INGRAM, JAMES RILEY (1846-1939) ~ James Riley Ingram, Confederate Veteran, was born on March 4, 1846, in Troop County, GA to Riley G. Ingram and Sarah Jones, both of Georgia. It was soon after the family migrated and settled in Tallapoosa County, Alabama where James grew up.
A little more than a month before his 18th birthday, on February 1, 1864, James mustered into Company A of Waddell?s 20th Battalion of Alabama Light Artillery. The unit was organized at Columbus, Georgia, in November of 1863, with men from Waddel?s battery who had been captured and exchanged at Vicksburg. James fought in the battle at Dalton, Georgia, the battle of Tennasaw Mountain, and engaged in the defense of Atlanta Georgia. He was captured at Columbus, Georgia on April 16, 1865, and then paroled on May 1, 1865, by General Wilson?s Army. He was allowed to go home to Alabama.
Upon his return, he worked on his father?s farm and then he met and married Sarah F. Lowe in 1868. He and Sarah moved and settled in Delta County, Texas in 1869, where James worked as a farmer. Sarah and James had four known children all born in Texas: Thomas, born in 1870; John, born in 1871; Anna E. who was born in 1872; and James A., who was born in 1884. They also had a servant, Ada B. Sparks who lived with them. Sometime before 1886, it is presumed Sarah passed away (possibly from giving birth to James A.) for James moved to Hunt County, Greenville, Texas.
James worked in a feed and salt store and also as a stable keeper. He met and married Eliza Jane Branum on October 2, 1887, in Hopkins County, Texas. James and Eliza had two children, both born in Texas: Ellen S., born in September of 1888; and William C., born in July of 1891. James A. was the only child from James R.?s first marriage living with him and Eliza in 1900.
James and Eliza continued their lives in Greenville up until they moved to the Confederate Men?s Home in Travis County, Austin, Texas on May 24, 1935. James passed away there on August 11, 1939, and was interred in the Texas State Cemetery the following day.
Sources: www.itd.nps.gov; death certificate, pension application, Confederate Home Roster, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920 US Census Records; Tallapoosa County Alabama Archives Marriages Loose Leaf Marriage Records; Tallapoosa County Alabama Cemeteries Mt. Zion Cemetery, Simpson, AL; descendant Robert S. Dedek |