JAMES, Samuel (1818-1900)

JAMES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/1/2017 at 16:37:27

Samuel James
(Nov 18, 1818 - Apr 4, 1900)

Indianola Weekly Herald, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, January 27, 1887, p.2

Mr. Samuel James of Carlisle, is another honorable member of The Herald family [the Indianola Herald newspaper], having taken the paper since its foundation in April, 1857. Mr. James came to Warren county in 1851 and has been a resident ever since. It would be hard to convince such men as he that Warren county was not the best county in Iowa.

The Indianola Herald, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, April 12, 1900, p.2
Samuel James Sr.
Samuel James died at his home near Carlisle, Ia, after a brief illness, April 4, 1900. He was born in Burkes county, Pa, Nov 18, 1818. When nine years of age the family moved to Ohio and settled on a farm in Gurnsey county. He was married March 21st 1839 to Miss Phoebe Hartley who still survives. For over sixty-one years they had traveled lifes journey together. In talking it over about a week before his death, with no thought that the end was so near, each expressed the feeling that the last had been the happiest year of their lives. Ten children were born to them; Amos D. of Des Moines, Ia; Isaac who died in infancy; John of Medora, Ia; Samuel Jr. who resides on the old homestead; Mrs. J. P. Mosher of Liberty Center; Mrs. Thos. Griffith of Buena Visty county; Miss Charity who died in 1883; Mrs. Rev. W. A. Sarmon of Minneapolis Minn; Mrs. Geo. W. Phillips of Idaho and Mrs. Reed Randleman of Carlisle, Iowa. Of the children living all were present, together with several members of their families, when he passed away except Amos who is in Oregon and Mrs. Phillips. The last to arrive was Mrs. Sharmon who with her husband reached his bedside about an hour before the end came.
Uncle Sammie, as he was familiarly called, came to Iowa in 1849, residing at Burlington about a year. He came to Warren county before the county was organized and was one of the first three settlers in Liberty township. He assisted in the organization of that township and was the first Justice of the Peace. At the time only sixteen votes were cast in the whole township. Indians roamed at will all over the broad state of Iowa. Wild turkeys, deer and other game were plentiful, and the country everywhere was a paradise for the hunter and trapper. In 1860 he went to Colorado and engaged for a time in mining. During a part of his stay in the West he acted as District Judge, having been elected by a meeting of the miners in lieu of a state organization. By his impartial ruling he always held the respect of those whose interests were intrusted to his care. Returning to Iowa in 1863 he moved with his family to the northern part of Warren county where he has since resided. Uncle Sammie was a quiet unasumming man. From early life his religious preferences had been with the Friends. Soon after settling in his new home in 1863 he identified himself with the church of his choice, since which time he has been a trustee and leading member of that church. His character was above reproach. He was a kind and noble husband, a tender and loving father, an obliging neighnor and a true and upright citizen. He was a splendid speciman of a rapidly vanished class of citizens, the sturdy pioneers of the state. One by one they are going and soon they all will have gone. The funeral was held from the Friends meeting house and was attended by a large number of friends and neighbors. The funeral sermon was preached by his son-in-law, Rev. W. A. Sharmon, from the words of Christ in John 13: 7 “What I do thou knowest not now but though shalt know hereafter.”
[poem] “Servant of God, well done, Thy glorious warfare past. The battles fought, the victory’s won and thou art crowned at last.”