Eliza Jane (Magee) James (ca. 1832-1899)

MAGEE, JAMES, MCGEE, LIGHTBODY, WILSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/13/2011 at 23:31:10

From Story County Watchman November 17, 1899

DIED: On Friday, November 10, Mrs. Jane James of this city passed peacefully away. Eliza Jane McGee was born about sixty-seven years ago in the city of Omagh, Tyrone county, Ireland, and was a member of a large family of sons and daughters. Her childhood years were spent in the city of her birth where the meager opportunities afforded for public school training her education was begun and completed. In the face of this disadvantage, however, she enjoyed a rare and beautiful privilege namely the opportunity of cultivating at an early age those qualities of heart that prove a blessing to self, humanity and God. This sacred opportunity was hers to enjoy through the medium of her grandfather, who was at that time an acitve religious teacher and supporter of the principles of Methodism. At about the age of sixteen, in company with her father she came to America, residing in Cincinatti, where she was married April 17, 1850 to John James. Together with her faithful husband she began anew the battle of life with very little means but they soon succeeded in entering business a Covington, Kentucky. Iowa, one of the states then bordering western civilization, was offering free homes to all applicants for such within its borders and the desire of securing the sole ownership of a home on its soil actuated them to emigrate westward. They settled on a farm in Story county and now near a trading post called Fair View where they resided for twenty years, whence they came to Nevada where they have since lived. Seven children were born to them of whom four survive, namely, Carson and George James of this county, Elmer James of El Paso, Texas, and and W. M. James, now residing in old Mexico. Besides a husband and four children she leaves four brothers and sisters, namely, Mrs. James McGee of Leavensworth, Kansas, Judge T. B. McGee of Oklahoma, Mrs. J. W. Lightbody, of Salma, Kansas, and Mrs. W. J. Wilson of New York City, who will deeply deplore her departure. The deceased from the time of her earliest spiritual intuitions has sought earnestly to bring her life into harmony with God's will always trying to use every opportuniy for doing a good or charitable deed. During her illness friends came from far and near with affectionate offerings and loving words. T. C. J.