James, Samuel

JAMES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 12:24:55

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.794

SAMUEL JAMES
Samuel James, who owns and operates one hundred and fifty-six acres of valuable land on section 14, Palmyra Township, was born in Liberty Township, Warren County, Iowa, February 14, 1859, his parents being Samuel and Phebe (Hartley) James, the former a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. The father was reared to agricultural pursuits in Guernsey County, Ohio, was married in that state and subsequently brought his bride to Burlington, Iowa, whence they came to Liberty Center, Warren County, Iowa. There Samuel James entered land and established his home but in 1863 sold out, purchasing one hundred and sixteen acres in Palmyra Township, where he resided until called to his final rest April 4, 1900, when eighty-two years of age. His wife survived him until April 9, 1904, being eighty-five years of age at the time of her demise. Their family numbered ten children, four sons and six daughters, of whom nine reached years of maturity.
Samuel James has made his home on his present farm since four years of age and since attaining his majority has placed many improvements thereon and brought the land under a high state of cultivation. He erected a commodious and substantial residence, good barns and outbuildings, fenced the fields, and the entire place, in its neat and thrifty appearance, indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. He has also added forty acres to the original tract, so that his farm now comprises one hundred and fifty-six acres of productive and well improved land, which is equipped with all the accessories and conveniences of a model farming property, including a wind pump. In addition to the work of general farming he is also engaged in dairying and in the raising of good graded stock, feeding hogs on quite an extensive scale. He cared for his parents until they passed away, and is well known as an upright man and citizen as well as an enter­prising and successful agriculturist.
On the 29th of November 1883, Mr. James was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Miller, a native of Warren County and a daughter of Lafayette Miller. They are the parents of four children, as follows: Bertha E., the wife of Harvey Somers, of Lewiston, Idaho; and Charles Bliss, Homer H. and Lulu Grace.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. James gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He has served as a member of the school board but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his time and attention to his private interests. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Carlisle and has passed through all the chairs of the lodge. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Friends Church, in which he has held office. Throughout his entire life or for almost a half century he has resided in this county, and has not only witnessed a most wonderful trans­formation but has largely aided in the labors which have transformed the wild tract into a splendid commonwealth.