James H. Windrem was born in 1846, the son of William and Jane (Dolzell) Windrem.  He was educated in the public schools of Iowa City and at the S.U.I. In 1875, he located at Oxford, Iowa, and for a time followed the art of photography. Later, he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which he successfully followed from 1879 to 1901 when he retired from the active duties of commercial life. In 1864, he enlisted for 100 days as a soldier in the Civil War but served six months as volunteer in Company G, 47th, Iowa Infantry. In 1876, Mr. Windrem was married to Miss Mary H. Hughes. Her parents were of Welsh descent and formerly from Williamsburg, Iowa, but she was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Windrem has served as town councilman and mayor of the town of Oxford and has always been counted as one of the progressive, enterprising citizens of the community. He has erected three business places besides several dwellings in town, including a fine residence on the same lot east of his home."Mr. James Windrem will build a one-story brick residence 24x32 on his lot just east of his furniture store."  He also owns farm lands in Oklahoma.

Source: Excerpts from Leading Events in Johnson County, IA, 1912; Biographical, Vol II, pgs. 840-841 and Oxford Weekly Journal 6/14/1888, pg. 5