Private JOEL DARNELL, Co. F, 86th Illinois

Joel Darnell was born on April 2, 1830 in Marion County, Indiana, the son of William W. Darnell and Prissilla Jane(Thurman) Darnell. Sometime after his birth and before the fall of 1832, his parents brought the family west to Illinois where they settled in Knox County, Illinois near Maquon. Joel Darnell grew to manhood farming the land beside his father and brothers. At the time of the 1850 census, the Darnell family is found in Knox County, Illinois;
Wm Darnell M 47 North Carolina
Priscilla Darnell F 43 Virginia
Thos Darnell M 22 Indiana
Joel Darnell M 20 Indiana
James Darnell M 18 Illinois
Wm Darnell M 16 Illinois
Eliza Darnell F 13 Illinois
Sumner Darnell M 12 Illinois
Mary Darnell F 9 Illinois
Allen Darnell M 7 Illinois
Geo Darnell M 5 Illinois
Jane Darnell F Illinois

At the time of the 1850 census, Joel is also found in the Zimmerman household in Knox County, where he is working as a farmhand;
T J Zimmerman M 42 Ohio
Rebecca Zimmerman F 39 Ohio
Eliza J Zimmerman F 17 Ohio
Amanda Zimmerman F 16 Ohio
Martha Zimmerman F 13 Ohio
Rachel A Zimmerman F 5 Illinois
Joel Darnell M 20 Indiana

Joel Darnell was married to Cynthia A. Walter on September 25, 1851 in Knox County, Illinois. Cynthia was born on March 8, 1833 in Highland County, Ohio, the daughter of John W. Walter and Hannah (Sumner) Walter. Five children were born to Joel and Cynthia. They are;
1. Bowater Sumner Darnell, born October 1852; married to Sarah Kate Lewallen on April 23, 1874 in Knox County, Illinois; Sarah was born c. Dec. 29, 1853 in Illinois, the daughter of William and Frances (Lowman) Lewallen; Bowater and Sarah, according to the 1900 census, had three children, one apparently dying very young;
A. Frank Owen Darnell, born May 20, 1875 in Knox County, Illinois; Married in 1899/1900 to Mary A. ___________; Frank and Mary are not believed to have had any children; Frank died on ____________ __, 1954 in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois
B. William Darnell, born June __, 1882 in Knox County, Illinois; William was married to widow or divorcee, Rozina Lela (Housh) Kirkoff in the early 1900's; William and Rozina are not believed to have had any children; William Darnell died on January 16, 1923 in H2 Ward, East Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois. He is listed as having been born on June 1, 1882 in Illinois and his parents as B. S. Darnell, who was born in Illinois and Len Allen, who was born in Illinois. William's occupation is listed as Farmer and R. R. Brakeman and his place of residence as Galesburg, Illinois. His wife is Rozina Darnell and William's mortal remains were laid in the Maquon Cemetery in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois on January 19, 1923.
C. ___________ Darnell, born __________ __, 18___

At the time of the 1880 census, Bowater and his family are found in Jackson, Clarke County, Iowa;
Bowler Darnell Self M 27 Ohio
Katharine Darnell Wife F 26 Ohio
Frank Darnell Son M 5 Illinois

Shortly after this census, Bowater returned to Knox County with his family. At the time of the 1900 census, Bowater and his family are found in the Village of Maquon, Maquon Township, Knox County, Illinois. According to this census, Sarah had three children, only two of whom are living at this time;
Borter S Darnell Head M Oct 1852 48 Illinois
Sarah C Darnell Wife F Dec 1853 47 Ohio
William Darnell Son M Jun 1882 18 Illinois
Cal Fluke Servant M 40 Illinois

At the time of the 1900 census, Frank and his recently wed wife are living in the Village of Maquon as well;
Frank O Darnell Head M May 1875 25 Illinois
Mary A Darnell Wife F 19 Illinois

At the time of the 1910 census, Bowater, Sarah, Frank and his family; and William and his family are all found in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois. This is the way they appear;
Boarter S Darnell Head M 57 Iowa
Sarah C Darnell Wife F 56 Ohio
Addie V Graf Nurse F 32 Missouri

