JAMES, J. R.

JAMES, GRIFIS, HOWARD

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/10/2010 at 13:10:46

J. R. James has resided in Mitchell county since the spring of 1867. He was born in Wales on the 28th of November, 1822. When he was six months old his parents emigrated to the United States, settling in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., where they engaged in farming.

J. R. James was reared on a farm until he was fourteen years of age, when he took a position as clerk in a store. In 1844 he went to Milwaukee Co., Wis., where he labored for awhile as a farm hand, and afterward purchased land in Jefferson Co., Wis.

He was married Feb. 10, 1846, to Mary Grifis, by whom he had four children, who are living—Elizabeth A., Sarah E., Richard W. and Edward H. Mrs. James died in 1859. He was married again in 1861 to Margaret Howard. They are the parents of two children living—Frank E. and Llewellyn. When he came to Mitchell county in 1867 he bought wild land and opened a farm and was very successful in securing a comfortable property.

In the fall of 1877 he moved to Osage, built a fine residence, and now resides there. In early life Mr. James was an anti-slavery democrat, but in 1860 he changed his views as to modern democracy and has since affiliated with the republican party. In 1874 he was elected county supervisor, and has held other offices of trust. He owns 520 acres of land in Mitchell county, valued at $20 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. James are members of the Baptist Church, where the family attend.

[Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1883, page 435.]