Benjamin Maxwell

Notes:

From Turner Publishing Comp., Publishers of America's History, 1996, p. 81-82;
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.


Donald Power Maxwell, Jr., joined as a member-at-large on November 14, 1994. He bases his right to membership on several Civil War ancestors. The Maxwell family were among the first pioneers to settle in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1849.

The patriarch, Benjamin Maxwell served as a private in Co. F, 3rd IA Cav., from September 4, 1861 to September 14, 1862, when he obtained a medical discharge after injuring his wrist falling from his mount "pursuing rebels" in Mexico, MS.
Benjamin misstated his age by ten years to qualify for service. Apparently, he was not the only one to do so, as referenced by the famous Iowa regiment nickname of "The Gray Beards".
Benjamin had three sons who also served:
1. William Whistler Maxwell, of Co. F, 3rd IA Cav., who mustered in on August 30 , 1861.
2. Pvt. Abner B. Maxwell, of Co. f, 3rd IA Cav., whe served from August 30, 1861 to September 19, 1864.
3. 2nd Cpl. Harvey Clayton Maxwell, Donald Maxwell's great-great-grandfather, who served with Co. G, 30th Iowa Infantry, from September 14, 1861 through June 5, 1862. He marched over 3000 miles from Keokuk, Iowa, to Vicksburg on to Atlanta and Savannah, participating in major battles at each. He was wounded by a musket ball in the head at Vicksburg during the same attack in which the Regimental Colonel was killed. He was mustered out of service at Washington D.C., and thankfully returned to Iowa by rail. Of the 1,132 original members of the 30th Regiment, over half died or were wounded during the War.
During a Maxwell family reunion in 1919, celebrating Harvey Maxwell's 76th birthday, a granddaughter affectionately remembers him telling the story that "the reason he was bald" was because of his war injury...a "cannonball" which " just barely grazed" the top of his head on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg.



Army of the United States Certificate of Disability for Discharge
for Benjamin Maxwell, private in Capt. Benj. F. Crails' Iowa Volunteer Calvary, 3rd regiment:
Source: National Archives file, Civil War.

- Injured his left wrist after being thrown from his horse while in pursuit of Rebels on Jan. 1, 1862 in Mexico, Missouri. was then unable to hold bridle rein rendering him unfit for service. discharged Sep. 14, 1862.

Private in Co. F, 3rd Iowa Cav. Reg
afe 44. resident Jefferson County, nativity Pennsylvania
enlisted Nov. 20, 1861
discharged for disability Sep. 20, 1862


Tombstone in Bethesda Cemetery, Jefferson County, IA:
"Benjamin Maxwell, born in Cumberland County, PA, Jul 18, 1806, died Jun 25, 1884." "Pvt. 3rd Iowa Calvary"

1879 History of Jefferson County, p. 538, Buchanan Twp.

Maxwell, Benjamin, sec. 22; P. O. Fairfield; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Jul 18, 1806; came to Jefferson Co. in 1850; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $5000; made all the improvements himself. married Miss Jane McCormick May 22, 1827; she was born in Rockbridge Co., VA, September 15, 1808; have nine children-- John C., George W., William W., Elizabeth, Abner, Harvey C., Isabel, Isaac, James M., and five deceased--Mary, Eliza J., Catharine, Henry E. and Sarah E. Mr. Maxwell was in the 3d Iowa Cavalry, and had three sons in the army.

Fairfield Ledger, Jul 2, 1884, p. 3, col. 7.

Death of Benj. Maxwell. The death of Benjamin Maxwell, an old and well-known resident of this county, occurred at his home 4 1/2 miles northeast of this city, from Bright's disease(aka renal/kidney failure ed. D.P. Maxwell,Jr.,M.D. 1997),on the 26th. He had been in bad health for two years past. Mr. Maxwell was in the 79th year of his age. He was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and came to this county in the spring of 1849. In 1850 he removed to the farm on which he died, and his residence there has been continuous through all those years. He was married in early life, his wife dying about a year ago, and was the father of fourteen children, nine of whom are now living, four in this county. Although an old man when the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Maxwell enlisted in the 3d Iowa Calvary and saw some hard service. His remains were interred in the Bethesda Cemetery, east of this city, Friday.

Fairfield Ledger, Wed., Oct. 20, 1937, p. 2, col. 2
Maxwell Picnic held Sun. The Benj. Maxwell family were pioneers, emigrating to this county in 1849. mr Maxwell and 3 sons answered the call to service in the Civil War. Present for the day were 7 grandchildren.....

BENJAMIN MAXWELL WAS BURIED AT BETHESDA CEM. IN FARIFIELD, IOWA. BENJAMIN MAXWELL'S SISTER, MARY ANN MAXWELL, MARRIED HIS WIFE'S, JANE McCORMICK, BROTHER NAMED JOHN McCORMICK.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=donmaxwell&id=I00860

Benjamin married Jane McCormick on 22 May 1827 in Montgomery Co, Ohio. Jane was born on 15 Sep 1808 in Rockridge Co, Virginia; died on 25 Aug 1883 in Jefferson Co, iowa; was buried in Bethesda Cem, Fairfield, Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Abner B. Maxwell was born on 08 Sep 1839 in Carroll Co, Indiana; died on 08 Sep 1898 in Broken Bow, Nebraska.

Henry married Magdalena Whistler about 1798 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania. Magdalena was born on 15 Sep 1778 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania; died on 23 Apr 1845 in Carroll Co, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]