James was born in a mining camp in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania about 1834. James wrote in a letter to the military pension board that he wasn't even sure of what year he was born other than what his parents told him and any record of his birth, which would have been a family Bible, burned in a fire about 1850 or 51. The 1850 census had his age as 16. James married Permelia Mattocks (Daughter of Daniel & Elizabeth) about 1852 and around the same time moved to Iowa with his wife and in-laws. In 1862 James enlisted in the Army, 38th Iowa Infantry Company H to fight in the Civil War. He was present at the battle of Vicksburg but did not see much action. Most of the time his unit was out of action due to sickness (The 38th was known as the martyred division due to sickness. more deaths occurred due to sickness than from battle.). The 38th was also present at other battles in the South including Mobile Bay and also were camped at Fort Barrancas in Florida for a considerable time. In 1865 the 38th was merger with the Iowa 34 Division and as the company was loading ammunition on barges in Galveston Texas James sustained eye injuries in an explosion. The 34/38th were mustered out of the army later that year. James returned to Iowa and worked as a Farmer near Wadena Iowa for several years. Later he worked as a Stone mason and a Teemster. In 1889 his wife Permilia died. James later married Emily Tripp and lived with her for a few years moving to Oklahoma for a short time then back to Iowa. this was not a good marriage and he left her around 1899 but did not divorce her until several years later. About 1906 James was entered into the Old Soldiers Home in Marshalltown Iowa. About a year later he returned to West Union Iowa where he lived for 3 years then moved back to the Old Soldiers Home about 1909. James Died at the Old Soldiers Home in 1914 and is burried at the cemetery there.
James was born in a mining camp in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania about 1834. James wrote in a letter to the military pension board that he wasn't even sure of what year he was born other than what his parents told him and any record of his birth, which would have been a family Bible, burned in a fire about 1850 or 51. The 1850 census had his age as 16. James married Permelia Mattocks (Daughter of Daniel & Elizabeth) about 1852 and around the same time moved to Iowa with his wife and in-laws. In 1862 James enlisted in the Army, 38th Iowa Infantry Company H to fight in the Civil War. He was present at the battle of Vicksburg but did not see much action. Most of the time his unit was out of action due to sickness (The 38th was known as the martyred division due to sickness. more deaths occurred due to sickness than from battle.). The 38th was also present at other battles in the South including Mobile Bay and also were camped at Fort Barrancas in Florida for a considerable time. In 1865 the 38th was merger with the Iowa 34 Division and as the company was loading ammunition on barges in Galveston Texas James sustained eye injuries in an explosion. The 34/38th were mustered out of the army later that year. James returned to Iowa and worked as a Farmer near Wadena Iowa for several years. Later he worked as a Stone mason and a Teemster. In 1889 his wife Permilia died. James later married Emily Tripp and lived with her for a few years moving to Oklahoma for a short time then back to Iowa. this was not a good marriage and he left her around 1899 but did not divorce her until several years later. About 1906 James was entered into the Old Soldiers Home in Marshalltown Iowa. About a year later he returned to West Union Iowa where he lived for 3 years then moved back to the Old Soldiers Home about 1909. James Died at the Old Soldiers Home in 1914 and is burried at the cemetery there.
Inscription
JAS. KINSEL
CO. H.
34 IA. INF.
Gravesite Details
Year of birth is either 1833 or 1834.
Family Members
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