The James Families of Morrow County, Ohio

ABEL JAMES, farmer; P. O., Andrews; is the second son of Henry W. and Hannah (Jones) James; he was born in Chester Tp., of this county, Sept. 8, 1819. He was eight years old when his father removed to the woods of Congress Tp., where he was engaged in clearing. He went to subscription school but a short time, his services being required at home for the support of a large family. At 21 he went to South Bloomfield Tp., where he cleared land for three crops on the same, and at the expiration of three years he married Rebecca McClain, March 23, 1843. He their returned to his father’s, taking charge of the farm for six years. He next removed to Wright Tp., Ottawa Co., Mich. Here he owned 83 acres in the green woods. He cleared 37 acres of his own land, and slashed 53 acres into windows for others; his skill and endurance enabled him to split six hundred rails in a day. He was here nine years and four months, and in the meantime his wife died, leaving him with four little children. Archibald, born Oct. 2, 1844, married Lovina Furston, and was in the army three years and wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness; he now lives in Muskegon Co., Michigan;

Charity J., born Jan. 2, 1846, now Mrs. Levi Myers, and lives in Northern Michigan; Adalbert J., born June 27, 1850; Mary, April 3, 1855, died when nine months old. He united in marriage with Eliza McClain, June 16, 1855. She is a daughter of John Harris, of South Bloomfield Tp., and widow of the late Evan McClain, Of this marriage two daughters were born — Rebecca, July 6, 1857; Hannah R., Oct. 24, 1859, died at the age of five years and twenty-two days. Mr. James returned to this township in September, 1858, and during the same month he purchased the home place, where he has lived ever since. He united with the Free Will Baptist Church about 1852, but withdrew from that church, and with others formed a Regular Baptist Church while in Michigan. He is now a member the Harmony Baptist Church. His father, Henry W. James, was born in September, 1781, in Pemrockshire, South Wales; his father died when he was six years old, and he went to live with an uncle by the name of Henry David, where he was employed in caring coal and lime until his eighteenth year. In Sept., 1799, he took shipping for America. The ship was carried by a head wind far to the south, and prolonged their voyage to nine weeks and three days. They Ended at Philadelphia, where he engaged in sawing and dressing marble for some time; from there he went to New York, and carrying but a short time in the city, he went to Steubenville New York, and there learned the double trade of miller, and millwright. He remained here about eight years, and owned a small farm. His brother, Elder David James, who had emigrated some fifteen months before Henry, lived here, and they both concluded to emigrate to Pennsylvania. They settled in Alexandria Co., where Henry found employment with a wealthy miller, by the name of Lowry. He united in marriage with Miss Hannah Jones, Oct. 30, 1807. She was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales in December 1788. She came over in 1801, after a journey on the ocean of six weeks and three days, and the family settled in Alexandria Co., Pa. After marriage, Mr. James remained in the mill until 1811, except for a short period in 1809, when he and a relative, by the name of Elder John D. Thomas, set out on foot for Ohio. They journeyed across the mountains and swam the Ohio river, and entered land in Chester Tp. While they were thus wandering in the wilderness of Knox Co., strange and sad events were transpiring at home. Before setting out Mr. James had moved his family, and household goods in the house of Mr. Thomas, where the two ladies lived together. One Sabbath they made preparations for going to church, carefully securing the smouldering members in the fire-place, as they supposed; but on their return from church, the house was in flames, and everything was lost, including over three hundred dollars in silver, for which Mr. James had sold his land in New York; all that remained was sixty dollars, which he had loaned, As the silver could not be found in the ashes, it is supposed that the house was robbed, then burned to conceal the crime. On his return, Mr. James labored in Pennsylvania, until the fall of 1811; when he, with his wife and two little girls, set out for Ohio, with an ox team. They landed at Licking Co., O. in September, where his brother, Elder David.Tames, had preceded him some months; they remained here two and a half years; while here the Indians became very troublesome, an 1 at one time fired at his cabin in the night, and he returned their fire-, aiming where he saw the flash of their guns, while his wife guarded the door with a large knife, and the Indians finally dispersed; he served in the war of 1812, under General Meigs, he and six others being detailed as scouts; they captured two hostile Indians, which were sent as prisoners to Delaware, O. At one time during this campaign, the soldiers’ rations were reduced to one pint of meal to three men, and Mr. James came home nearly starved, and his wife was obliged to give him food in small quantities at first; during his absence the wife often took her little ones and hid out to avoid the scalping-knife of the savages. After the war, probably about the spring of 1814, he removed forty miles west, to the fifty acres of land which he had entered in 1809, in what was then Chester Tp., Knox Co., O.; hardly had surrounded his little family with a few of the necessaries of life, when the devourum element swept away all again.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DANIEL JAMES, farmer; P. 0., Andrews. The James family are natives of Wales, of whom James is a near relative; his father, Henry, his mother also, whose maiden name was Hannah Jones, emigrated from that country to Pennsylvania many years ago, and after several years residence there, drifted to the West, locating in this county, where they remained until their death. Daniel was born in this township, April 25, 1830; is the youngest of a family of twelve; he did not leave home until he attained near his 26th year; about this time he formed a matrimonial alliance with Marinda Fiddler, of this county, daughter of Thomas Fiddler, their marriage occurring Oct., 1855. When he married he had nothing; his stock in store was a willingness to work, and to adapt himself to circumstances, hoping by this course to some time place himself in better condition; he began first by renting, which he continued for some time; afterwards purchased some land, making several changes and removals, finally locating permanently on the land he now owns, having 160 acres in all. He has six children — Louis R., Marcus N., Hannah J., Clarke W., Clinton E., and Barton W.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

