Thomas Carson "Carson" James (1856-1934)

JAMES, MCCAMMON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/28/2024 at 21:55:12

From Story City Herald November 8, 1934 (page 1)

OLD RESIDENT DIED THURSDAY

Carson James, First White Child Born in Howard Twp. 78 Years Ago

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Grace church for Thomas Carson James, pioneer resident of this community. Rev. Fuller officiated. Miss Ruth Fuller sang two selections in the church with her sister, Miss Margaret Fuller, at the piano.

The pallbearers were: Chas. Alsager, Torkel Hill, Edward Charlson, Jens Gertsen, Lew Johnson and P. A. Olson.

Mr. James had been in failing health a number of years. For all that time he was tenderly cared for by his four sons. Elmer, the youngest son, had especially been his constant help and companion in recent years. In later weeks Mr. and Mrs. Raphael James came from Chicago; and William James, too, spent a week here to be at the bedside of their father in his last days.

Those who came her from a distance to the funeral were: Mrs. Winifred James of Keystone, Mr. and Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Monlux of Beaman, r. and Mrs. Earl Harris of Marshalltown, and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Christenson of Des Moines.

Preceding his sermon at the funeral Rev. Fuller read the following obituary:

Thomas Carson James, son of John and Elizabeth James, was born in Story county in the log-cabin on the old James homestead 4 miles southeast of Story City, Nov. 2, 1856. He was, as far as we known, the first white child born in Howard township and among the first twelve born in Story county. His early education was interrupted by an accident that kept him from school for a year and a half. At about 20 years of age he began his career as a school teacher, teaching in the rural schools for a period of 15 years, largely in the vicinity of Story City. He attended Iowa State college for a short period, after which he went to the Keokuk college, where he both took work and taught at the same time. He spent two years in the west teaching at Portland, Ore.

He then returned to teach at the Dexter college, 1895-96. Following his work there he taught but little, due to the failure of his health, which would not permit steady work, the last 30 years of his life being that of a semi-invalid.

He was united in marriage on May 11, 1865, by Rev. J. Wirth, to Miss Bertha McCammon, the daughter of another pioneer family in whose home the first Evangelical church services were held in the Center community. Mrs. James preceded her husband in death on Feb. 13, 1921. To this union were born four sons, all living.

In 1877 Mr. James was baptized and united with the Pleasant Grove church and later, in 1885 under the ministry of B. H. Niebel, he united with Grace church, of which church he remained a faithful member until his death with the exception of a few years when he was a member of the M. E. church in Nevada while living in that place. He was an earnest Christian and a man of faith. A poem of true worth has been left behind as well as a number of works of art from the hand of his expert penmanship.

He leaves to mourn his loss four sons, Stanton of Story City, Raphael and William of Chicago, and Elmer of Story City; one brother, Elmer of Ysleta, Texas, and four grandchildren.

His was a rare life of goodness and faith and charity in all, and the impress of it will last in other lives whom he has influenced. At the time of his death he was just a few hours short of 78 years of age, his death coming at 8:48 p.m. on November 1, 1934.