James Vannatta was born in 1828, most likely in Smith Co, TN, the son of Samuel Vanatta (1888) and Hannah Glover (1893). He married Caroline Garrison on January 2, 1851 in DeKalb Co, TN. Caroline’s parents were Benjamin Garrison (abt. 1789 VA-?) and Elizabeth ________ (abt. 1800-?).  Caroline was born November 27, 1825 and died October 11, 1904.

James Vannatta served in the Civil War in Co., A of the Seventh TN Inf. Reg., CSA, and died in the war. He was probably buried near the battlefield where he was killed. The following information came from the "Bicentennial History of DeKalb County, Tennessee", by Thomas Webb:

"In May 1862, Colonel Robert Hatton of the Seventh Tennessee Regiment was promoted to brigadier general; a week later he lay dead on the battlefield at Seven Pines, along with at least five men from Company A: G. W. Driver, J. B. Garrison, P. J. Mason, James Vanatta, and T. W. Sewell."

Seven Pines was near Richmond, VA, and James' body would not have been transported from that distance, especially in time of war.

Caroline, his wife is not found in the 1870 census, but she appears as head of household and widowed in the 1880 DeKalb Co., TN census. From the 1860 and 1880 censuses their children were: Mary E. (1851) ["Mary King" buried next to her mother], Winfield S. (b. 1853 also buried here), Amanda (abt. 1855), Daniel (abt. 1856), Samuel (abt. 1857) and James (abt. 1858).

The 1870 census of DeKalb Co., TN shows Winfield Vanatta (age 17) residing with his uncle and uncle's wife, John (b. 1837 also buried here), and Catherine (Measles) Vanatta (b. 1840 also buried here).