Pvt James Wood Calkins

Son of Chauncey Ira Calkins & Sarah Kellogg [ ] Married Eliza Jane Gilmore, 13 May 1852

Children- Mary Elizabeth Calkins, Myron Ransom Calkins, Israel William Calkins, Lucinda Calkins, Lyman Calkins, James Calkins, Chauncey Ira Calkins, Charles Edward Calkins, Alva Calkins, Willard Calkins

James Wood Calkins was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at an early age. His parents brought his family to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, to be with the Saints by the 1840s. After religious persecution had driven the family to Iowa Territory, James volunteered to serve with the Mormon Battalion. He enlisted on 16 July 1846 at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa Territory, in Company A. The muster rolls recorded him as being sick from 16 July 1846 through 31 August 1846. Due to this lengthy illness, he was detached with the sick to winter at Fort Pueblo rather than complete the journey to California. After his discharge James immigrated to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving on 27 July 1846. He remained in the valley one month before heading east to Atchison County, Missouri. He resided in Atchison from 11 November 1847 until March 1849, when he moved to Fremont County, Iowa.

James was baptized a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on 1 May 1870 at Madison, Jones, Iowa, by J. R. Badham. He was confirmed by W. Baldwin and J. R. Badham. He was ordained an elder on 1 May 1870 at Mill Creek, Fremont, Iowa, by W. Baldwin. He attended the Iowa Branches at Mill Creek and Riverton. On 8 January 1890 James applied for a Government Issued Survivor's Pension. He died from heart disease.

The three brothers, Alva C. Calkins, James Wood Calkins, and Sylvanus Calkins along with their first cousin Edwin R. Calkins enlisted as privates in Company A of the U.S. Mormon Battalion. James W. was on detached service 17 Oct 1846. He was one of the men sent to Pueblo by way of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to winter, under the command of Captain Brown. As such he would have entered the Salt Lake Valley the 29th July 1847.

HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY 1881 MADISON TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES JAMES W CALKINS

Calkins, James W., farmer, section 4, P.O. Riverton. He is a native of the town of Fredonia, Carrarugus County, New York; and when quite young, moved with his parents to Ohio, and remained but a short time when he went to Missouri. He soon after went to Pike County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood and was educated in the subscription schools. His youth was passed in working upon a farm, which has been his vocation until the present time. He came to Iowa in 18 --, and immediately enlisted in the Mexican War, at Council Bluffs, and served fifteen months. After being discharged went to Missouri, where his parents lived, and shortly after came to this county. Was married in this county, May 15, 1852, to Miss Eliza Jane Gilimore, a native of Tuscarora County, Ohio. They are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: Mary E, Miron R, Fred W, Luman, Lucinda, Chancey, Charles E, Alvah and Willard: James M (deceased). He is a member of the Latter Day Saints, and his wie a member of the M.E. Church. He has at different times been elected to the various township offices. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres, in a fine state of cultivation. He is an old settler and cast his first vote in 1850, which was the first vote cast in the county. He was assessed for taxes for a time by both Iowa and Missouri, but Missouri failed to collect the levy. He is a man highly respected by his neighbors, and is an elder in high standing in the church to which he belongs.

• Mormon Battalion members Inscription: Aged 70 years 11 months 28 days
• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via sister Mary Elizabeth Beckstead (born Calkins) by SmartCopy: Jun 27 2015, 22:28:19 UTC