James Lewis Machen (1835 - 1916)

Born 8 Dec 1835 in Cherokee, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Ann Connell — married 30 Aug 1855 in Talladega, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Apr 1916 at age 80 in Winn, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

James Machen was born in Alabama.

Descendant of Henry Machen Revolutionary War Patriot.

Private James Machen served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 10 May 1862
Mustered out: 14 Jun 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): Co E, 28th Regiment, Louisiana Infantry (Gray’s)

James was a member of the Baptist Church.

Early Life

James Lewis Machen was born 8 Dec 1835 in Cherokee County, Alabama.^[1][2] His parents, Henry W. Machen and Nancy Machen, were both descendants of Henry Machen, a soldier in the Revolutionary War who had served as a Sergeant in Roebucks Battalion, Spartan Regiment, South Carolina Militia. The Machen families had moved from South Carolina to Alabama by the time Henry and Nancy were married in 1833.

Marriage and Children

James married Sarah Ann Connell, daughter of William B. Connell and Elizabeth Asbell, 30 Aug 1855 in Talladega County, Alabama.^[3] They had eight known children together (Sarah states she had ten children in the 1900 census), seven of whom survived to adulthood:

• Mary Frances Machen (1856-1910)
• William Martin Machen (1858-1932)
• Martha Jane Machen (1860-1951)
• James Ransom Machen (1863-1937)
• Elizabeth Caroline Machen (1866-1936)
• Emma Machen (1868-bef 1880)
• Missoura Machen (1869-1947)
• Franklin L. Machen (1876-1917)

James, Sarah, and their children, along with his brothers Francis Marion Machen and Llewelyn Machen, migrated west from Alabama, settling in Winn Parish, Louisiana, about 1858.^[4][5]

The Civil War

After the start of the Civil War, James enlisted with his brothers Francis and Llewelyn 10 May 1862 in Monroe, Louisiana, as a Private in Company E of the 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Gray’s).^[5][6] The regiment fought as part of General Richard Taylor’s Army of the Trans Mississippi at the Battles of Fort Bisland and Irish Bend in the spring of 1863, and at the Battles of Mansfield and Yellow Bayou during the Red River Campaign of 1864.

James and Francis surrendered with the rest of the Army of the Trans Mississippi 26 May 1865 in New Orleans, and were paroled 14 Jun 1865 in Natchitoches.^[7] Llewelyn died sometime during the war, and had likely been killed in action, died of wounds, or died of disease; his cause of death is unknown.

Winn Parish, Louisiana

After the war, James and Sarah continued to live and raise their children in Winn Parish.^{[8][9][10][11]} They were likely members of Cypress Creek Baptist Church. James registered a claim under the Homestead Act of 1862 for the land he and his family had settled on in 1858; he was issued a land patent on 19 Nov 1889 for almost 160 acres, 13N, 4W, Sec 27, located west of modern day Dodson, Louisiana, and north of the Dugdemona River.^[12]

He was listed as a member of Montgomery Camp No. 631, United Confederate Veterans, in a letter written by camp adjutant J. M. McCain dated 16 Mar 1906. The letter was published in the Friday, 23 Mar 1906, issue of the Southern Sentinel. ^[13]

Confederate Pension

On 2 Feb 1910, James went before the Winn Parish Clerk of Court and applied for a Confederate pension for his service in the Civil War; the application was filed 4 Feb. He states that he had never been wounded, was never taken prisoner, was not discharged until the close of the war, and had never taken the oath of allegiance. During this time in his life he was helping his sons on their farms, and his children were helping him support himself in his old age. He was suffering from heart trouble.^[5]

Sarah died nearly two years later 4 Jan 1912. James had gone blind and suffered a stroke which partially paralyzed him by the time she died, and the Coroner of Winn Parish, J. J. Peters, M. D., wrote on his behalf 8 Feb 1912 to the pension board for an increase in his pension.^[5]

Death and Burial

James Lewis Machen passed away on 26 Apr 1916 at the age of 80 while living at the home of his daughter Callie Machen Postell near Cypress Creek Baptist Church.^[14] He was buried next to Sarah in Cypress Creek Cemetery.^[1] His obituary was posted in the 11 May 1916 edition of The Winnfield Sentinel:

JAS. L. MACHEN IS CALLED BY DEATH

James L. Machen, one of the honored residents of Winn parish for many years, and a Confederate veteran, died April 26, in his 84th year at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Postel, who lives near Cypress Creek Church. Burial was at Cypress Creek cemetery. Mr. Machen was long a member of the Baptist Church.

James L. Machen was born in Alabama, and came to Louisiana when he was 20 years old. He located in Winn parish near Gansville. He was married in Alabama to Miss Sarah Connell. The wife died about five years ago. Sons surviving are William, James, Frank and Elbert. The latter lives in Milford, Texas. Daughters surviving are Mrs. C. C. Carter, Mrs. J. S. Rudd, Mrs. A. M. Postell, and Mrs. A. C. Cockerham. The latter also lives in Texas.

Mr. Machen spent his life as a farmer and was widely known over the parish. His sons and daughters and grand children are of the first families of northern Louisiana.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #34726839
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MHPY-693 : Wed Mar 15 08:45:18 UTC 2023), Jas Machen in entry for Henry W. Machen and Nancy Machen, 1850.
3. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:29FL-XKX : 19 February 2021), James L Machen and Sarah A Connell, 30 Aug 1855; citing Talladega, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,639,298.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPF-8BY : 18 February 2021), James L Machem, 1860.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} "Louisiana Confederate Pensions, 1898-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-V83S-KP?cc=1838535&wc=M61M-YMS%3A165080001 : 4 September 2020), James L. Machen > images 336 to 346; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.
6. ↑ ”Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Louisiana.” Digital Images. Fold3. https://www.fold3.com/image/81755868 : accessed 25 Mar 2023.
7. ↑ ”U.S., Records of Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865.” Digital Image. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60369/images/MM9.3.1_2FTH-1951-21714-67142-86?pId=27000 : accessed 25 Mar 2023.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87P-B4T : 29 May 2021), James L Matchem, 1870.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDXG-H2N : 14 January 2022), James L. Machen, Winn, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSPV-JK3 : 9 March 2022), J L Machen, 1900.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPBJ-KT5 : accessed 25 March 2023), James L Machen, Police Jury Ward 4, Winn, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 127, sheet 5A, family 78, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 535; FHL microfilm 1,374,548.
12. ↑ ”General Land Office Records.” Digital Image. Bureau of Land Management. https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=LA0820__.157&docClass=STA&sid=dujgdhpc.fr1 : accessed 25 Mar 2023.
13. ↑ McCain, J. M. “Montgomery Camp No. 631: A List of the Living and the Dead of Camp 631, United Confederate Veterans.” The Southern Sentinel (Winnfield, LA), 23 Mar 1906, p. 6. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064428/1906-03-23/ed-1/seq-6/ : accessed 25 Mar 2023.
14. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F33K-SVJ : 4 March 2021), James L Mochen, 26 Apr 1916; citing Dodson, Winn, Louisiana, certificate number 4566, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 2,363,946.
15. ↑ ”Jas L. Machen Is Called By Death.” The Winnfield Sentinel (Winnfield, LA), 11 May 1916, Vol. 2, No. 11, p. 1.