James A. Rutherford.

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James A Rutherford.

 

Birth: 1833 - 1834, New York.

Death: Unknown.

 

Wife: Sarah J. Rutherford, b. Ireland, ( 1845 - ? ).

 

Children: Unknown.

 

Burial: Bonner Springs Cemetery, Bonner Springs, Wyandotte County, Kansas. 

Illinois 115th., Infantry Regimental History.

Company I.

JAMES A. RUTHERFORD, Captain, was active in the enlistment and organization of Company I, and showed patriotism of a high order in taking the place of an enlisted man among men he liked, rather than take office elsewhere. He served as sergeant till March 23, 1863, an d as first lieutenant from that date till his promotion to the captaincy October 19, 1863. He commanded his company after the resignation of Captain Kinman  till the muster out of the regiment.

He was with his company in all its service, always ready for any duty required. He was in the thickest of the battle at Chickamauga  and was conspicuous for the courage he displayed. Soon after the war Captain Rutherford engaged in the grocery business at Terre Haute, Ind. ; later he was several years in business at Fort Scott, Kan. He now resides at No. 1528 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, Mo.

A Funny Story About Rutherford. 

One day in the autumn Captain Rutherford and Lieutenant Utter accompanied two young ladies chestnutting on the spurs of the mountain southeast of the village, some two or three miles away. After gathering the delicious nuts for some time they became thirsty and began searching for a spring. Captain Rutherford and his companion being some three hundred yards in advance of the others came to the point of the ridge where a spring was supposed to be without finding it.

With the view of searching for the spring the captain asked the young lady to remain there until he would run down the hill some distance, which he did at a rapid trot, taking a course at an angle about 45 degrees from the direction they had come. Lieutenant Utter seeing the captain running alone at once concluded he was getting away from a squad of rebels, and without waiting for further information, he turned to the young woman with him, saying, "Here, take my pocket-book; I can't be with you always," and made rapid strides after the captain. Of course it was too good to keep, and the story was soon known in the regiment.

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES.

Illinois Civil War Detail Report

Name RUTHERFORD, JAMES A Rank SGT Company I., Unit 115 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics Residence JACKSONVILLE, MORGAN CO, IL Age 29. Height 5' 10, Hair AUBURN; Eyes BLUE; Complexion LIGHT; Marital Status SINGLE; Occupation SCHOOL TEACHER; Nativity MADRID, ST LAWRENCE CO, NY.

Service Record Joined When AUG 9, 1862; Joined Where MORGAN CO, IL; Period 3 YRS; Muster In SEP 13, 1862; Muster In Where CAMP BUTLER, IL; Remarks PROMOTED 1LT & CAPTAIN.