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Historical Records of Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923)

 

Below follows the historic records of Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) of Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas held by the James Family Archives. Braxton or “Brack,” as he was often referred to, was born on January 2, 1864 to William George James (1832-1908) of Bedford County, Virginia and Lucinda Elizabeth “Betty” Whaley (1835-1881) in the midst of the Civil War (1861-1865). He was born a citizen of the Confederate States of America and did not become a citizen of the United States until the passage of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution in 1868. Braxton is also the 4x patrilineal great grandson of David James (c.1660-1739) of Glascwm and Llandegley parishes in Radnorshire, Wales who migrated to Pennsylvania with William Penn in 1682.

 

Following the conclusion of the Great War of Northern Aggression, Braxton’s father William relocated his family from Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas 14 miles south to the town of Commerce in Hunt County. There Braxton’s father set up a blacksmith shop and carried out his business there until his retirement. On September 11, 1875, at the age of 11, Braxton witnessed the death of his grandfather Joel L. James (1811-1875) who had brought his family from Bedford County, Virginia to Texas in 1852. Braxton’s grandfather was buried at the Lebanon Cemetery just outside of Commerce.

 

On December 24, 1891 (Christmas Eve), at the age of 27, Braxton married Flora Alice Johnson (1812-1960), the daughter of Jackson J. Johnson in Hunt County, Texas. See, Document No. 1 below, Marriage License of Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) and Flora Alice Johnson (1874-1960) from the State of Texas dated December 24, 1892. To this union were born ten children including: Vera Blanche James (1892-1989), William "Bill" Jackson James (1894-1976), Marvin "Bert" Leftrich James (1895-1969), Ernest Orian James (1898-1899), Flora Agnes James (1900-1982), Manson "Cap" Leon James (1902-1974), Elizabeth "Lizzie" Alice James (1904-1972), Bessie "Bess" Lorena James (1907-1993), Florence "Lillie" Rachel James (1912-2005) and Robert Lee James (1914-1994).

 

In 1900, Braxton moved his family, along with his father William George James, from the town of Commerce in Hunt County, Texas to the small town of Trent, just west of the city of Abilene, in Taylor County, Texas. There, Braxton purchased a sturdy, two-story, rock constructed structure that was once believed to be a weigh station for the local stage coach that past through that part of Texas in the late 19th Century, built with fortified windows once used to fend off savage Comanche Indian raiding parties. There, Braxton continued with his black-smith trade until the technology became obsolete. The family also farmed the land surrounding the "Old Rock House."

 

 

On August 8, 1923, at the age of 59, Braxton died in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas on route, by wagon, to meet with a doctor for treatment of his acute appendicitis. There he died of a ruptured appendix. See. Document No. 2 below, Certificate of Death for Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) issued by the State of Texas dated August 8, 1923. Braxton was then buried at Shiloh Cemetery, north of Trent in Jones County, Texas.

 

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DOCUMENTS

 

1.   Marriage License of Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) and Flora Alice Johnson (1874-1960) from the State of Texas dated December 24, 1892.

2.   Certificate of Death for Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) issued by the State of Texas dated August 8, 1923.

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Updated: February 5, 2026