James A. Jarnagin, was born in Tennessee, May 17, 1840 and died at a Wichita hospital July 4, 1918, being at the time of death 78 years, 4 months and 21 days old.

At the early age of eight years he moved with his parents from Tennessee to Ohio county, Ky. where he lived until he grew to manhood.

At the outbreak of the Civil war or in 1861 he enlisted as a private in the armies of the Union and served his country well and loyally for 3 years and eight months or until the close of the great conflict when he was honorably discharged with a war record of which he could be proud.

Just after the close of the war he was married to Miss Catherine Parrott and to this union three children were born but the mother and babies preceded the father into the great Beyond years ago. In 1872 he was married the second time and to Miss Jane E. Goff who survives him. To this union were born thirteen children, eight of whom are living, five having preceded the father in death. Of the deceased children of the second union two died in infancy while the family was still living in Kentucky, two died a tender age after the family moved to Kansas and one daughter, Mrs. Cliffie Smith died at her home near Coldwater, seven years ago. Eight children together with the wife are left to mourn his departure. They are Mrs. Dorothy Ezell of Protection, Mrs. Orela Springer of Medicine Lodge, Henry Jarnagin of Coldwater, Mrs. Josephine Steadman of Coldwater, James Jarnagin of Akers, Mrs. Hester Hopkins of Protection and Mrs. Bertha Bratcher of Coldwater.

Besides wife, sons and daughter, he leaves 24 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Jarnagin came to Kansas in March, 1884, just 34 years last March and preempted a claim in Collier Flats, which was their home until the burden of advancing years caused them to rent the farm and move to Coldwater where they have since made their home but during all this time Mr. Jarnagin kept possession of the Collier Flats farm.

Early in life Mr. Jarnagin was converted and became a member of the Baptist church of Beaverdam, Ky., where he retained his affliction until the organization of the Protection Baptist church when he called for his letter from the Kentucky brethren and became a member of the Protection congregation being elected as one of the deacons and serving in that capacity for many years. He was a consistent Christian, a true man and loyal neighbor. He was also a member of the Coldwater camp of the G. A. R. in which until his health failed him he took an active part.

The funeral conducted by his early pastor in the Protection church, Rev. I. W. Bailey, who was ably assisted by Rev. Barb, the present pastor, was conducted from the Coldwater Presbyterian church and interment was made in the Coldwater cemetery, Sunday, July 7th.

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Small - Steadman
B. C. Small and Miss Josie Steadman were united in marriage at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Cosby of this city on last Saturday, June 20, 1925. Judge Cosby performed the ceremony. The groom ran a threshing machine in this county last season and will work during this season in this state and in Colorado. He is a brother of J. E. Small of this city. The bride has been a resident of this county for over 40 years, coming to this county from Kentucky with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Jarnagin, soon after this county began to be settled. The couple will continue to call Comanche-co their home. We wish them success and happiness in large measure. -- The Western Star, June 26, 1925.

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J. A. Jarnagin, Mansel Barnes and F. M. Watson were, so far as we have learned, the Comanche co., old soldiers in attendance at the Southwest Veteran's Association held in Dodge City last week, Mr. Jarnagin was chosen vice president for this county. -- The Western Star, September 10, 1909.

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Also see:

TWO BARNS BURN
The Western Star, September 9, 1921.

Civil War Veterans of Comanche County, Kansas

James W. Dappert: Reminiscences of Early Days in Comanche-co.
The Western Star, January 15, 1926.

Alonzo C. EZELL, husband of Dorothy Jarnagin,
The Western Star, September 25, 1925.

Residence Destroyed by Fire
The Western Star, February 17, 1922.

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!