherman has two children, a son and a daughter. Two daughters of the family, Kathryn and Mary, are engaged in teaching school; two of the sons, Harry and Logan, are attending school in Des Moines; another daughter, Dora, keeps house for her two brothers in Des Moines; a son, Emmett, is a railroad man in Seattle; and two sons, Edward Leo and James A., are t home. The family are members of the Catholic church in Albia.

In political matters Mr. Drury is a life-long Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for Lincoln in his second race for the presidency. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Masonic order, being connected with Lovilia Lodge. He is also color bearer of the Bluff Creek Veterans’ Association, and is a member of Orman Post No. 123, G.A.R., of Albia. At the meeting in which Mr. Drury was elected to the position of standard bearer, Comrade E. C. Canning delivered the following well chosen words: “Your election by the spontaneous and unanimous voice of your comrades as standard bearer, into whose hands we now entrust this beautiful banner, a gift from friends we deeply love and highly honor, surely calls forth some expression why so honored. You, an adopted citizen of our country, manfully stood for its defense in many well fought battles, saving the flag of your regiment at the Weldon Railroad, carrying it over the broken lines of the enemy at the charge of Cedar Creek, and again bringing off the colors in the battle of the Wilderness, and bearing yourself so gallantly that a grateful country has conferred on you its highest badge of military honor. We give to your keeping this flag that our sons may emulate your noble deeds, and if war shall ever darken the horizon of our beloved land that they may with brave and manly hearts rally to her defense and man her ships, and that our flag shall speak defiance to her enemies and ever wave the banner of the free over the home of the brave.”

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