The James Family of Wayne County, Ohio

JOHN S. JAMES, eldest son of George and Ann (Sealy) James, was born in Somersetshire, England, May 4, 1817, and emigrated to America with his parents in 1832. For about thirty years he remained with his parents, and in 1862 he moved onto his present farm of 160 acres. In 1861 he married Miss Martha, daughter of Thomas Gilmore, of Franklin Township, Wayne Co., Ohio. She died in 1884, leaving six children, as follows: Thomas Sealy, living at home; James Alfred, who married Sarah Grant, and lives in Franklin Township, Wayne County; William Edward, living at home; George A. and Harry Oscar, in Nebraska, and Henry Arthur, at home. Mr. James is a Democrat in politics, and has served his township as supervisor for three years, trustee for two years, and is now serving his fourth year as treasurer. He and family attend the services of the Moorland Methodist Episcopal Church.

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

In the death of the subject of this sketch, which occurred on the 25th of September, 1904, at his home in Franklin township, Wayne county suffered a distinct loss, he having been for many years numbered among the strong and virile characters. A man of forceful personality, sound judgment and enterprising spirit, he had long occupied a high position among his fellow agriculturists, and had achieved a large measure of success in his life work.

David James was born in England, October 7, 1826, and was a son of George and Ann (Sealy) James, who migrated to America in 1832. They located on a farm in Franklin township, Wayne county, where they bought one hundred acres of land, for which they paid seven hundred dollars, this being the farm on which the subject's widow now resides. The country was at that time but sparsely settled, there being but one house between the James home and Wooster. There the parents made their home during the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1859 and the mother in 1870. George James was a stanch Whig in his political faith and was an active and influential man in his home neighborhood. To him and his wife were born four children, namely: William Albert, who died at the age of twenty-three years; John S.. whose death occurred April 25, 1896; Amelia, deceased; David, the subject of this sketch.

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In 1853. Mr- James married Ellen Gilmore, the daughter of Thomas and Dorothy (Young) Gilmore, of Holmes county, this state. The union was a most happy one and was blessed in the birth of the following children; Thomas A., of Franklin township, this county; Dorothy Ann, at home; William Alfred, of Franklin township, who married Minnie Florence Morgan, and they have two children, Hugh Carl and Mary Ellen; Jesse Gilmore is the wife of Alverta Watson, of Franklin township, and they are the parents of three children, Harry, Nellie and Blanche Ellen; Mary Nellie became the wife of Frank E. Langell, of Wayne township, and they have five children, Mark Bunyan, James Maxwell, Floyd, Myrel David and Francis Henry; Martha Nettie is the wife of Frank Shaw, of near Shreve, this county, and they have two children, Ernest and Forest; Wesley David, who lives in Iowa, married Emma Morgan, and they have seven children, Glenn. Lucille. William McKinley, Althea, Kenneth, Harrold. Max: John Charles, of Franklin township, married Flora Franks, to which union has been born one child, Clark; George Walter died at the age of nineteen years; Lorenzo Ellsworth died at the age of sixteen years; Frederick Herbert married Alca Weetman, and they have two children, Earl and David; Francis Asbury, of Franklin township, married Nora Swinehart. and they are the parents of four children: Lester. Virgil, Harold and Wayne; Amelia Ellen is the wife of Wilbur Snure, of Franklin township; Sealy, of Wayne township, married Anna Bucher, and they have three children, Mabel. Ellen and Chester Allen; Anna Hortense is the wife of Richard McCoy, to whom she has borne one child, Ellen Marie.

Mrs. James’ parents, Thomas and Dorothy (Young) Gilmore, were natives of England, the former having been born at Somersetshire, November 17, 1810, and the latter at Bristol March 31, 1810, and at the latter place their marriage occurred. On May 1, 1831, five weeks after their marriage, they came to the United States, locating first at Fredericksburg. Wayne county. Ohio. Later they moved to Honeytown, Wayne county, this state, but two years afterwards they settled at Martins Creek, in Holmes county, where they remained thirteen years. Mr. Gilmore first followed the occupation of a miller and subsequently he purchased the Hockenberrv Mill, which he operated until his wife’s death, when he bought the Cider mill in Franklin township. He operated this mill twenty-eight years, when his second wife died, and he thereafter made his home with his daughter, Mrs. James, until his death, which occurred at the age of ninety years, ten months and twelve days. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Which he was an earnest and liberal supporter, and he stood high in the estimation of all who knew him.

Politically, David James was a Republican and took a deep interest and an active part in local public affairs. He was an interested member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Moorland, and served as trustee and class leader. He was indefatigable in his efforts to advance the religious interests of the entire community, and assisted materially in the erection of the second church in Wayne county. His death occurred on the 25th of September, 1904. and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Moorland. Since his death Mrs. James has personally directed the operation of the farm and has achieved eminent success in her efforts. She possesses business ability of a high order and has given to her affairs a discriminating intelligence that has enabled her to realize a handsome income from her property. She is well liked by all who know her and in her hospitable and attractive home she gives a cordial greeting to her many friends.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.