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 1843, Union county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
J. H. JAMES, M.D.
Doctor J. H.James was born in Union county, Illinois, August 26. 1843. and lived there until he attained the age of twenty-three years. He then removed to Wellington, Missouri, and, after remaining there only a few months, went to Kansas City, where he remained for a time, engaged in carpentering, which trade he had acquired in Illinois, at the age of sixteen years. From Kansas City, he went to Chicago and attended medical lectures at Rush College during the years 1869-'70. He then came to Lisbonville, Ray county, and engaged in the practice of medicine until 1875, when he attended lectures again, at Missouri Medical College, St. Louis. He returned to Lisbonville, and has since built up a large and profitable practice there. Doctor James was first married in Caldwell county, Missouri, April, 1873, to Miss Margaret Cates, by Reverend John Harmon. They had one child, who died in infancy. He was married the second time, December 2, 1877, to Miss Belle Langford, by Reverend Carter, at Lisbonville. Mrs. James was born in Caldwell county, Missouri, May 18, 1861. The issue of this marriage has been three children, all of whom died in infancy. Doctor James is a member of the M. E. Church South, and Mrs. James of the Missionary Baptist Church.
w. g. Mcdonald.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Rav county, Missouri, born August 29, 1838, and has lived in the same neighborhood in which he was born all his life, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. McDonald owns a fine farm of four hundred acres, three hundred and forty acres of which are fertile, rolling prairie lands. This farm is well improved, and inclosed with strong fences. It is in an excellent state of cultivation, and is very productive. Mr. McDonald is also extensively engaged in raising fine breeds of live stock. He was married in Caldwell county, Missouri, in 1859, to Miss Caroline Kelmel, by Reverend John Turnadge, a Baptist minister. They are the parents of four children: L. S., born March 21, 1860; T. R., born August 21, 1862; W. W., born December 22, 1864; M. C, born November 1, 1866. Mr. McDonald is a leading member of Palo Lodge, No. 232, A. F. & A. M.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.