Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - James Temple

James A. Temple

Representing: Union


G.A.R Post

  • John Buford Post #89 Everett, Snohomish Co. WA

Unit History

  • 1st Iowa Light Artillery Battery

See full unit history

James Temple
Full Unit History

1st IOWA LIGHT ARTILLERY BATTERY
Organized: July & August, 1861 Burlington, IA
Mustered In: Ca.8/17/61
Mustered Out: 7/5/65 Davenport, IA

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

  The 1st, a three year unit, was to spend its entire service tenure in the War's "western" theater. It remained stationed at Burlington, IA until December, '61 when it travelled to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, MO where the 141 man battery/company was armed with four 6-pound cannon and 2 12-pounder howitzers. From there it moved into Arkansas where on March 6-8 1862, it saw its first action at Pea Ridge. Although the battery fired the first shot and performed "good service", it suffered severely in loss of men, horses and material including the loss of two caissons which were blown up.  Still, while threatened, none of the battery's armament was lost to the enemy.

  In July, 1862 the 1st arrived in Helena, AK after a march that proved a great hardship to both it and the army to which it was attached.  From there, at year's end it took part in the abortive Union attempt to capture Vicksburg, MS via Chickasaw Bayou.  It concluded the year by participating in the successful attack upon and capture of Arkansas Post; the unit’s service being rewarded by Union Gen. McClernand presenting it with two captured Parrot guns.

  Early 1863 saw the 1st move down the Mississippi River to Sherman's Landing across from Vicksburg. During this movement the unit spent 35 days aboard transport ships before setting foot on dry land. Once again, during the battles and siege of Vicksburg, the battery distinguished itself while under enemy fire. Participation in Union Gen. W.T. Sherman's Atlanta, GA campaign followed. There, once again, the 1st    won the kind mention of Generals and the admiration of the armies with which it served. Final muster came in July, 1865

  Service losses: 1 officer died of disease; 10 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded; 50 enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc.  

Soldier History

SOLDIER:
Residence: Agency, IA   Age: 19.4 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/17/61 Burlington, IA   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered Out: 7/5/65 Davenport, IA
Highest Rank: Pvt.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

  James Albert Temple was born 3/19/42 in New London, Henry County, Iowa to parents Lewis Fields (b. 8/4/06 Moore, NC) and Malinda (nee Kennedy/Kenady  b. 11/1810 TN or Hardin Co.,KY) Temple. He was one of eleven children: William K. (b. 5/8/32 Montgomery Co. KS), Henry Clay (b. 9/18/33 McDonough Co., IL), Mary Jane (b. 10/4/34 McDonough Co., IL) John Lewis (b. 12/8/1835 McDonough Co., IL) George Dudley (b. 11/13/38 Henry Co., IA), Harrison (b. 7/16/40 Henry Co., IA), Judson Adniram (b. 7/5/44  Pleasant Township, Wapello Co., IA), Ruth Eliza (b. 3/26/46 Wapello Co., IA) and Thadeus Taylor (b. 3/18/48 Pleasant Township, Wapello Co., IA). 

  From the time of his birth until his entry into the U.S. Army in August, 1861 nothing is documented about James. However, in later life a pension document noted that during that period he was in Agency, Wapello County, IA. Perhaps, as he grew into his teenaged years, he was living and working on someone else's farm located near that of his parents.

  Military service for the 6', light complexioned, blue eyed, auburn haired James was, at first, benign and then characterized by illness. As per company rolls he was always present until October, 1863 when he was hospitalized in Memphis, TN. The reason for the hospitalization is not known. From Memphis he was transferred to Overton Hospital, Memphis TN and from there granted a 30 day furlough. Even following furlough it appears he remained hospitalized unit mustered out of the service in August, 1864.

  With army life behind him James returned to Agency, IA, but remained there only a short time before, in 1865, removing to Decatur. The following year he moved again, this time westward to Ft. Phil Kearney, Wyoming.  Another year another move, this time to Ft. Fetterman, WY. Finally, in 1868 he returned to Iowa where he once anew settled in or near a community identified only as (Iowa) Center.

  The U.S. Census for 1870 found James still in Iowa, but residing in community of Indian Creek, Story County where he was employed as a carpenter. At that time he was living with his sister Ruth and her husband, Joseph Hilton.

  On 12/28/68 in Story Co. IA James married Sarah Louise Dawson (b. 7/18/37 Wapello Co., IA). The union would produce at least seven children: George Albert (b. 10/2/71 IA), Norah Evelyn (b. 1874 IA), William L. (b. 4/80 WA), Olive Mary (b. 6/10/82 WA), Carrie Agnes (b. 7/85 WA), Henrieta D. (b. 8/21/88 WA) and Arthur Leslie (b.4/19/91 WA).

  Observation of where the Temple offspring were born notes that at early as 1874 the family departed Iowa to resettle in Lebanon, Oregon. Why this half-continent jump was made is not documented. Nor is James' occupation while in Oregon. By 1880, however, his was noted as being employed as a carpenter at the Washington Territory mental asylum in Steilacoom, Pierce County, WA. The family address at the time was South Prairie, Pierce County.

  In 1886, in Washington Territory James applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on ailments which he traced back to his years of Civil War soldiering. Those ailments/illnesses included chronic diarrhea, piles (hemorrhoids) and deafness stemming from service around Vicksburg, MS in July, 1863. While it is very likely a pension was granted, his monthly stipend is not known.

  Census data for 1900 places James and family still in South Prairie, Pierce Co., WA. By that time, however, James had turned to farming. In the home besides his wife, who noted birthing seven children, all of whom were living, were all of those children: George, Norah, Willie, Olive, Carrie, Henrietta and Arthur.

In 1901 the Temples moved northward from Pierce County to Snohomish Co., WA where they settled in or around the city of Everett. The 1910 census found them there with James running a boarding house. Besides Sarah, in the home by this late date were Willie, Olive, Henrietta and Arthur plus Willie's wife and young son.

  On 1/29/13, in Everett, Sarah died. Cause of death is not known. She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. A little over five years later, on 8/1/18 James died at the home of one of his daughters in the community of Pinehurst, a suburb of Everett located in Snohomish County, WA. His Everett Herald obituary noted the 76 year former Civil War soldier was survived by three daughters, Mrs. Frank A. Noyes of Pinehurst, Miss Olive M. Temple of Marysville (Snohomish Co.) and Henrietta Temple of Everett as well as three sons, George A. of Yakima, WA, William L. of Seattle, WA and Arthur of Tacoma, WA. Burial was beside Sarah in Everett's Evergreen Cemetery. 

Cemetery

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery Everett
Row: 7
Site: 54

Adopt-a-Vet Sponsor

Treva Patow (BD&A)
Stanwood, WA


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