James Bartlett (Mullies) Mullis (1833 - 1896)

Born 24 Jul 1833 in Hunting Creek, Eagle Mills Township, Iredell, North Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Feb 1896 at age 62 in Pleasanton, Kansas, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Arthur Mullies [send private message] and Brad Noel [send private message]

Biography

On the 1860 Census for Wilkes Co., Jim was listed a wagon-maker/blacksmith in Wilkesboro. In 1856 he possessed land gift-deeded him by his parents, John and Fanny, with whom he was living (US Census 1850) in Iredell Co. Like his brother Thomas, Jim was drafted by the Confederacy, but deserted and joined Union forces, infantry, in early 1865. His brother Thomas was also drafted by the Confederacy, but after one term resisted reenlistment, was flogged and died in 1863 in Military Hospital outside Richmond, VA. Like their older brother, Jesse, Thomas and Bartlett signed the name Mullies, (on his enlistment paper), but Bartlett eventually reverted to Mullis as his descendants do today, while descendants of his other brothers retained Mullies. Wilkes and Iredell counties were decidedly anti-slavery and many from that area served in Union Forces; Mullis School which was built and established in 1800 by their grandfather, Geroge Mullis--- near Union Grove (1854)-- was renamed Liberty School in 1863, both names reflecting local sentiment regarding the slavery issue. Their cousins who were in Whitley Co., Ky by 1850, also served in Union Forces.

In 1881 Bartlett and family came west by train from Statesville (Iredell Co. NC) and skirting the Appalachian Mts., they had a stay-over in Washington, D. C. on the date President Garfield died from bullet wound suffered from assassination attempt earlier in July. After arrival in Butler, Mo. he and family initially lived in an impromptu room attached to the home of his brother, Jesse on his farm on the Marias des Cygnes River near Marvel Bridge in Bates Co., and later settled on a farm on the Kansas side of the nearby border.

Interred in Woodfin Cem, near Foster MO as were all of the Mullies/Mullis family which originated in NC.

Cemetery Records of Bates County, Missouri Volume III Name: B. Mullies Death Date: 29 Feb 1896 Age: 62 yr., 7 Mo., 5 da. Co. I 3rd N. C. M. Inf. Cemetery: Woodfin Description: Located two miles northwest of Foster, Missouri

"He was 'volunteered' into service in the army of the confederacy in 1861 at the age of 28 along with his brother Thomas. At the time his military service began, Bartlett was married and had three little girls. He was a Corporal in Co. B of the 55th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Confederate. However, when Bartlett was able to do so, he deserted the Confederacy and joined the Union."

Name: Bartlett Mullis Rank In: Private (Union) Rank Out: Corporal Residence: Wilkes County, NC Occupation: Blacksmith Age at enlistment: 27 Enlisted: Company B NC 55th Infantry Reg 30 May 1862 Enlistment Place: Wilkes County, NC Promoted to Full Corporal Birth Date: abt 1835

He Enlisted in the Federal Army Jan 1, 1865 (Wilkes County, NC) Company I, 3rd NC mounted infantry (Union). He is described as having gray eyes, light hair, light complexion and 5 feet, 10 inches tall. Discharged Aug 8, 1865 at Knoxville, Tennessee, by reason of Special Order number 21, Military Division of Tennessee.

Sources

• Census and land records of Iredell/Wilkes counties, his headstone in Woodfin Cem. near
• Foster, Mo., and traditions given me by his grandson, James B. Mullis II during the period 1976-1981.
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BZ-QCL : 12 April 2016), Bartlet Mullis in household of John Mullis, Iredell county, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing family 260, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).