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- History of Effingham Co, Illinois
edited by William Henry Perrin
published: Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers, Lakeside Building, 1883
James T. Poynter, farmer, P.O. Eberle, is a native of Barren County, Ky., born February 11, 1839, and now is one of Lucas Township's enterprising and reliable farmers. He was taken by his parents to madison County, Ill., remained there about four years. He and his father came to Lucas Township, and settled on a piece of land, now owned by Waymac Merry; then the mother died. His father was a native of Kentucky; born n 1805. the parents removed to different places in the township and to Flensburg, and rented a mill there for one year. In 1853, they came bck to Lucas Townshp, and settled on the farm now owned by Daniel Blunt; it was wild land; they improved it, and his father remained there until his death which occurreed in 1870. Our subject's mother, Elizabeth Davis, was native of Kentucky, and died in 1845 in Lucas Township. His father married again in 1849 to Martha L. Adamson, of Jasper County. the children by his first marriage are namely: Catherine, Eliza, John, Judias, Sarah, William, Francis Jane, James T., Permelia D.; by second marriage, Martha E,; Adelia, Henrietta, deceased, Matilda, Edward, Narcissa, deceased. James was fourteen years old when his father came back to Lucas Township, and our subject remained with his father helping him on the farm in summer, and in winter went to school about four months in the year. In November 1861, he enlisted in Company D, fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was in several engagements, namely: Siege of Vicksburg, capture of Little Rock, Ark.; battle of Clarendon; was tken prisoner at Jones Station. In eight or ten days were paroled about 400 of them, and went to the parole barracks at St. louis, and were exchanged, from there went to Hickory Stationin Arkansas, after leaving ther went to Fort Smith into the Indian nation and remained there during the treaty with the Indians,a nd then were ordered back to Little Rock, Ark., and was mustered out October 16, 1865. He elisted as a private, was elected Fourth Corporal, received promotion to duty Sergeant, and from that to Orderly Sergeant. He served as Orderly about three months, when received a promotion to First Lieutenant and held that promotion until discharged. He came to his father's in Lucas Township, rented a farm and went to farming. in 1867, Jul 26, he was married to Nancy Merry, of Lucas Township. Her death occurring November 6, 1868. He lived a widower until 1871, married again to Nancy McCollough, of Union Township. Our subject was a renter until May, 1881, at which time he purchased eighty acres of wild land, now he has it mostly in cultivation. He has one child by first marriage -- Waymack E.; four by second marriage, namely: William Albert, Mary Etta, Thomas Z, and Leota. Mr. Poynter has always been a Republican, and has served as School Trustee, Constable and Town Clerk. He first filled a vacancy as cleak for Erwin Lown, and then served for three successive terms. He belongs to the Masonic order, A.F. & A.M., to the Grange and to the G.A.R. organized in Elliottstown.
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