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James Maxwell
Company D, 127th Illinois Infantry
" I was harrowing a small piece of ground for potatoes and cabbage when the harrow caught in a small soddy place and turned it over on the horses. As quick as a flash they commenced to kick and run and dragged me all around the piece. Jenny got in between the pieces and a tooth cum [sic] up between her legs and she bled to death in less than ten minutes...." James Maxwell,May 29, 1871
Morton—May 29, 1871
Dear Brother & Sister—
I will try and write a few lines to you to night. I have had bad luck today.
I was harrowing a small piece of ground for potatoes and cabbage when the harrow caught in a small soddy place and turned it over on the horses. As quick as a flash they commenced to kick and run and dragged me all around the piece. Jenny got in between the pieces and a tooth cum [sic] up between her legs and she bled to death in less than ten minutes. It made a hole you could run your hand in. Dolly is cut so bad that if I do anything with her in a month, I will think I’m lucky.
It leaves me in a bad fix. Two three-year old colts—one not broke and one as poor as a crow. I have about 25 acres broke. I don’t know what I shall do. I can’t hire any broken unless I can trade a cow for it. I am so discouraged tonight. I don’t know what to do with myself. There is only about 16 acres of old land for the place and that is half sod, so that I can’t cultivate it. I hope you are getting along well.
Write soon.
From your Affectionate Brother, J. R. Maxwell
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Submitter: Sherri Cawley
James Maxwell enlisted on August 13, 1862. He mustered into Company “D”, 127th Illinois Infantry. He was mustered out on May 31, 1865
Brian Brown, author of In the Footsteps of the Blue and Gray: A Civil War Research Handbook which can be purchased from ABE Books kindly sends the following information:
James R. Maxwell was born in Milford (?) or Westford (?)
(the entry was almost illegible). The state looked like
Connecticut in the Illinois service records, but census
records indicate birth in Ohio.
On 8/13/62, he joined Company D, 127 Illinois Volunteer
Infantry Regiment at Chicago. He mustered in on 9/5/62,
also at Chicago. He was discharged on May 31, 1865 at
Washington D.C. At the time of his enlistment, he was
single, a farmer, age 20, 5-10, black hair-gray eyes-light
complexion and resided in Highland, Grundy County, Illinois.
On the 1860 census of Grundy County Illinois, Wauponsia
township, page 170, James Maxwell, a 21 year old farmer hand
who was born in Ohio, is listed.
In 1890, Maxwell applied for an invalid's pension and
received certificate #797043. At the time, he was living in
Illinois. In 1930, his widow Emily (who was living in
Illinois, applied for a widow's pension and received
certificate #A-5-15-30.
Read more letters in the Maxwell Collection: undated | 5 Jan. 1863 | February 15, 1863 | 24 March 1863 | 29 May 1871 | 30 Sept. 1873
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Find ancestors in Civil War letters, War of 1812 letters, Revolutionary War letters. Search your ancestry and find your genealogy. Find your roots and hear your ancestors' words. Discover your origins in old letters as ancestors tell their stories and details of family history. Learn how to preserve old documents, family treasures and heirlooms.
