James Darling, Genoa Junction, Wis., member of G. A. R. Post, No. 27, at Geneva Lake, was born at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co., New York, Sept. 26, 1844. His father and mother, Philo and Elizabeth (Harrington) Darling, were both natives of the State of New York. The former was a farmer and located on a farm in 1849 in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where he died Feb. 22, 1886. The mother died on the old farm in that county in 1873, aged 62 years. They had six children who survive them. Pattie is the wife of Louis Rollow. Sarah is the widow of John Bohart, a soldier in the civil war. James is third in order of birth. Augusta is the widow of Henry Ray, who was also a soldier; she lives in Delavan, Wis. Jane M. (Mrs. E. Sherman) lives at Genoa Junction. Frank is a farmer on the homestead in Kenosha county. James was hardly five years of age when his parents removed from the place of his birth to Wisconsin, and until he was 18 he encountered the experiences of the ordinary farmer's boy. At the age mentioned he went to Clinton, Iowa, where he engaged in farm labor until he entered the army. Sept. 28, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, 8th Iowa Infantry, was mustered at Davenport and joined the regiment at Memphis, Tenn., the command being engaged in patrol duty on the railroad. About March 1, 1865, he went with the regiment to New Orleans and thence to Dauphin's Island, where they were placed on a transport and went to Fish River; landing and making the terrible march to the trenches of Spanish Fort, where he was wounded by a shell and a minie ball at the same moment. The former missile shattered his thigh and a piece entered his stomach. The minie ball penetrated his abdomen and passed out beneath the short ribs. He was taken from the field hospital to a hospital at New Orleans, and was there about a month, receiving a furlough of 60 days, May 1, 1865. After its expiration he was sent to a hospital at Davenport, Iowa, where he was mustered out Sept. 28, 1865. He returned to Clinton and was unable to do any work. He went back to Kenosha county, where he operated as a farmer and tried to recover his health. In 1870, he removed to Walworth county, where he has occupied his time as an agriculturist, and is the owner of a farm near the limits of Genoa Junction. Oct. 12, 1870, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth (Fuller) Greer. She was born at Genoa Junction, and is the daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Fuller, natives of the State of New York. Her parents are farmers near Genoa Junction. They have eight surviving children and one deceased; Mrs. Darling is the third in order of birth. She is the mother of four children born as follows: Myrtie, at Bloomfield, Oct. 24, 1871; Elizabeth A., at Randall, Kenosha county, Sept., 3, 1873; Joseph Philo, May 13, 1876, at Genoa Junction. Louis E. was born April 17, 1882, and died when 20 months old. Mrs. Darling was first married to Gustavus Adolphus Greer, who was a soldier in Company D, 95th Illinois Infantry, and died April 29, 1866, leaving a daughter named Gustavie May, who was born May 14, 1866. She is an estimable young lady and lives with her parents. Mrs. Darling is a prominent member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and, with her husband, takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the well-being of both Orders. |