"James was my gr-gr-gr-gr-grandfather. His name was James William Reese, not William James Reese, as he is listed in some records. He was born 24 Feb 1847, the son of Robert F. Reese, born 9 Feb 1822, and Polly Neal born 24 Dec. 1816. James W. was just 17 years old when he enlisted at Grafton, West Virginia on 24 Feb 1864 with a few of his cousins, some of the Luzadders. (Some of the older Luzadder enlisted earlier in the 12th.) James was Mustered in on 3 Mar 1864 in Wheeling. On 15 Mar 1864 he caught the measles and then returned to duty 11 Apr 1864. He transferred from Cumberland hospital to the 10th West Virginia Infantry until Mustered out. James W. Reese was married to Barbara Ellan Hunt, born 10 Sep 1846; died 19 Jul 1897. Their first son, Robert Elzy Reese, was born on 8 June 1869; died 30 Aug 1944. James W. died 23 March 1918. He was hit by a car while walking a cow to his son's house in Fairmont, WV from his home in Independence, WV. He was found a day later, still alive, but he died a week later. The driver of the car was never found."