George E. James

As printed in 1912

GEORGE E. JAMES

One of the representative and prosperous farmers of Lincoln township is George E. James, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, September 7, 1SG7, his parents being Gad and Harriet (Kile) James, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Indiana. Gad James came to America with his father in 1854, being then a small hoy and motherless, the mother having died when he was four years old. The widower and his small family (there were four hoys and one sister) settled first in Xew York state for a few years, thence removing to Cedar county, Iowa, where they remained a short time, and thereafter to Louisa county for a few years. Finally he settled in Missouri, where he resided until his death. Gad James remained in Muscatine county, where he was married to Harriet Kile, and engaged in farming in that county. This always was his occupation. He died September 1." 1!>12, and is buried at West Liberty, Iowa. Gad James and Harriet Kile had ten children: George E.; Curtis W., married to Nettie Risley, of Nichols, Iowa, father of four children, Harriet, Evelyn, Janet Ruby, and Curtis Ripley; May, now Mrs. Vincent Birkett, living at West Liberty, mother of six children. Blanch Lilly, Thomas, Dorothy May, James Vincent, Edith Leota, and Ethel Marie; Edwin G., living on a farm in Lincoln township (see his sketch); Bertha, now Mrs. Benjamin Bigsby, living in Cedar comity, Iowa, mother of three children, Herbert, Gynith, and Grace — Mr. Bigsby died September 20, 1912; Jesse K., living in Muscatine county, married to Miss Edith Nichols, of the same county; Clayton S., also of Muscatine county, married to Miss Bessie Heath, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heath, has one son, Raymond Heath; Leota, now Mrs. Chas. Waite, residing in West Liberty; Harry, who died when two years old; Warren W., living in Muscatine county, married to Beulah May Avers, of West Liberty. All of our subject's brothers are farmers, who possess their own homes within a radius of a few miles of his own residence in Lincoln township.

George E. James has always been a farmer. In 1897 he bought his present farm, containing 160 acres, which is now one of the finest in the county. He was married March 18, 1891, to Miss Martha Hanna, who was born in Preston county, West Virginia, October 21, 1866, and came to Muscatine county with her parents, James and Ellen Hanna, in 1875. Mr. Hanna was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He enlisted from his native state and served three years in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who reached maturity were: Martha, wife of George E. James; William, married to Lottie Wells, and he died in June, 1901, father of two children, Elsie and James, the latter dying at six years of age; Lucinda, now Mrs. Lewis Leach, of Luvciiic. Minnesota, mother of three children, Albert, Harry, and Vera; Mary Delia, now Mrs. Ernest Wells, of Lincoln township, Johnson county.

Mr. James lost his wife by death July 28, 1908. She left one daughter, Alverda Fern, horn October 11, 1899. George E. James has always been a republican. Tie has been township trustee for six years and has held other local offices, lie is a member of the M. P. church.

As printed in Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa, history (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.