James Family Archives

 

•  Researching the Past

•  Education for the Present

•  Preservation for the Future

 

Children of David Ridgeway James (1847-1930) of Greensboro Township, Henry County, Indiana and Elizabeth Alice Davis (1848-1921):

 

1.    Jesse Orval James: born February 19, 1875 in Lincolnville, Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana; married July 2, 1907 in Amboy, Jackson Township, Miami County, Indiana to Inez Jane Lamb (1883-1976), daughter of Ezra Thomas Lamb and Elizabeth Eppley; member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, Alpha Vincennes University; died May 23, 1967 (aged 92) in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana; buried at Friends Cemetery, Amboy, Miami County, Indiana; known children include: Alice Vivian James, Floyd James, Paul James, Beatrice Faye James and Miriam Ruth James.

 

2.    Willis Alva James: born January 28, 1877 in Lincolnville, Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, died 1877 (aged less–than 1 year); buried at Owen Cemetery, Lincolnville, Wabash County, Indiana.

 

3.    Mary Elizabeth James: born September 13, 1878 in Wabash County, Indiana; married circa 1904 to James Madison Gardner (1877-1939); died 1980; known children include: Lena Elizabeth Gardner; David J. Gardner and Glenn William Gardner.

 

4.    Martha “Matty” Davis James: born July 26, 1880 in Wabash County, Indiana; married in 1914 to James Edward Scully (1884-1954), son of Lawrence S. Scully (1850-1908); died June 8, 1954 (aged 73) in Riverside County, California; buried at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, Riverside County, California; known children include: James Vern Scully and Orval Rollin Scully.

 

5.    Dr. Glenn David James:  born October 2, 1882; married Inez Clarke (1896-1968), daughter of Thomas Curtis Clarke (1859-1929) and Frances Barlow (1863-1930); member of the Orange Grove Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) in Los Angeles, California; member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, Alpha Vincennes University; died September 2, 1961 (aged 78); buried at Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Section H, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California; known children include: Robert Clarke James, Walter Raymond James, Frances Mary James, Arthur Franklin James, David Allen James, Glenn Davis James, Howard James and Alice James.

 

6.    Merle J. James:  born May 19, 1884 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana; married in 1912 to Harrison Benjamin Mundy (1888-1948), son of Josiah Mundy (1855-1929) and Mary White (1850-1924); died November 13, 1955 (aged 71) in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Sec I, Lot 61 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana; known children include: Martha Lucile Mundy and Richard Evan Mundy.

 

7.    Von James: born October 31, 1885; died November 10, 1886 (aged 1); buried at Owen Cemetery, Lincolnville, Wabash County, Indiana.

 

8.    Bryant D. James:  born November 2, 1887; died April 24, 1888 (aged 5 months); buried at Owen Cemetery, Lincolnville, Wabash County, Indiana.

 

9.    Verne James: born April 30, 1889 in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana; married March 30, 1918 to Edna Marie Chapman (1890-1965); died May 1967 in Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California; known children include: Alice M. James and Maria Elizabeth James.

 

10.  Walter Pavy James, Sr.:  born October 28, 1890 in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana; married to Anna Belle Anderson (1888-1935), daughter of Joseph Robert Anderson (1847-1916) and Ada Janet Jenkins (1859-1906); served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army during World War I, Company M, 51st Infantry Division; died May 22, 1959 (aged 68) in Escambia County, Florida; buried at Barrancas National Cemetery, Plot 2-390, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida; known children include: Walter Pavy James, Jr., Joseph D. James and Anna Belle James.

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Biographic Notes:

 

David Ridgeway James (1847-1930) was the son of Jesse Kirzey James (1814-1896) of Jefferson County, Ohio and Mary Elizabeth Harvey (1813-1900) of Ohio.

 

Glenn James (1882-1961): From the Van Nuys News, Sept. 6, 1961, page 5B, “Services Held for Dr. Glenn James, UCLA Professor. Funeral services were held Wednesday for Dr. Glenn James, UCLA professor of mathematics for 27 years and a long-time Valley resident. Dr. James died Saturday in Arroyo Grande at the age of 78. He is survived by his widow, Inez and children Dr. Robert C., mathematics professor at Harvey Mudd College; Dr. Arthur F., physician at California State Polytechnic; Glenn D., mathematics teacher at Los Angeles City College; Dr. Walter R. of Essex, Conn.; Frances M. of San Francisco; and Howard and Alice of Arroyo Grande.”

