James Alexander Barton (1825 - 1914)

Born 26 Dec 1825 in Hall County Georgia

Ancestors

Husband of Pulchara Gaskin — married 12 Jun 1886 in Hamilton, Marion, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 6 Apr 1914 at age 88 in Itawamba, Alabama, United States

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Biography

James Alexander Barton was born December 26, 1825 in Georgia, probably Hall County. He was the oldest child of Willis Barton and Margaret Nancy "Peggy" Martin. James was widowed twice and married three times having children by all three wives.

James married:

1. 5 June 1848 to Martha Jane Girard (b. 23 Aug 1830; GA/d. 4 July 1876)

(Spelled Girard on gravestone, Girrard on marriage license)

2. ca 1878 to Rebecca "Beckie" Magura (b. 1836; AL or GA/d. 1884; Marion Co., AL)

3. ca 1886 to Pulchara Gaskin (b. 17 June 1854/d. 1 Aug 1918)

Children by James and Martha:

Willis Monroe md. Sarah J.

Susanna md. (1) Gibson Kiker, (2) John Cain

James Marion md. Mary E. Richardson

Rebecca Ann md. James Richardson

Margurite md. James Reeves

Mary Malissia md. Isack Coex Rowell

Eva A. md. W. Tom M. Colburn

Sarah Drucillia md. George A. Hendon

Martha S. md. (1)Young William Barton (2) John Chambers Barton

Noah Jackson md. (1) Elizabeth Mills (2) Emma Orick

Child by James and Rebecca:

John L. md. Rosetta "Paritie" Jackson

Children by James and Pulchara:

Bertha J. md. James Andrew Hammock

Joseph G.

Benjamin Harrison md. Pearlie Lee Price

Eliza J. md. Joe PELT

David Washington md. Alma Mae Warren?

James was a blacksmith, but also owned a cotton gin and a grist mill (used to grind flour and meal for the public).

1860 census of Winston County, Alabama

300

Barton

James A. 32; GA

Martha 30; GA

Willis 11; GA

Susanna 8; GA

James 6; GA

Rebecca 5; GA

Margaret 1; AL

Many Winston County citizens held a strong loyalty to the Union during the Civil War. James and his brothers (Jonathan, Gilford, Madison, and William) joined the 1st Alabama Cavalry, Union Army.

According to his military papers, James was six feet, 1 inch tall with blue eyes, dark hair, and a fair complexion.

James was wounded in his right hand during the Civil War which caused a contraction of some of his fingers and rendered him unable to work a regular job. As a result, he received a disability check from the government.^[1]

Witness, A. M. McLachlen's, account of James Alexander's wound:^[2]

"He was wounded across the back of the right hand at Vincents Cross Roads Miss. about last of Oct. 1863."^[3]

The witness went on to state that due to James' infirmity, his ability to exercise his previous occupation of blacksmithing was diminished to about half.

Witness, Jonathan Barton's, account of James Alexander's wound: ^[4]

"I saw him pass me during the battle with his hand bleeding. When I saw him in camp his hand was swelled up and looked sore...After the wound healed up and while he was in the service two of his fingers became stiffened and drawn so he could not close them tight shut...When he went home and went to work in the shop he had some kind of a rising on his hand--on the inside of the right hand just opposite from where he was wounded...It healed up and his hand was the same as before except 'mabe' his fingers were a little more drawn than before."

Examiner asked, "Are you certain that the index and middle fingers of right hand were drawn and crooked while in the service?

Jonathan answered, "Yes sir."

From testimony of Frances C. Harris:^[5]

Examiner asked, "Did the wound look deep when you first saw it?"

"Yes, the wound looked as though it might have cut the leaders."

Examiner asked, "Were his fingers injured in any way to your knowledge in the wound?"

"I know some of his fingers on his right hand were drawed up while in the service. Were crooked so he could not close them to halve of hand...I have often heard him say and complain that he couldn't hold his hammer. When I have had him do my blacksmithing.""

1870 Census of Winston Co., AL^[6]

73-73

Barton,

James 42; GA farmer $500 $500

Martha 36; GA

Munrow 21; GA

Susan 19;GA

James M. 17; GA

Rebecca 15; GA

Margaret 13; AL

Malissa 9; AL

Drucilla 4; AL

Enjaline? 1; AL [Evaline]

3-8-1873: James filed a claim before the Southern Claims Commission for losses suffered during the Civil War. He was granted a settlement of $193.75. Commission #2166.

1880 Census of Marion County, Alabama^[7]

Barton,

James A. 53; AL

Rebecca 44; GA

Sarah D. 14; AL

Eva A. 12; AL

Martha S. 9; AL

Noah J. 7; AL

John L. 1; AL

James was the only son of Willis and Margaret who moved out of the state of Alabama. He left Winston County, Alabama and moved to Marion County, Alabama, then finally made the move to Itawamba County, Mississippi.

James' granddaughter, Dovie Rowell, said her grandparents' home was a beautiful log cabin. It had two 20x20 foot rooms made of hewed logs with stucco in between them and stucco walls inside the house and a big roofed breezeway between the rooms that was used for a summer 'setting' room. Dovie's grandmother whitewashed the cabin inside and out every year.

James passed away in 1914 in Itawamba County, Mississippi where he'd made his home for a number of years. He's buried at Mount Zion Cemetery in Tremont, Itawamba County, Mississippi, about six miles from Red Bay, Alabama.

Sources

1. ↑ Pension File, Image 54
2. ↑ Pension File, Image 59
3. ↑ Pension File, Image 58
4. ↑ Pension File, Image 62
5. ↑ Pension File, Images 64 & 65
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH27-XJG : 17 October 2014), James Barton, Alabama, United States; citing p. 10, family 73, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,544.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4V9-PVC : 11 August 2016), James A Barton, Beat 9, Marion, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district ED 241, sheet 62C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0023; FHL microfilm 1,254,023.

• Census records as noted within biography

• Marriage license

• Military records

• Multiple interviews with relatives and descendants of James Alexander

• Find A Grave Memorial# 140662125

• Source: S-2059682862 Repository: #R-2139532852 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/pt/PersonMatch.aspx?tid=20227596&pid=143 Repository: R-2139532852 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com