James, Josiah

JAMES, RICHARDS, ROGERS, NASON

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 6/30/2021 at 11:41:19

Josiah James, wagon-maker, Brighton, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, April 28, 1839, and is the son of Josiah and Priscilla (Richards) James, who were the parents of four children, three living: Elijah, of Henry County, Iowa; Margaret, wife of E. C. Upton, of Henry County, Iowa, and Josiah. His father died in Ohio, in 1839, and his mother subsequently married William Rogers, and in 1847 moved to Henry County, Iowa. By the last union she had four children, only one of whom is now living: Melissa, the wife of Jacob Beaver, of Henry County, Iowa. Thomas; Sarah who married Oliver Shutes, and Rebecca, who married John Berry, are deceased. His mother died in Henry County about 1880.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Henry County, Iowa, and on the breaking out of the great Rebellion, enlisted in Co. E, 1st Iowa Vol. Cav., and was mustered into the service at Burlington, where they remained a short time and were then sent to Missouri after the rebel General Price. Before the expiration of his three years of service, Mr. James re-enlisted, and received a veteran furlough of thirty days, which he improved by coming home. Returning to camp, he was with the regiment in all its engagements and campaigns till the close of the war. He was mustered out at Austin, Tex., and discharged at Davenport, Iowa. On receiving his discharge, he returned to Henry County, Iowa, and subsequently went to Warren County, where he learned the trade of a wagon-maker. While on his veteran furlough, in 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Nason, a native of Henry County, Iowa. By this union there are four children – Mary Bell, Charley D., Edgar E. and Wilbur A.

Mr. James came to this county in 1875, and located in Dutch Creek Township, where he engaged in farming until 1878, when he moved to West Chester and worked at his trade four years, going thence to Lexington, in Cedar Township, where he remained one year on a farm. He then settled in Brighton, and has since continued to reside there, engaged in his trade of wagon-making. He is a member of the G.A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Josiah James, pages 284-285.