Judge James Marion Zumwalt

Judge James Marion Zumwalt

James was the son of Adam Zumwalt and Louretta Byrnside. He married Elizabeth Long on December 5, 1868 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri. They had twelve children.

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James built the first store in Polk about 1880; he built a blacksmith shop and hired Josh Blanton to operate it. He was the first postmaster in 1888, then B.F. Kitt, then N.S. Fraser, then M.E. Fraser (1908-1924), then J.B. Pitts, then M.E. Fraser again, then Berniece Sallee - JMZ's grand-daughter operated it as postmistress from 1934-1974. When Mrs. Sallee retired in 1974 the office was closed and rural driving delivery began in Polk.

The land for the Baptist Church, school and cemetery were donated by J.M.Zumwalt. If church ceases to be a Baptist Church and school ceases to be a school - land is to return to the heirs. The school did cease operation in the early 1960's(?) and the heirs let the school system have the property. It was sold and operated as an assisted living home for several years. It is vacant now (2000).

Copy of James Marion's statement of war service for US Pension Office, stamp dated April 5, 1915;

"Enrolled Missouri Malitia, July 1862. 1st enlist, Co. Mo. 8th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, September 9th 1862. Enlisted at Pittsburg, Missouri. Married to Elizabeth Zumwalt, Elizabeth Long December the 6th, 1868 in Polk County, Missouri by the Reverand Charles L. Alexander. Proof in the marriage records of Polk County, Missouri at Bolivar. Never have been married but one time, never have been divorced. My wife never was married to any man but me. I am now living with my wife the only one I ever had."

State name and dates of birth of children living and dead:
"Charles E. Zumwalt was borned on the 22nd day of September 1869 in Polk County, Missouri. Anna M. Zumwalt was borned in Polk County, MO. on the 6th day of September 1871. Lonie A. Zumwalt was borned on the 8th day of May 1873. Edward W. Zumwalt was borned in Polk County, Mo. May the 18th 1875. Lillie Zumwalt was borned in Polk County, Mo. on the 20th day of Feb 1877. James L. Zumwalt was borned on the 12th day of August 1879 in Polk County, Mo. John W. Zumwalt was borned in Polk County, Mo. the 31st day of July 1881. Elizabeth P. Zumwalt was borned the 20th day of March 1884 in Polk County, Mo. Eldred C. Zumwalt was borned in Polk County, Mo. on the 21st day of December 1887. Henry Zumwalt was borned in Polk County, Mo. on the 2nd of July 1892. dated April the 2nd, 1915 and signed by James M. Zumwalt." (NOTE: Mae is missing - need to find his statement and see if I omitted during typing or if he did...doubtful.) 1/03

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JAMES M. ZUMWALT: A Biography (author unknown);
He was born 17 Oct 1841 in Polk Co., Missouri, a son of Adam and Louretta M (Byrnside) ZUMWALT who were born in Virginia and Missouri 1 July 1807 and 1820, and died in 1875 and 6 Feb 1884 respectfully.

He was one of seven children and received his education in the common schools of Greene Co., Missouri. He remained with his parents until 19 years of age and after enlisting in July 1862 serving for sometime in the Missouri Militia, he joined Company M, 8th Regiment Missouri Cavalry Volunteers on 9 September 1862. At this time his mailing address was Pittsburg, Missouri. He remained with the 8th Regiment until the close of the Civil War, holding the rank of Corporal, and participating in the following engagements: Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Big River Bridge, Chalf Bluff, Bayou Meto Bridge, Little Rock, Dardanelle, Claradon, Lewisburg, Bull Creek and numerous others. He served under Captain N.B. McDowell. On his enlistment papers, he was described as 5'6", fair complexion, blue eyes, black hair, and a farmer. He was discharged 20 July 1865 at St. Louis, Mo.

After the war, he turned his attention to farming and stock-trading, and in 1879 engaged in the mercantile business, being the first businessman of Polktown and has been its first and only postmaster. From 1882 to 1889, he discontinued merchandising, but began trading again. This is an excellent trading point, and he succeeded admirably in the accumulation of wealth. He was a most enterprising citizen of this county, and was a life long Democrat in his political views and in 1884 was elected to the office of County Judge.

He married Elizabeth LONG daughter of Noah and Nancy LONG on 6 {true date is 5th} December 1868 in Polk Co., Missouri by the Reverand Charles E. ALEXANDER. They had 11 children.