 

From 1962, University of California: In Memoriam, University of California Academic Senate, April 1962, “Glenn James (1882-1961), Mathematics: Los Angeles, Associate Professor Emeritus:  Professor Emeritus Glenn James, of the Department of Mathematics, died on September 2, 1961, at Arroyo Grande, California. He had retired from active teaching in 1949, but his interest in mathematics did not lag after his retirement. He devoted a consuming interest to revitalizing a dying mathematics journal, and as its managing editor brought the Mathematics Magazine to a plane of high recognition. Because he was unable to continue this work on account of poor health, the Mathematical Association of America took the magazine under its sponsorship in 1959, and is continuing its publication; it will stand as a living memorial to Professor James.

 

Dr. James was born on October 2, 1882, in Lincolnville, Indiana. Both of his parents were teachers and both were active in the Society of Friends; he followed in his parents' footsteps.

 

After receiving the A.B. degree from Indiana University in 1905, he went first to Michigan Agricultural College and then to Purdue University as Instructor in Mathematics, while still continuing his advanced studies. He received the A.M. degree from Indiana University in 1911, and his Ph.D. degree from Columbia University in 1917. He was then promoted to Assistant Professor at Purdue and, after several years, moved to Carnegie Institute of Technology as Associate Professor of Mathematics, where he remained until 1922. In that year he joined the faculty of the new Southern Branch of the University of California as Assistant Professor and became an Associate Professor in 1925.

 

Professor James's early writings evidenced an interest in the subject of Divergent Series and Summability, and his later writings in Fermat's Last Theorem. His activities and publications showed his interest in all students, and his better students he stimulated to engage in original work. One of his achievements is represented by his Mathematics Dictionary, first published in 1942, which he prepared in collaboration with his son, Robert C. James. This work has been revised several times since its original publication. The Mathematics Magazine took most of his time and energy after he retired. Out of this editorial work grew the book, The Tree of Mathematics, containing epitomes of twenty-five of the main branches of mathematics, written for the beginning student.

 

In addition to his mathematical interests, as a member of the Society of Friends, Professor James took a strong interest in various cooperative and peace movements. He devoted considerable time and energy to the propagation of his ideas along these lines.

 

Professor James is survived by his widow, Inez Clarke James, to whom he was married on September 5, 1917, and seven of their children: Professor Robert C. James, Harvey Mudd College; Dr. Walter R. James, Essex, Connecticut; Frances M. James of San Francisco; Dr. Arthur F. James, California State Polytechnic College; Glenn D. James, Los Angeles City College; and Howard James and Alice James of Arroyo Grande.

 

P. H. Daus Clifford Bell H. B. Hoffleit.”

 

Walter Pavy James, Sr. (1890-1959) was a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War I.  He served from May 4, 1918 to July 11, 1919 in the 2nd Censorship and Press Company, Army Service Corps.

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Sources:

 

Family Records of Wendy James Lovgren of Acton, California, granddaughter of Walter Pavy James, Sr. (1890-1959) provided to the James Family Archives.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

Jesse Orval James (1875-1967), Memorial ID No. 69262469, by Dancing With Ghosts, added May 2, 2011.

 

Inez Jane Lamb James (1883-1976), Memorial ID No. 69262468, by Dancing With Ghosts, added May 2, 2011.

 

Willis Alva James (1877-1877), Memorial ID No. 36051677, by V.F., added April 19, 2009.

 

Martha “Matty” Davis James Scully (1880-1954), Memorial ID No. 204722076, by landjnero, added November 14, 2019.

 

James Edward Scully (1884-1954), Memorial ID No. 204722065, by landjnero, added November 14, 2019.

 

Dr. Glenn David James (1882-1961), Memorial ID No. 74134220, by Ron West, added July 29, 2011.

 

Inez Clarke James (1896-1968), Memorial ID No. 74134221, by Ron West, added July 29, 2011.

 

Merle J. James Mundy (1884-1955), Memorial ID No. 146205014, by Uncle Bob, added May 8, 2015.

 

Harrison Benjamin Mundy (1888-1948), Memorial ID No. 146204932, by Uncle Bob, added May 8, 2015.

 

Von James (1885-1886), Memorial ID No. 36051754, by V.F., added April 19, 2009.

 

Bryant D. James (1887-1888), Memorial ID No. 36051721, by V.F., added April 19, 2009.

 

Corporal Walter Pavy James, Sr. (1890-1959), Memorial ID No. 37866955, by Paula J, added June 3, 2009.

 

Anna Belle Anderson James (1888-1935), Memorial ID No. 45125654, by Bobby, added December 5, 2009.

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Photographs:

Jesse Orval James (1875-1967)

 

Martha “Matty” Davis James Scully (1880-1954)

 

Dr. Glenn David James (1882-1961)

 

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Updated: April 1, 2025