George JAMES

JAMES, STANLEY, HILL, COLLINS, BROWN, MIDDLETON, NOTESTINE, WINTERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/12/2012 at 13:56:52

May 31, 1845 -- June 14, 1916

GEORGE JAMES, PIONEER SETTLER, DIES SUDDENLY AT ROCHESTER

WENT TO ROCHESTER FOR EXAMINATION AND OPERATION WAS PERFORMED -- RECOVERED AND LIVED FIVE DAYS AND THEN HAD SINKING SPELL -- FUNERAL LAST SUNDAY

This community was greatly shocked last Wednesday when the news of the death of George James was flashed by wire from the Mayo hospital at Rochester, Minnesota. It was so unexpected, even to the members of his own family. Mr. James went to Rochester for medical consultation but had no idea of submitting to an operation. After the consultation, however, Mr. James yielded to the advice of the physicians and contrary to all expectations his case took a turn for the worse, resulting in his death.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, at 2:30, upon the spacious lawn at the farm home, and the largest concourse of friends and neighbors ever gathered upon a similar occasion was present to pay their last respects to the departed. It is estimated that from 1200 to 1500 people were present. People came from Renwick, Hardy, Humboldt, and from all over this locality, and 350 autos were counted as they were parked upon the roadside.

A male quartet, composed of Eugene Schaffter, R. A. Baker, C. H. Duer, and K. K. Keith sang with Miss Anna Ballard at the piano, and the pallbearers were J. C. Middleton, R. M. Smallpage, J. S. Fort, W. R. Blake, George Bonner, of this city, and J. M. Montgomery of Goldfield.

The scripture reading and prayer was by Rev. S. M. VanCleve of the Methodist church, and the sermon was by Re. L. M. Pierce of the Congregational church, who spoke from the text "And Man Goeth to His Long Home." The floral contributions were handsome and elaborate, there being a number of special pieces. The floral contributions were arranged and were in charge of Mrs. George Bonner and Mrs. H. Bender. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery. The Masons had charge at the grave and the beautiful and impressive ritualistic service was carried out, there being more Masons in line than at any similar service ever held in Eagle Grove, all of which testified to the esteem in which Mr. James was held.

Saw Wright County Develop

Brought to America when four years of age by his parents, who became Iowa pioneers, George James made good practical use of the wonderful opportunities that awaited anyone possessed of a stout heart and willing hands, and was ranked as one of the large landowners of this section of the state and was counted as one of the most substantial citizens of Wright county, a region that he saw develop from its primitive prairie state to its present condition of wonderful productivity. The owner of nearly two thousand acres of Wright county land, Mr. James was at the time of his death, surrounded by comforts that scarce would have been dreamed of when he first crossed the boundless prairies of this section.

Remembered Gold Rush of 1849

George James was born in Somersetshire, England, on May 31, 1845. He died at Rochester, Minnesota, June 14, 1916. He was the son of William and Spraxa (Hill) James. English farming people, their two children, George and Christine, landing at the port of New York, after a six weeks' trip in a sailing vessel. They came directly west, locating in Racine, Wisconsin, a short time before the rust to California in 1849. George James' earliest recollections being of seeing people pack up and rush off for the new Eldorado.

William James, father of George James, and his family remained in Racine three or four years, at the end of which time they came to this state, located in Dubuque county, where they lived for several years. In 1865 they decided to push on farther west, and drove through in covered wagons, to Humboldt county, this state, the trip requiring three or four weeks. In driving through Wright county on that memorable trip, they encountered a cabin at Wall Lake, and between that place and Goldfield there was no other sign of habitation, while Goldfield had but one small store and a cluster of three or four houses.

Father Murdered for Money

William James homesteaded a quarter of a section land in Vernon township, Humboldt county, about two miles west of the village of Renwick. In the latter part of 1867 he returned to England to settle up his father's estate and upon his return to Iowa went to Fort Dodge, where he had some business matters to adjust. In driving though with a team he met up with a man whom he invited to ride with him. In the subsequent conversation this man learned that Mr. James was in possession of quite a sum of money and cruelly murdered him for the purpose of robbery. That was in January, 1868, a widow and seven children being left to mourn the cruel murder of a devoted husband and father.

Acquired First Land by Homestead

As a boy, George James received but the limited education afforded by the pioneer schools of that period and grew up a practical prairie farmer. In 1867, while at Webster City, he met a man who was teaming through to Yankton, Dakota, and secured from this man a job of driving a team. he was four weeks on this trip, during which time he acquired much valuable experience. Presently, returning from Dakota, he resulted his place on the home farm and remained there until his marriage, in 1869, in which year he entered a homestead of a quarter of a section of land in Vernon township, Humboldt county, which he "proved up" and on which he lived for ten years, at the end of which time he sold that place and bought a quarter of a section of land near Owl Lake, just west of Goldfield, which, with the additions he had meanwhile made thereto, he sold in the spring of 1893 and bought his present home place in section 21, Eagle Grove township. On this place was originally located the first post office ever established in Wright county, the place having belonged to Judge Hewitt, who entered it from the government in the early fifties, who who lived there until, a short time before he sold it to Mr. James. Judge Hewitt, who was one of the most conspicuous figures in the early government of Wright county, was the first post master and his place was the principal stage stop between Webster City and Luna, on the headwaters of the Boone river. Mr. James preserved this historic cabin on his farm until as long as he could conveniently do so, but finally, in 1914 had it torn down.

Figured in Biggest Land Deals

From the very beginning of his operations in Wright county Mr. James has prospered. His purchase of the seven-hundred-acre tract in Eagle Grove township in 1893, for which he paid thirty dollars an acre, was the biggest land deal on record to the date. This land, located in sections 16, 17, 20, 21, and 29, is now well worth from two hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars an acre. To that tract Mr. James has added, until he now owns nine hundred acres, all in one tract, in Eagle Grove township, in addition to which he owns three hundred and seventy acres in sections 29 and 32, in the same township, besides four hundred and eighty acres in sections 22 and 23, in Troy township, and two hundred acres in sections 2 and 3, in the latter township, in all about nineteen hundred acres of choice land in Wright county.

Married in 1869

On November 7, 1869, in Humboldt county, George James was united in marriage to Sarah Stanley, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, on April 3, 1843, daughter of Samuel and Melinda (Collins) Stanley, natives, respectively, of Indiana and South Carolina, the former of whom was the son of Georgians, who were among the early settlers of Indiana. In 1856 the Stanleys came west, locating in Jones county, this state, where they lived until 1876, in which year they moved to Humboldt county, where they lived many years. Mrs. Stanley dying there, after which Mr. Stanley went to Louisiana, where his last days were spent in the home of a daughter.

Six Children and Wife Left

To this union six children have been born, four sons and two daughters, namely: Adelle, who married John Brown, of Eagle Grove township, Wilbert, who lives at home, Charles, of Troy township, Etta, who married Samuel Middleton, Walter, who lives at home, and Edwin, of Troy township. He is also survived by one brother, Alfred James, of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and two sisters, Mrs. Williams Notestine and Mrs. John Winters of Hardy, all of whom were at the funeral.

In addition to his very extensive agricultural interest, Mr. James has taken an active interest in other forms of investment, and was a director and stockholder of the Citizens State Bank of Eagle Grove, long having been regarded as one the most astute business men in this country. He was a Mason, a member of the chapter, and was also a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Elks.

The members of the family unite in requesting this paper to express their sincere gratitude to the host of friends who overwhelmed them with kindness and sympathy.

Wednesday, June 23, 1916
Eagle Grove Times Gazette - Eagle Grove, Iowa

Source: Paul Wilde