James Howard Willson

James Howard Willson

Mr. Patrick Sullivan

Quick Facts

Significance:

Confederate soldier

Place of Birth:

Rockbridge County, Virginia

Date of Birth:

April 23, 1835

Place of Death:

Lebanon, Kansas

Date of Death:

May 3, 1905

James Howard Willson was born on April 23, 1835, to Thomas and Elizabeth Willson in Rockbridge County, Virginia.            

On April 23, 1861, at the age of 26, James enlisted as a private in Company H, 25^th Virginia Infantry Regiment. James’ brother, Thomas Mitchell Willson, also enlisted in the Confederate Army. James was promoted to full 2^nd sergeant on June 30, 1861.           

Diagnosed with dyspepsia, Willson mustered out on February 17, 1862 at Camp Alleghany, West Virginia. Quickly returning to the army, however, he enlisted with Company C, 14^th Virginia Cavalry Regiment on March 1, 1862. Willson participated in various cavalry fights and raids with Gen. John McCausland’s brigade, was wounded in 1863, then later captured at Cedarville, Virginia, on April 21, 1864. Imprisoned at Pt. Lookout, Maryland, Willson was exchanged on March 30, 1865, and paroled on May 20, 1865.            

Following the war, Willson went west to be a farmer and married Isabelle Mitchell in Coles, Illinois on September 8, 1869. James and Isabelle had three children. After his wife’s death, Willson married Sarah M. Brooks in Illinois on January 19, 1888. The Willson family eventually moved to Kansas where James continued to farm. He died on May 3, 1905 in Lebanon, Kansas, when he was 70 years old.