Frank O Darnell Head M 34 Illinois
Mary A Darnell Wife F 29 Illinois
Fred King Servant M 30 Illinois

William Darnell Head M 27 Illinois
Rozina L Darnell Wife F 28 Illinois
Loyd I Kirkoff Stepson M 10 Illinois
Joseph Hoxworth Boarder M 64 Ohio

At the time of the 1920 census, Bowater and Sarah have moved into what is called Ward 3 of the City of Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, while William and his wife have moved into what is called Ward 4 of the City of Galesburg. This is the way they appear

Boarter Darnell Head M 67 Illinois
Sarah C Darnell Wife F 66 Ohio

William Darnell Head M 37 Illinois
Rosna Darnell Wife F 38 Illinois
Lloyd Kerkuff Stepson M 20 Illinois
Clela Hinman Roomer M 25 Illinois
Robert R Shaefer Roomer M 53 Illinois
Clarence Richardson Roomer M 23 Illinois

(Note: Lloyd Irvin Kirkhoff was born on August 26, 1899 the son of Charlie V. Kirkhoff and Rozina Lela (Housh) Kirkhoff. Lloyd died on October 1, 1922 in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Maquon Cemetery in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois.)

At the time of the 1920 census, Frank and his wife are still found in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois;
Frank Darnell Head M 44 Illinois
Mary Darnell Wife F 38 Illinois

Bowater Sumner Darnell died on ___________ __, 1924 and his mortal remains were laid in the Maquon Cemetery in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois.

At the time of the 1930 census, Frank and Mary are found in Pilot Grove, Hancock County, Illinois;
Frank O Darnell Head M 54 Illinois
Mary A Darnell Wife F 48 Illinois

At the time of the 1940 census, Frank and Mary are found back in Galesburg Township, Knox County, Illinois;
Frank Darnell Head M 65 Illinois
Mary Darnell Wife F 58 Illinois

Sarah Catherine (Lewallen) Darnell died on February 18, 1933 in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois and her mortal remains were laid beside those of her husband of 50 years in the Maquon Cemetery in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois.

2. James Wilson Darnell, born in 1854 in Illinois; Nothing is known for certain about James Wilson Darnell from the time he is found in Knox County, Illinois with his parents at the time of the 1870 census and when he shows up living with his sister Letha Artemis (Darnell) Chamberlain in Washington State at the time of the 1930 census, except that he was married at some point between 1870 and 1930. Could he be the J W Darnell, who is found in Sherman, Jasper County, Iowa at the time of the 1880 census. He is a farmer and his parents were both born in Illinois as he was, c. 1855/56;
J W Darnell Self M 24 Illinois
Rebecca Darnell Wife F 22 Iowa

At the time of the 1930 census, James Wilson Darnell is found widowed and living with his nephew and niece in North Bend, King County, Washington;
Chas Chamberlin Head M 45 Nebraska
Edna Chamberlin Wife F 39 Montana
Chas Chamberlin Son M 19 Montana
Lois Chamberlin Daughter F 17 Montana
Iris Chamberlin Daughter F 15 Montana
Glenn Chamberlin Son M 13 Montana
Tom Chamberlin Father M 75 New York
Letha Chamberlin Mother F 69 Illinois
Arthur Chamberlin Brother M 43 Nebraska
Wilson Darnell Uncle M 75 Illinois

James Wilson Darnell died shortly after this census was taken on ____________ __, 1930. His mortal remains were laid in the Mount Si Memorial Cemetery in North Bend, King County, Washington.

3. Sylvester Darnell, born in 1857; died May 4, 1869; buried in the Uniontown Cemetery in Uniontown, Knox County, Illinois next to his grandmother and grandfather Darnell.

