BERT I. JAMES
Bert
I. James holds the position of rural free delivery carrier out
of Derby and with his wife is a partner in the conduct of the
Derby Hotel. A
spirit of enterprise and progress has actuated him through all
his career and has brought him at an early age a degree of
success which places him among the substantial men of the
city. He was
born at a point two miles north and one-half mile east of
Columbia, Marion county, Iowa, April 10, 1886, his parents
being Charles and Rebecca E. (Mathis) James, the former a
resident of the vicinity of Corydon, Wayne county, Iowa. The mother passed
away in Marion county on February 14, 1893.
On
the paternal side Mr. James is a grandson of Enos James, who
came as a pioneer with his family to Warren township, Lucas
county, where they settled near Derby. Enos James, after
the death of his wife, returned to Illinois, where he passed
away. Charles
James, the father of our subject, was born in that state on
the 8th of August, 1864. He was taken to Iowa when a small boy by
his parents, and after the death of his mother returned with
his father to Illinois.
Subsequently he came back to Iowa as a young man, going
to Marion county, where on the 2d of October, 1884, he was
united in marriage to Miss Rebecca E. Mathis. The latter was the
second in a family of three daughters, being born January 8,
1867. Her
parents were William W. and Georgianna (Wilkerson) Mathis. Her father was born
in Jefferson county, Kentucky, on August 20, 1817, and her
mother in the same state on August 13, 1833. They were married
on January 19, 1864, and soon thereafter came to Marion
county, Iowa, to establish a home. They lived on a farm one mile north and
three-fourths of a mile west of Columbia for many years or
until the death of William W. Mathis, which occurred on the 10th
of June, 1904, at the age of eighty-six years, nine months and
twenty days. To
them were born three children:
Mrs. Josephine Crowley, whose birth occurred January
18, 1865; Mrs. Rebecca E. James; and Rilla J., who was born
January 23, 1869, and who makes her home with her mother in
Columbia, to which city she moved after the death of her
husband.
The only issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Charles James is Bert I., our subject. The parents lived happily for a few years in their home in Marion county, when on February 14, 1893, the mother was called to her final rest at the early age of twenty-six years, one month and six days. Her husband, Charles James, subsequently removed to Wayne county, Iowa, making his home near Corydon, where he now lives. In 1910 he was again married, his second union being with Miss Bessie Higley, of Wayne county.
Bert
I. James was the only child born to his parents. He acquired his
education in the public schools of Marion county, and there
resided until 1903, when he moved to the vicinity of Derby and
obtained employment as a stationary engineer. After two year he
was engaged as a substitute rural free delivery carrier and he
did such prompt, capable and efficient work that on the 1st
of May, 1909, he was appointed regular carrier out of Derby, a
position which he still retains. To its duties he adds those connected
with the conduct of the Derby Hotel, which he has owned since
October, 1912, and with the capable assistance of his wife has
made this one of the best institutions of its kind in Lucas
county, run on modern, up-to-date lines, and equipped with all
the conveniences to be found in the better hostelries of the
middle west.
On
the 19th of December, 1906, Mr. James was united in
marriage to Miss Margaret E. Rash, who was born in Lucas
county, on the 3d of February, 1886, a daughter of William and
Belle (Clarke) Rash, the former born in Kentucky, June 20,
1857, and the latter July 14, 1858. The parents came to Iowa and settled in
Lucas county in 1863 and have since remained honored residents
of this locality. The
mother has been twice married and has one son by her former
union, Bernard W. Farrel, of Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs.
William Rash became the parents of five children: Mrs. James, wife of
the subject of this review; Claude, who was born February 1,
1889, and who died in March, 1890; Mrs. Lennie Smith, born
November 20, 1891, residing in Derby; Mrs. Hollie Scott, who
was born May 16, 1894, and who lives in the vicinity of Derby;
and Erma, whose birth occurred on the 8th of
January, 1896, and who resides with her parents. All the above
children were born and reared in Lucas county. Mr. and Mrs. James
have two children: Evelyn
Maxine, born May 4, 1908; and Olin M., born April 16, 1911.
Mr. James gives his political allegiance to the republican party and as a loyal and progressive citizen takes a deep interest in community affairs, giving his hearty support and active cooperation to every worthy public enterprise. His wife is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is widely known in Derby and the vicinity, not only as a representative of a highly respected pioneer family, but also as a woman of culture, refinement and ability as well as excellent traits of character. Mr. James is fond of the best literature and is a wide reader especially along historical lines where his interests lie to a great extent. Although still a young man he has already gained a creditable measure of success and he possesses in his energy and ability a guaranty of continued progress.