In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1837
From History of Morrow County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio ... a history of Morrow County ... biographical sketches, portraits of some of the early settlers and prominent men, (1880)
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 History of Morrow County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio ... a history of Morrow County ... biographical sketches, portraits of some of the early settlers and prominent men, (1880). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1880. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.