4. Letha Artemis Darnell, born October __, 1860 in Illinois; died in 1936; married to Thomas Dale Chamberlain; At the time of the 1910 census, Thomas and Letha are found in Ophir, Powell County, Montana where her father is believed to have died;
Thomas A Chamberlain Head M 55 New York
Letha A Chamberlain Wife F 49 Illinois
Arthur J Chamberlain Son M 23 Nebraska
Wilfred A Chamberlain Son M 11 Montana
Charles J Chamberlain Head M 25 Nebraska
Edna W Chamberlain Wife F 19 Montana

(Note: Charles J. Chamberlain was married on 1 Jun 1908 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana to Edna W. Johnson. He was 23 at the time, while she was 18 and was born in Helena, Montana. He is listed as the son of Thomas Chamberlain and Lethia Artimus, while she is listed as the daughter of James Johnson and Callie Swartz.)

At the time of the 1930 census, the Chamberlain family is found residing in North Bend, King County, Washington. It should be noted that Letha's older brother, James Wilson Darnell, who is widowed at this time, is found living with them;
Chas Chamberlin Head M 45 Nebraska
Edna Chamberlin Wife F 39 Montana
Chas Chamberlin Son M 19 Montana
Lois Chamberlin Daughter F 17 Montana
Iris Chamberlin Daughter F 15 Montana
Glenn Chamberlin Son M 13 Montana
Tom Chamberlin Father M 75 New York
Letha Chamberlin Mother F 69 Illinois
Arthur Chamberlin Brother M 43 Nebraska
Wilson Darnell Uncle M 75 Illinois

Letha is buried in the Mount Si Memorial Cemetery in North Bend, King County, Washington.

5. Melvina Darnell, born in 1867 in Illinois; Melvina may have died in the 1870's as she is not listed with her father at the time of the 1880 census.

At the time of the 1860 census, Joel and his family are found in Maquon Township, Knox County, Illinois;
Joel Darnell M 27 Ind
Cinthie Darnell F 27 Ill
Bowater I Darnell M 7 Ill
James W Darnell M 5 Ill
Sylvester D Darnell M 3 Ill

On July 29, 1862, Joel's younger brother, Sumner William Darnell, became of the the first men to volunteer to serve in a company which was being raised for service in the Union Army in the Maquon, Illinois area by a local Carpenter, Contractor and Businessman by the name of James L. Burhalter. Four days later, on August 2, 1862, Joel Darnell also volunteered at Maquon, Illinois to serve in Burkhalter's Maquon company.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name DARNELL, JOEL
Rank PVT Company F Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence MAQUON, KNOX CO, IL Age 32 Height 6' 1 Hair BROWN
Eyes GRAY Complexion DARK Marital Status MARRIED Occupation FARMER
Nativity MARION CO, IN

Service Record
Joined When AUG 2, 1862 Joined Where MAQUON, IL
Joined By Whom J L BURKHALTER Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY MAR 31, 1865 AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS MO