E. R. JAMES, farmer; P. O. Chesterville; was born Nov. 10, 1814, in Licking Co., this State; his parents, Edmond and Esther (Griffith) James, were natives of Wales, and emigrated to Licking Co. when young. The father was one of five children — Edmond, Thomas, James, Joseph and Eliza. The mother one of seven children — Mary, Ann, William, Hannah, John and Catharine. This parental union was celebrated Jan. 28, 1814, by ’Squire John Philips. They remained in Licking Co. about one year, and then settled in Chester Tp., in a log cabin 18x18 feet;

here they toiled to prepare homes for those of the world’s river years to enjoy. January 2, 1850, the father was strike from life’s roll on earth, and gathered into life eternal, leaving behind the companion of his joys and sorrows, with whom he had shared for over thirty-six years. He was the father of eleven children — infant dead, E. R., William, Mary, Ann, Thomas, David, Joseph, Davis E., John H. and Benjamin. The mother is still living, and bids fair for.many more years of usefulness. E. R. attended school but little, but during his younger days he took advantage of every opportunity, and became, in due time, an efficient school-master. On April 27, 1837, he those a companion in the person of Phoebe, a daughter of Joel and Mary (Potts) Bockover; her parents emigrated to Ohio in 1831, and had two daughters— Phoebe and Susan. Her father was married prior, to a Miss Kymer, by whom he had — George, John, Esther, Mary, Peter, Henry, Elizabeth and Jonathan. Both of her parents were active members of the Baptist church. The wife of our subject was born Aug. 11, 1819; she settled with her husband, subsequently, on the present farm, they buying at the time fifty acres of John Booher, which was entered by Ayers. They have, by industry and frugality added; and the family now possess 140 acres of well improved land. E. R. James hauled wheat from this farm to Cleveland to secure the means to liquidate his indebtedness for his first forty acres of this farm. His children are Flora A., graduated at Granville, O., College, in 1862, and has taught seven terms of school; Wesley K., cattle dealer, now of Kansas; infant, deceased; Lewis J., graduated at the O. W. U., at Delaware, O., in 1868, and has taught school at Chesterville, Sparta, Waterford, Cardington, Iberia, and enlisted in Company F., 136th O. N. G.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DAVIS E. JAMES, farmer; P. O. Chesterville; was born in 1837, arid is the son of Edmond and Esther (Griffith) James; while young he attended school, and performed his duties on the farm. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. “G,” 85th O. V. I., and in a few days received an appointment in the quartermaster’s department as commissary sergeant; he was discharged in Nov. 1864; he then engaged to the Wilson Sewing Machine Co. for some time, also in selling a history of the Civil Rebellion, in both of which avocations he was successful. He entered into a matrimonial alliance Nov. 1, 1866, with Gem, daughter of Emness and Elizabeth (Evans) Salisbury; she was one of eight children, and was born in 1846; they settled, after marriage, on the present farm of 114 acres, purchased from the Emness Salisbury heirs; he is a member of Chester Lodge, No. 204, I. O. O. F., in which he has held all offices; for two years he was representative of the Grand Lodge, and was once a member of the Encampment at Cardington. He and his wife are members of Chester Baptist church, in which he has held office of clerk, and been superintendent of the Sabbath School. He is an active Republican.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

F. M. JAMES, farmer; P. O., Bennington; was born in Virginia, Feb. 6, 1823; sou of David and Charlotte James; the father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Maryland; they came to Morrow Co. in 1836, where they resided until their death — the father May 24, 1858, and the mother Sept. 19, 1869. Mr. James’ youth was spent at home, and at the age of 19 he went to learn the wagon-makers’ trade — a business he followed for about ten years, after which he purchased a farm in Lincoln Tp., and has been following farming and stock-growing since. He was married about 1844, to Miss Anna Barnard, whose parents were natives of Vermont, and came to Ohio about 1836, and are both living. From their marriage they have three children — Elizabeth, George B. and Edmund. Mr. James owns a farm of 100 acres, most of which he cleared and improved; he has resided in Lincoln Tp., about thirty-one years; previous to coming here he lived in Peru Tp. twelve years, making 43 years in the county; being but a wilderness at the time of settlement, they have seen it improved to its present civilized condition. Mrs. James is a daughter of Edmund and Laura Barnard; she is the eldest of a family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. James are members of the M. E. Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.