James and Molly Pew

James Pew was born on August 20, 1839 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. At the age of 14 he drove an oxcart in a caravan of family and neighbors from Kentucky, who settled near Fillmore in Andrew County, Missouri. Eight years later, on December 7, 1861 he enlisted at Liberty, Missouri as a private in Company D of the 3rd Missouri Cavalry Battalion. The 3rd Missouri Cavalry Battalion actually served as infantry during most of the Civil War. It was consolidated with the 1st Missouri Cavalry Regiment in 1863, after the Vicksburg campaign. The 1st Missouri Cavalry also served as a dismounted unit.

James Pew participated in many battles during the war: Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Baker’s Creek, Big Black River, and Vicksburg. He also took part in the fighting in northern Georgia in the spring of 1864. On June 25 of that year he was wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

James was paroled s a private at Jackson, Mississippi in June 1865. He did not return to Missouri but remained in Mississippi, having found work not far from Jackson. Here he met Mary Jane Taylor, who always went by the name of Molly or Maggie. She was living with the Quarles family who had taken her in during the war. Renegades or deserters had burned down her family’s house and murdered her parents. James and Molly were married on September 2, 1866. He was 27 and she was just 15 years old.

Not long after their marriage the Pews moved to northwest Missouri, settling near Barnard. James later served as town marshal at Barnard and at Guilford. The couple had two daughters, Kitty and Lula and eight grandchildren. Three of their grandsons served in the U.S. armed forces during both world wars.

The Pews lived at 1711 Benton Boulevard in Kansas City. Before they came to the Confederate Home in Higginsville, Missouri in May 1913 the then 74 year old James was earning a meagre income working as a janitor. Despite being in tough financial conditions, the elderly couple were in relatively good health and were able to keep house on their own. They were assigned the last cottage on the north side of cottage row by the Home management. This cottage stood about where the Home chapel is now located; net to the cemetery. It was of a somewhat unusual design, having two stories, the typical cottage at the Home usually having just one story. 

James and Molly Pew on porch of their cottage ca. 1920

(Confederate Memorial State Historic Site) 

The Pew’s grandson, Max McNulty, came to live with them shortly after they moved in. He lived on the second floor of the cottage while working odd jobs around the Home. One of these jobs was acting as chauffeur for Confederate Home Superintendent George Gross. Taking care of the sick in the “pest house”, where residents thought to have communicable diseases were taken, was another. Max served in the army in World War I. He returned to the Confederate Home and helped build the ponds that are now part of the memorial park.

The Pew’s daughter, Lula, who was Max’s mother, was in charge of the Women’s Building for a number of years. Her second husband was David Case. He managed the Men’s Hospital and pharmacy. Lula’s first husband, Max’s father, was the son of Union veteran. Max liked to joke about how his grandpas had fought each other.

Every year the Confederate Home designated the Sunday closest to Jefferson Davis’ birthday (June 3) as Decoration Day. Normally the main buildings of the Home were surprisingly devoid of Confederate symbols, but on Decoration Day the old flags were brought out and buildings were decorated with Confederate colors - red and white ribbons. As part of the Decoration Day celebration in 1926, a guest vocalist sang the tune, “When You and I Were Young, Maggie”, with his arms around the Pews. It brought the house to tears. At that time Mrs. Pew acquired the nickname of “Molly Darling” and it remained with her for the rest of her days.

By 1927 James Pew’s health was failing. He was confined to the men’s hospital where he confided one day that, “I am ready to go to heaven and meet my daughter there”. His daughter Kitty had passed away not long before. James Pew died quietly in his hospital bed on February 27, 1929. He was in his 90th year. His last words were, “Molly Darling”.

After her husband’s death, Mollie Pew moved into the Women’s building, where her own daughter, Lula, had once been manager. In 1931 Molly participated in the dedication of the Confederate Memorial Park Gateway.

Molly Pew died suddenly on February 16, 1934 at the age of 82. She had been a resident of the Confederate Home for over 20 years.