James S. Voyles b 4 Jul 1834 [Cherokee CO, NC per 1860 census] d 24 Apr 1905 buried Grape Creek Bapt Church Cem, Cherokee CO, NC
son of Amariah "Old Rock" & Martha Voyles of Persimmon Creek (10 miles west Murphy, NC)

m (1) 13 Aug 1857 Ooltewah, Hamilton CO, TN to
Nancy Matilda Smith b 26 Mar 1835 Burke CO, NC d 20 Mar 1899 buried Grape Creek Bapt Church Cem, Cherokee CO, NC
dau of William T. & Rosamond "Rosie" Susannah (Wright) Smith of Cherokee CO, NC

m (2) 20 Dec 1900 Grape Creek, Cherokee CO, NC, by N. S. Whitener, to
Sarah Jane Smith b ca 1837 Burke CO, NC d after 1905?
dau of William T. & Rosamond "Rosie" Susannah (Wright) Smith above
residence - Murphy & Grape Creek, Cherokee CO, NC

He filed a pension claim on 1 Aug 1870, not giving his birthplace or date. The above data is from tombstone inscriptions in Grape Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Voyles claimed to be in Bryson's Company before enlistment as pvt in Co G, 3rd TN MTD INF REGT. In late 1873, Special Agent John H. Wager conducted inquiry in this case, taking depositions at Murphy, Grape Creek, Shoal Creek, in Cherokee CO, NC and in Ducktown, Polk CO, TN. Witnesses included the following: James Voyles 39, Enoch Voyles 37, Daniel McCoy 56, J. D. Abbott 43, Rachel Horton 54, John L. "Black Fox" Stiles 27, J. L. McDowell 36, John Johnson 33, John T. Rodgers 55, James Hartness 68, Anthony Horton 71, John R. Simonds 51, William B. Sutton 28, William Rodgers 38, E. M. Farmer 35, and John J. Johnson 53. Dr. John W. Patton 45 of Murphy, NC and Dr. Strickland Albright 37 of Ducktown, TN also testified in the case. With the exception of his brother Enoch Voyles and J. L. McDowell, all witnesses testified against James Voyles in his application plea. His brother-in-law William Rodgers, better known as "Bushwhacker Bill Rodgers," also testified against him in the case.

Daniel McCoy said that he and James Voyles worked on the railroad from Cleveland in Bradley CO, TN to Chattanooga, in Hamilton CO, TN, both working on the grade and in building the railroad west from Knoxville to Chattanooga. James Voyles had worked for the railroad acquiring timber and preparing it for using as crossties. In later years, Voyles served as county coroner in Cherokee CO, NC.

Pension was granted at $4 per month from 1 Dec 1864. On 30 June 1886, it was increased to $8 per month and again on 27 Sep 1898, to $12 per month. After his first wife died, he married his spinster sister-in-law Sarah Jane Smith. She became his widow but was not entitled to a pension even though she applied. She had married pensioner subsequent to 27 June 1890, date of approval of the General Law regarding pensions.