JAMES, William H.

JAMES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/30/2021 at 17:56:32

William H. James
Born 1853

W. H. James, successor to the firm of James & Manning, general merchants, Battle Creek, Iowa, is ranked with the prominent business men of the town. He carries a full line of merchandise, including dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, queensware, groceries, etc., his stock being valued at from $10,000 to $12,000. He occupies a room, the dimensions of which are 22 x 74 feet, with an addition, 16 x 20 feet. This business was opened here April 1, 1880, and was conducted under the firm name of James & Manning until March 1, 1892, since which time Mr. James has been sole proprietor. The annual sales of the establishment have been $30,000. Mr. James employs two clerks. Of his personal history we make the following brief record:
W. H. James was born in Bristol, England, in 1853, son of J. G. and Elizabeth (Williamson) James, who came to America in 1854, and located soon afterward at Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1859 they came to Iowa and settled at Clarence, Cedar County, where W. H. was reared. His father was a carpenter by trade. Both parents are deceased, the mother having died at their home in Cedar County, and the father in Park City, Utah. They had four sons and one daughter, two of whom, Fred C. of Portland, Oregon, and William H. are living. Two died in infancy. Frank E., is also deceased. At the age of eighteen William H. James began clerking in a general store in Clarence, and was thus employed for nine years and three months. At the end of that time he came to Battle Creek and engaged in business with Mr. Manning. He has by honest industry and good management made a financial success, having risen, unaided, to his present position among the prominent business men of the county. He is a stockholder and director in the Maple Valley Savings Bank, Battle Creek, and a stockholder in the Maple Valley Creamery. Politically, he is a Republican. He was a member of the first City Council of Battle Creek, and has since served in that body. In 1892 he was President of the School Board. Socially, Mr. James is a prominent member of the Olympic Lodge, No. 257, K. of P., in which he has passed all the chairs.
He married Miss Anna Manning, daughter of T. O., and Adaline (Sylvester) Manning, and a native of Illinois. They have two sons, Merton O. and Eugene F.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.371