It is believed that James Allen Mears was the first of the children to be born after the family arrived in Mississippi. Like his brothers, James fought in the Confederacy - enlisting at Iuka, MS on October 1st, 1861 as a private. His great grandson, Paul Allen Mears gives us this account:
"He was assinged with his older brother, Ervin J. Mears to Company I, 26th Mississippi Infantry. James was sent immediately to Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was then transferred on January 5, 1862 to Fort Donelson, TN. He was wounded January 7th and on February 16th Fort Donelson surrended to General U. S. Grant. Almost the entire garrison was sent to a prison camp in Indiana. On September 10, 1862, the prisoners were exchanged and returned to their units. Eventually James and his brother, Ervin were sent to Virginia where they were participants in 6 battles. Ervin was wounded slightly at the Battle of the Wilderness and my great Grandfather James was severly wounded at Petersburg on September 16, 1864, and sent to General Hospital, Howards Shore in Richmond. On October 8, 1864, he was 'sent home to die'. Records show that he was discharged October 10, 1864. He recovered, married his sweatheart. . .James Allen Mears died of 'old age' January 1, 1927, his body still containing a bullet from the War Between the States."Sometime around October 1864, he married Sarah Jane Howerton (Dec 1841 Alabama - Feb 1919 north of Tupelo, MS), d/o Thomas Jefferson Howerton and Amelia Roberts.
They are both buried at the Friendship Cemetery at Gunstown, Lee Co., MS.
This picture, sent to me by Jerry Mears, was taken in 1910 at the age of 73.
Picture was taken in 1943 Back Row:
Helen Louise (Mears) Bean, Anna Frances (Mears) Long, Billy Tanner Mears, Charles Willard Mears, Paul Allen MearsFront Row:
Margaret Lee (Mears) Banyan, Rebecca Laverne (Mears) Peach, Clara Lee (Tanner) Mears, Claude Winford Mears