Hopkins Co Tx - J. H. McClimons, obit and Civil War Service From: B & J ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** J. H. McClimons, ex-Confederate soldier, pioneer citizen of Hopkins County, died Wednesday morning. He was born in the State of South Carolina in the year of 1843, and was therefore more than 87 years old at the time of his death. He served his native state as a soldier in the civil war and did valiant service for the cause of the Southland in that bloody struggle for four years. Soon after the close of the war he and his good wife came to Hopkins County, reaching here about the 1871, where he continued to live till the time of his death. Forty years ago he opened the McClimons Hotel in Sulphur Springs which continued there after to be his home, although for the past few years he has been unable to look after its management, other members of his family having relieved him by assuming charge. He is survived by the following sons and daughters, his wife having preceded him in death ten years ago: O.P. McClimons and Ed McClimons, Sulphur Springs; Mrs. J. F. Wyatt, Waxahachie; Mrs. Lou Burton, Mrs. Grover Mann and Mrs. W.B. Thomas, Jr., Dallas, all of whom were with him when the end came. Funeral services will be held in the First Methodist church with Rev. M. L. Hamilton of Greenville and Pastor Minor Bounds in charge of the services. Burial will follow in the City Cemetery. Masonic Resolutions - J. H. McClimons was born in Greenville, South Carolina, September 23, 1843, died in Sulphur Springs, Texas, December 24, 1930. He was married to Miss Nancy Jane Leonard of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, January 28, 1864. To this union ten children were born, six of whom survive.. He moved to Hopkins County in 1871, and a few years later moved to Sulphur Springs. He was made a Mason in Georgia in 1868; affiliated with Sulphur Springs Lodge No. 221 in 1873. He was also a Royal Arch Mason, Knights Templar, and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He served this Lodge for 12 years, and for several years as Grand Visitor of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter. He was Past High Priest of the Chapter, Past Eminent Commander of Knights Templar. WAR RECORD The following war record was written by Mr. McClimons several years before his death. I went into camp of instruction at Lightwood Knot Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina, and served on the coast of that state until March 1, 1862, at which time the Brigade (Gen. Maxcy Gregg^Òs) was transferred to Virginia and stationed at Fredericksburg, retired to near Richmond May 1, 1862. About that date, Gen. A. P. Hill^Òs "Light Division" was formed and Gregg^Òs Brigade was one of the six that composed it. Early in June 1862, Hill^Òs Division was made a part of Lieut. Gen. T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson^Òs Corps, and met Jackson coming from the valley, camping near Hanover, Virginia, and formed part of the attacking force in the first of the seven days^Ò fight in front of Richmond. Here I received my baptism of bullets and shells. I was in the battles of Sharpsbury, First Fredericksburg, Second Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Ream Station, Bristow Station, Jones Farm, and from August 1, 1864, to April 1, 1865, on the front lines around Richmond and Petersburg, and from the last date to April 9, 1865, on the retreat to Appomattox where we stacked arms with tears in our eyes and sadness in our hearts. With three years spent under the leaders I have named and all under General R. E. Lee, I can truly and truthfully say that I was in the war, not simply in the Confederate Army. Any man who stayed as long as I did, where I was, had to fight. I was near by Gen. Maxcy Gregg when he was killed on December 14, 1862, at Fredericksburg. I saw General Stonewall Jackson carried off the field on a stretcher on the night of May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville. I have omitted a number of minor engagements in which I participated because they were so numerous they were not named. I was severely wounded on May 5, 1864, at the Wilderness and rejoined my command July 30, 1864. I am not ashamed of the cause for which I fought and shed my blood, nor of the record made. One hundred and twenty-five men were in the Company at the beginning and about 25 were added afterwards, but only 13 of us stacked our guns at Appomattox. By J. H. McClimons