When Burkhalter had about 100 volunteers, he led the Maquon company into Peoria, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. There on August 27, 1862, he was elected by the men of the Maquon company to be their Captain and Captain Burkhalter and 93 of his volunteers, including Privates Joel Darnell and Sumner William Darnell, were mustered in as Co. F of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched of the gates of Camp Lyon, Capt. James L. Burkhalter leading Co. F, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Three weeks later, the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years. After the Union victory at Perryville, the Confederate Army withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on toward Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp.
However even before they left the Louisville area to begin the Kentucky Campaign, the green troops were having great difficulty with their health because of their new life style and living conditions. When McCook's Brigade left the Louisville area, many men were left behind in the Louisville Hospitals. After the Battle of Perryville, the men of McCook's Brigade passed through Gallatin, Tennessee on their way toward Nashville. The stopped there for several days to rest before they resumed the march for Nashville. When they left Gallatin, Tennessee many more men from McCook's Brigade were left behind sick in the Union Hospitals there. One of those believed to have been left behind at this time was Private Sumner William Darnell.
Whatever his ailment, the army doctors were unable to help Private Sumner William Darnell and his condition failed to improve. Finally in February of 1863, the army doctors made the decision that it would be best for Private Sumner William Darnell to be sent home in hopes that with the help of family and some home cooking he could regain his health. So on February 28, 1863, Private Sumner William Darnell was discharged for disability at Gallatin, Tennessee and sent home to Knox County, Illinois and his family. With the help of family and that home cooking, it appears that Private Sumner William Darnell did regain his health.
Private Joel Darnell marched on to Nashville, Tennessee with the men of McCook's Brigade and during the next two and a half years, the men of the 86th served in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, Joel was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chicakamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia, Averasboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina just to name a few and also marched with Sherman to the Sea.
All through the war, Joel, like his brother, and a lot of the men in the service, may have been having health issues as well. The life style, living conditions and quality of food were not always conducive to good health. At some point during the war, most likely fairly late in the war, possible 1864 or very early 1865, Private Joel Darnell, was either left behind at an Army Hospital or sent to the rear to an Army Hospital. He finally was sent north the the Army Hospitals at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri near St. Louis. There the army doctors finally made the decision that Private Joel Darnell should be discharged for these health reasons and he was discharged on March 31, 1865. Private Joel Darnell then returned home to his family in Knox County, Illinois and after regaining his health, returned to farming the land.
At the time of the 1870 census, the Darnells are found in Knox County, Illinois;
Joel Darnell M 42 Indiana
Cyntha Darnell F 41 Indiana
Bowater Darnell M 18 Illinois
Wilson Darnell M 15 Illinois
Artimis Darnell F 12 Illinois
Meloina Darnell F 3 Illinois
Elizabeth Lewis F 63 Kentucky

Cynthia A. (Walter) Darnell is known to have died, most likely in Knox County, sometime before 1880. It is not know exactly when she died or where she is buried. She may very well be buried in the Uniontown Cemetery in Uniontown, Illinois in Knox County, near her son, Sylvester, who died in 1869, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Most likely sometime after his wife's passing, Joel, moved west, where at the time of the 1880 census, Joel Darnell is found farming in Olive Township, Butler County, Nebraska. He is listed as Widowed and his daughter Letha is the only one of his children with him at this point;
Joel Darnell Self M 50 Indiana
Letha A Darnell Daughter F 19 Illinois

Interestingly, Joel's brother, Sumner William Darnell, is also known to have resided for some years in Butler County and died there in 1921. However, it is not known if Sumner was there in 1880, or if he is back in Knox County in 1880, or somewhere else in 1880, as I have not been able to find him in the 1880. So it is not known if Sumner was already out there and Joel followed him or not.
Whatever the case, it does not appear that Joel stayed there in Butler County long at that time as it appears that
Joel married Elizabeth Jane Strain on June 30, 1881, in Knox County, Nebraska, and they divorced in 1882. No children were born to this union.
Private Joel Darnell is believed to have eventually found his way to Montana, where he is believed to have died on November 15, 1896, in Ophie Township, Deer Lodge, Powell County, Montana. It is hoped that at some point in the future some family members or Find A Grave volunteers will help us answer these questions.
On August 8, 2014, Find A Grave Contributor, Bonnie Harwick #47910995, sent me the following note. "The Deer Lodge City Hall, where the cemetery records are kept, has no record of Joel Darnell. They said that he passed away about the time that the cemetery was moved from behind the old brick hospital to the hillside (current) HILLCREST location. It is possible that his was one of the approximately 40 unmarked graves at the old cemetery. The unknown remains were moved to Hillcrest. It is possible that Mr. Darnell passed away in Deer Lodge County in the town of Anaconda. I was unable to check those records in the limited number of days that I was there."
However, I also found at this time that Find A Grave Contributor ALSJOY #47037542 has added a site for Joel Darnell in the Blackfoot City Cemetery in Avon, Powell County, Montana with unknown dates of birth and death. So perhaps ALSJOY has found where Private Joel Darnell is actually buried. I am waiting to hear from ALSJOY.

by Baxter B. Fite III (FAG # 47203738) and Fran Denny, a Great Grand Niece of Joel Darnell.

(Baxter and Fran would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of Joel Darnell, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Joel Darnell and the Darnell family. Fran and Baxter would also love to see copies of any pictures of Joel Darnell that may have survived the years, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)