Yuma County, Colorado |
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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. |
Arkansas City Daily Traveler Arkansas City, Kansas Wednesday, October 28, 1908 Isreal W. Calkins, whose home is seven miles northeast of the city, died very suddenly this morning. Mr. Calkins had been in his usual good health up until the time of his death, which occurred at 8:30 o'clock. He had risen at the usual hour this morning and had gone to the back yard of his home to cut some wood. He did not return to the house in a reasonable length of time and members of the family went to look for him. He was found lying in the yard, but was still breathing at that time. He died,however, in a few moments after being found and did not even as much as speak a word after falling. Medical attendance was at one called, but Mr. Calkins was dead before the physician arrived at the home. The cause of his death was apoplexy. Mr. Calkins father died in exactly the same manner several years ago. The deceased was 50 years of age and leaves a wife and four children, three sons and one daughter to mourn his death. The daughter is attending school in this city. Mr. Calkins was well acquainted in this city and he was a successful farmer. He and his family have resided on the farm where they now live for a number of years. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed by the members of the family as they desire to hear from a brother of the deceased, who resides in Colorado. The funeral will be announced later. |
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