James was born in Polk County a year after his parents were married there. He grew up in Harrison County, Missouri next door to the Andrew Craig family and his daughter Mary Jane.

After James and his family moved to Barry County, Missouri

in the late 1850’s or early 1860’s the Civil War broke out. The Robertson’s were Union supporters. James joined

Union Army June 19 or 5, 1864. He enlisted at Davenport IA, Company C, 48th IA Regiment of Infantry Volunteers under Captain James H. Summers. Why James went to Iowa to enlist is not known. However, this regiment was among scores of regiments that were raised in the summer of 1864 as Hundred Days Men, an effort to augment existing manpower for an all-out push to end the war within 100 days. These men were mustered in for one-hundred days federal service on July 13, 1864 as part of a plan to raise short term regiments for service as rear area garrison duty to release veteran troops for Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. As there were not enough recruits to complete an entire regiment in the time allotted, the unit was redesignated a battalion. The battalion spent its entire service guarding prisoners of war at the Rock Island Barracks, Illinois.

James must have felt it was important enough to join the war this late in the war.

We know from his Pension Application that at the time of enlistment height 5 feet 7 inches , complexion light, color of eyes gray, color of hair light and occupation Farmer.

James was discharged at Rock Island Illinois, October 20,1864.

After the war James M. and Thomas J. both returned to Mercer and Harrison Counties in north Missouri to marry girls they knew from their early childhood.

James and Mary Jane had 10 children:

Mary Elizabeth born in 1866 and died at 15.

Eliza Adeline, my great grandmother, was born in 1869. She married Monterville Priest.

Martha Jane born in 1870 and married Monterville’s brother Robert.

William Henry born in 1872 and married Ona Haggard.

Joseph born in 1876 and married Ollie Faulkner.

Julia Ann born in 1877 and married John Ryan.

James Thomas born in 1880 and married Cora Haggard.

Eli born in 1883 and married Jeannie Mae Walker.

Minnie born in 1885 and died in 1887.

Carrie Caladonia born in 1887 and married Marion Burk

George Washington born in 1890 and married Rose Unknown, Effie Vanover, and Grace Velta Wheeler.

In the 1900 Census James owns his own farm free and clear and can read and write. Also, he and Mary Jane live next door to William H Robertson.

In the Barry County 1909 Patrons’ Reference Directory he is listed as a Farmer and Stockraiser, S.13, T. 21, R. 26, P.O. Golden 1853.

About 1914, Uncle Yearl (Eli) and Uncle Georgie (George) along with their mom and dad (James and Mary Jane Robertson) moved to Oklahoma. They lived down below Asley Hollow. The place is now covered by Spavinaw Lake. (from Heritage of the Hills)

While in Oklahoma he applied for and received an Invalid Pension – disease of spine, resulting in lameness of back and left leg; also heart disease, also lung disease, also general disability

James died July 217, 1915 and is buried at the Mose Ridge Cemetery is located in Section 33 Township 23 R22 on Highway 20 about 8 miles west of Jay at Choleta or Topsy. This cemetery wa s patented by the Cherokee Nation, leased from the allotment of Nanni e Walker, wife of James B. Walker. The cemetery has been in use since 1900.

After James died Mary Jane moved back to Barry County and lived there until she died in 1944 att he age of 97.  She is also buried at the Mose Ridge Cemetery.

According to Ellen Priest Grandma Robertson smoked a corn cob pipe and according to Paulene Priest Spencer, her Great Grandmother had a great sense of humor and loved to read movie magazines.