James Nep Boren (1840 - 1862)

Born 12 Feb 1840 in Nacogdoches, Republic of Texas

Ancestors

Died 30 Aug 1862 at age 22 in Madison County, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

1st Lt. James Boren Died in Battle during The United States Civil War.

James Boren, 1st Lieutenant, Texas Battery, Company I.

James Nep Boren^[1] was born 12 Feb 1840 in Nacogdoches County, Texas, the son of Samuel Hampson Boren and Sarah Dickson Long. In the early 1850s, the family moved to Tyler, Smith County, Texas. According to his biography in Texans Who Wore the Gray,^[2]

James N. Boren was graduated from Franklin College, Tennessee, in June 1860, and the following September entered the law department of the Lebanon University, where he remained until the proclamation of war against the Southern States, when he left for his native state to enlist in her cause. He joined Douglas' Texas artillery and was chosen lieutenant, and a few months later was promoted first lieutenant. He served in the campaigns in Arkansas and Missouri, and was in the battle of Elkhorn. He was killed at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, being struck by a cannon ball while he was by the side of one of his guns aiding and inspiring his men. Lieutenant Boren's conduct was always marked with the self command and courage of the true soldier, while his consideration and generosity endeared him to his men. He lies buried on the battlefield in a few yards of where he fell.^[3] One of the camps of the United Confederate Veterans in West Texas is named in his honor.

He died on 30 Aug 1862, at age 22, and is buried at the Battle of Richmond Confederate Cemetery.

Research Notes

1. ↑ FamilySearch gives his middle name as "Nicholas", but with no documentation except for a collaborator's note of 20 Aug 2013 that calls him "James Nicholas Boren" when referring to Sid Johnson's biographies, which is misleading, because Johnson himself refers to James only as "James N. Boren" in both of the biographical notes in which he is named (Johnson, 1900, p.46 and 1907, p. 81). The latter, more complete biography, does mention James' great grandfather Nicholas, which may be the source of the confusion. The name "Nep" is found in the caption of a newspaper photograph of James attributed to the Smith County Historical Society, Tyler, Texas, which can be found posted to his Find a Grave memorial.
2. ↑ Sid Johnson, 1907, p. 81.
3. ↑ He is said to have been killed in action near Mt Zion Church, Richmond, Kentucky (Smith County Historical Society Archives, Tyler, Texas).

Sources

• FamilySearch Details page for James Nicholas Boren (1840-1862).
• Find A Grave: Memorial #5332531 for Lieut James N Boren (1840-1862), which photograph and picture of memorial stone.
• Johnson, Sidney S. Some Biographies of Old Settlers. Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Tyler, TX: Tyler Print Shop, 1965 [1900].
• Johnson, Sidney S. Texans Who Wore the Grey. Vol. 1. [Tyler, TX], 1907.
• US Census, Texas. FamilySearch database with images.
  • 1850, Nacogdoches County, part of, p. 91-B (image 78), family 535, lines 32-39. (NARA M432 roll 913). Household members: S H Borin [transcr. "Boltir"] (39 TN, farmer), Sarah (28 TN), James (11 TX), Benjamin (9 TX), Martha (7 TX), Julia (5 TX), Mary (3 TX), William Ammons (35 MS, farmer).
  • 1860, Smith County, Tyler, Beat Town, p. 104-B (image 8), family 1506, lines 36-40/1-6. (NARA M653 roll 1305). Household members: S. H. Boren (48 TN, merchant), Sarah (36 TN), James (20 TX, clerk), Benjamin (18 TX, clerk), Isabella (16 TX), Ann (14 TX), Jane (12 TX), Saml (10 TX), Ellen (8 TX), Richard (0:6 TX), G O [transcr. "D"] Long (26 TN, day laborer [nephew, son of sister Martha]).