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Around 1895 while residing in Polktown, Polk Co., Missouri, he applied for a pension due to bronchitis, asthma, and general disability as a result of his servie in the Civil War. He gave the following account as the cause of his disablity as taken from his pension files:

"About the month of Janury 1865, while in US service at a swamp and bayou about 25 miles northest of Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas, we were on a scout and were about to cross the bayou and it was raining and weather freezing when our brigade crossed, we had to wait for others to cross. In the meantine our clothing froze on us and when we were ordered to dismount, I could not because I was so cold and stiff and was helped off by James INGLIS a comrade in the company. From that time, my leg - the right leg - below the knee has swelled and continues to affect me whenever I walk or stand long on it. It was not the result of vicious habits."

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In 1916, he asked for extra pension due to the "injury to leg, piles, and entire loss of sight in one eye." He died 26 March 1917 after 48 1/2 years of marriage and was buried 27 March 1917 in Mount View Cemetery, McKinley Township, Polk Co., Mo. His widow Elizabeth applied for his pension and lived to be 88 years old. She died 1 May 1940 and was buried in the same cemetery as her husband.

COPY OF JAMES' WILL IS LOCATED IN MY MANUAL FILES

Obituary:

  Judge James M. ZUMWALT died at his home near Polk, Mo., Monday, March 26, 1917.  Mr. ZUMWALT had been sick with pneumonia and was thought to be on the road to recovery, when a sudden change came and he expired in a short time.

  Judge ZUMWALT has long been a prominent citizen of Polk County.  He has served at different times as Judge of the County Court.  He was a native of Polk County and was born in 1841.

  The funeral was held Tuesday and was largely attended by old friends and neighbors.  Burial was in the cemetery at Polk.

According to death certificate copy, JMZ died of "labor pneumonia".

"When father was discharged from the Civil War, the officers gave him his sabre that he carried during the war. Some of Lon's boys has that." (NZR)

JAMES M. ZUMWALT

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, Missouri; 1889, published by Goodspeed, Pgs. 717, 718, Polk County Biography Section

Judge James M. Zumwalt, a native of Polk County, Mo., was born on the 17th of October, 1841, and is a son of Adam and Loretta M. (Byrnside) Zumwalt, who were born in Bath County, Va., and Pike County, Mo., July 1, 1807, and 1820 and died in Pike County in 1875 and 1885, respectively. The father came with his parents to Missouri when St. Louis was a small French village, and, after residing in several different counties, finally located in Polk County about 1837, and here spent his declining years. He was married, in Greene County, to Miss Byrnside, having been previously married, in Franklin County to Miss Mahala Sups, who died shortly after. He was a life-long Democrat, and when a young man served in the Indian wars and also the Mexican War. He and his wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church respectively. His father, John Zumwalt, was of German birth, born in Little York, Va., and was a farmer and mechanic by occupation. While serving in the War of 1812, he was in the battle when the noted Indian chief, Black Hawk, was captured. While living in St. Louis he was engaged in ferry-boating on the Mississippi River. His death occurred in Polk County. His father was born in Germany, John by name, and came to America and assisted the colonists in their struggle for liberty. Andrew Zumwalt, the latter's father, came to America at an early day, and founded the town of Little York, Va. Judge James M. Zumwalt, whose name heads this sketch, was one of seven children, and received his education in the common schools of Greene County. He remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, and, after enlisting and serving in the Home Guards for some time, joined the Eighth Cavalry Federal service, with which he remained until the close of the war, holding the rank of corporal, and participating in the following engagements: Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Big River Bridge, Chalk Bluff, Bayou Meto Bridge, Little Rock, Dardanelle, Claradon, Lewisbury, Bull Creek, and numerous others. After the war he turned his attention to farming and stock-trading, and in 1879 engaged in mercantile pursuits, being the first business man of Polktown, and has been it first and only postmaster. From 1882 to 1889 he discontinued merchandising, but at the latter date resumed business, and has been thus engaged up to the present time, his stock being valued at about $3,000. This is an excellent trading point, and he has succeeded admirably in the accumulation of wealth. He is one of the enterprising citizens of the county, and for many years has been a Democrat in his political views, and in 1884 was elected to the office of county judge. December 6, 1869, he was married to Elizabeth Long, a daughter of Noah Long. She was born in Davis County, W. Va., in 1852, and her union with Mr. Zumwalt has been blessed with the birth of eight children: Charles E., attending college at Bolivar; Louisa A., at home; Edward W., Lillie, James L., Pearl, May, and an infant son. Mrs. Zumwalt is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 9 2022, 0:16:17 UTC