James, William N. (1820-1900)

JAMES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/6/2016 at 00:58:43

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.668
JAMES, WILLIAM N., farmer, Jefferson Township, Sec. 15, P. O. Lothrop; born in Harrison county, Ohio, in January, 1824; lived there till sixteen years old, and went to Illinois, where he remained till in the fall of 1847, when he came to this county and followed blacksmithing in an early day; was first married to Mary A., daughter of Philip Colclazier, in 1849; she died in 1862, and left a family of four children: Margaret J., John T., Samantha and Matilda, living; he married a second a time, to Sarah Starks, a native of Carolina, in September, 1862; had two children, both dead; have a farm of 416 acres; he has held the office of Justice of the Peace.

The Advocate Tribune newspaper, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, April 9, 1885, p.4

Pioneer Sketches, by L. S. S.
William N. James was born in Harrisville, Harrison county, Ohio, January 30, 1820. Harrison county was formed from Jefferson and Tuscarawas counties January 1, 1814, six years before the birth of our subject. It was named in honor of Wm. H. Harrison. Its first settlement was made in April 1799 only twenty-one years before Wm. James was born, This settlement was made by Alex. Henderson and Daniel Patterson on Short Creek. In order to get an early history of this county we would have to go to Tuscarawas county. At the time of the birth of William, this county was then very new and thinly settled; was often overran by the Indians, who, at that time, were mortal enemies of the pale faces, and no less were the white race to the red man; each had to be on the watch for fear the one would get the drop upon the other. The making of farms was not so quick and easy as upon the broad prairies of the west; for the heavy growth of timber had to be cut down and cleaned off before a crop could be raised. The people were poor, and worked to great disadvantage to what is required of them at the present day. It was about the time of the birth of our subject that the first terms of court were being held in this county. History gives us an anecdote that perhaps is worthy of being repeated. Judge F. was on the bench and in the exercise of judicial functions severely reprimanded two young lawyers who had got into a personal dispute, A huge Herculaneum back-woods-man, attired in red flannel shirt, stood among the auditors in the apartment which served the double purpose of court and bar room. He being very much pleased at the judge’s lecture, having himself been practicing at another bar, hallooed out to his worship, who happened to be cross-eyed, and this in the midst of his harangue, “give it to ‘em old gimlet eyes,” “Who is that?” demanded the judge. He of the red flannel shirt, proud of being noticed, stepped out from among the rest and drawing himself up to his full height vociferated “it is this ere old hoss.” The judge, who in his day never failed of a pungent repartee when an occasion required, call out, in a peculiar, dry, nasal tone, “sheriff take that old hoss, put him in the stable and see that he is not stolen before morning.” Many an anecdote might be told that transpired in that new country about the time of young Williams birth. He like many others can at present day tell some stories of his own life that would convey some idea of what pioneer life consists of. William’s father died before his birth, yet he had a mother who took great care of her children, and if we are rightly informed, tried to raise them in the way they should go. They left Ohio in the fall of 1835 and emigrated to Marshall county, Illinois. Here and in Henry county, of the same state he remained for eleven years working on a farm, and at odd times at the blacksmith trade. On their arrival in Marshall county they had for the second time to be content with the conveniences and inconveniences of that wild and unsettled prairie country for which Illinois is noted for. But for all this young James was not discouraged. He had perserverence and was not ashamed to work at anything he could make an honest living at. In 1846 that fever that had been so contagious to thousands of others before him, and of his own age, took hold of him and he was brought nearly to the verge of life for another new country, and this disease could not be shook off until the trial was made of settling a new country for the third time. He packed his duds in the fall of 1846 and started for Warren county, and landed here in October 1846. We again find him among the tall prairie grass of a scarcely settled country, to grow up with its settlements and to endure the hardships of an early day. After coming to Warren county he worked at the blacksmith’s anvil for some time at Summerset and then at what is now called Old Greenbush. During this time he had fallen in love with a young lady, and a worthy one too, by the name of Mary A. Colclazier, daughter of Phillip Colclazier, the subject of a former sketch. They were united in matrimony June 26, 1848. They worked together, for the good of the community and themselves until February 1862 when she was called to take that journey from whence no traveler returns, leaving a kind husband and four small children to mourn her loss. His children having no one in particular to take care of them and look after their welfare, he was married to Mrs. Stark in September 1862. By this marriage they have had two children, both dead. At an early day he bought a farm and moved upon it and lived there until within the last four or five years, when he sold out and moved to Churchville, where he now lives. The writer became acquainted with Mr. James in 1855 and has been a neighbor to him from that time until the present. Mr. James has been a good citizen and a strong friend to the common schools, being very limited in his own education he sees the necessity and advantage of a good education. He was elected to the office of Justice by the electors of Jefferson township; he held it but a short time when he resigned, thinking he would make as many enemies as friends by holding the office. Politically he is a Democrat, has been one ever since the writer’s first acquaintance with him; and we honor him for advocating he doctrine he was raised in. Mr. and Mrs. James are very much respected; never getting into quarrels with their neighbors. Like all of the pioneer settlers they will soon pass off and be no more upon this earth. Let the rising generation do them honor in their old age.