1860 Census, Maquon Twp., Knox Co., IL, p. 74
1181/1150 (2 houses from William Darnell, Jr., and 2 from Sumner Darnell; next T. J. Zimmerman)
Darnell, James, 26, farmer, real estate value $800, personal estate value $100, b. IL
Martha, 22, b. OH

1870 Census, Ulysses, Butler Co., NE
46/46 (2 homes from brother Sumner, 2 homes from brother Allen)
Darnell, James, 38, farmer, real estate value $300, personal estate value $200, b. IL

James served during the Civil War, Co. G, 61st Illinois Vol. Infantry.550

Letter from James Darnell to T. J. & Rebeca Lowman Zimmerman

Idaho Teritory

May the 22 1869

Dear friends I am glad that I have the privalige of addressing you with a few lines to let you know how wee are getting a long wee are camped to day five hundred and seventy miles from Omaha nine hundred and forty miles from home and let me tell you that this is a hard road to travail for me all tho I am not Sorry that I started But I think that a man that has a family or a home could Enjoy himself Better than he could out here in those deserts amongst these Indians as for my self it makes no differance for I have no home that was all that indused me to leave the land I once loved we have thirty four men and two women and four children in our company and all very sivile and mind there own Business Alexander Grimm is well all But home sicknes it gose very hard with him at times the news from the mine is as good as a man can wish for there is two men in our camping that has Been there they say It is as good as reported and that is good enough for me wee think wee shall get there By the fourth of July wee are now crossing the Black hills or mountains which is coverd with cedar and pine and can see plenty of snow on larima peak about fourty miles from her This may seam Strange to you But nevertheless tru all the satisfaction that i see is when I am going for I have no one to care for now But my self if I had a should not Been here for there is nothin to induse me to work But I can tell you that this a hard life an me for I have not been a rite well day for five weeks But for the last few days I have had a very good appetite I dont know how I shall come out in the end for wee have a long road a head of us wee had Bad luck our company lost 4 horses and two mules they started yesterday while I am ritin some of the Boys say they are coming with there stock half after two o clock I will have to close for wee shall start very soon on our Journey grass is very poore our teems looks slim But wee still have some grain But grass is gettin Better Tell Sum and the rest of the friends to rite for I should Bee very glad to here from home wee have not had a word since wee left so give my love to all Enquiring friends so no more at present But remain yours as ever Beleaving you to Bee my Best friends

James Darnell

T J Zimmerman
and Rebeca Zimmerman642

James never remarried after Martha died. He moved in Butler Co., Nebraska in 1868 and served as Sheriff there in 1871-1872. His tombstone in Grim Cemetery reads: “Died without father, mother, wife or child/No pain, no grief, no amnous fear/Can reach the peace of the sleeper here.”642