James Family Archives

 

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Children of William George James (1832-1908) of Bedford County, Virginia and Lucinda Elizabeth “Betty” Whaley (1835-1881):

 

1.    John H. James:  born circa 1854 in Texas.

 

2.    Rev. George William James:  born May 25, 1856 near Ladonia, Fannin County*, Texas; student at Ladonia Institute in Fannin County, Texas; married September 11, 1879 in Hunt County, Texas to Martha Alice Dorris (1862-1933), daughter of Bennett M. Dorris (1813-1872) and Bethena Wadsworthl (1822-1862); licensed to preach on October 6, 1894; ordained pastor July 21, 1895 at Prosperity, Eastland County, Texas by J.T. Harris, R.M. James, J.N. Smith and W.C. Harrell; died June 17/18, 1901 (aged 45) in Strawn, Palo Pinto County, Texas; buried at Mount Marion Cemetery in Strawn, Palo Pinto County, Texas; known children through Martha Alice Dorris include:  Ursula Mae James, Myrtle James, Gentry James, Bessie James, Blanch James, Gertrude James and Earnest George James.

 

3.    Leroy Campbell “Leonard” James:  born November 22, 1858 near Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas; possible first marriage July 18, 1887 in Hunt County, Texas to Minnie Nail; second marriage to Minnie Lee Draper (1875-1953), daughter of Simon Peter Draper (1850-1909) and Jemima Haynes 1850-1934; died March 17, 1937 (aged 78) in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas; buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas; known children include: Clark Hester James, William L. James, Oreta Florence James, Simon Cleo James and Tilman Thurman James.

 

4.    Melinda Alice James:  born April 26, 1861 near Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas; married February 4, 1912, (aged 51), in Taylor County, Texas to Robert T. Lewis (1862-1946), son of Adair Lewis; died December 8, 1934 (aged 73) in Shields, Coleman County, Texas; buried at Shields Cemetery in Shields, Coleman County, Texas; known children include: Stella Agnes Lewis (1904-1992).

 

5.    Braxton Leftrich James:  born January 2, 1864 near Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas; married December 24, 1891 in Hunt County, Texas to Flora Alice Johnson (1812-1960) daughter of Jackson J. Johnson; died August 8, 1923 (aged 59)  in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas; buried at Shiloh Cemetery, north of Trent in Jones County, Texas; known children include:  Vera Blanch James, William Jackson James, Marvin Leftrich James, Ernest Orian James, Flora Agnes James, Manson Leon James, Elizabeth Alice James, Bessie Loraine James, Florence Rachel James and Robert Lee James.

 

6.    Florence Theodora James:  born circa 1866 near Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas.

 

7.    Charles M. James: born circa 1868 near Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas; married March 16, 1904 in Hunt County, Texas to Laura Jane Griffis (1882-1964), daughter of Wilson Shannon Griffis (1838-1918) and Sarah Ann Clemmons (1843-1886); date of death unknown; place of burial unknown; no known children. In 1904, Laura would remarry in Hunt County, Texas to Colin Murchison James (1860-1941) of a different James family and go on to have six children.

 

8.    Richard M. James:  born circa 1871 in either Fannin or Hunt County, Texas; married January 1, 1896 in Hunt County, Texas to Dora May Allen (1879-1947), daughter of Thomas B. Allen (1839-1900) and Missouri Jane Butler (1850-1919); died circa 1899 (aged 28); location of burial unknown; known children include: Alice Mae James (1898-1981) and Richard Clarence James (1899-1981).

 

9.    Carey Cordelia James:  born August 18, 1875 in either Fannin or Hunt County, Texas; married to Jessie Benjamin Daniel (1871-1936), son of John Thomas Daniel and Mary Jane Elizabeth Corpier; died August 23, 1972 (aged 97) in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas; buried at Campground Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas; known children include: John Thomas Daniel, Edith Bell Daniel, Lola Mable Daniel and Clarence Daniel.

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Notes:

 

William George James (1832-1908) was the son of Joel L. James (1811-1875) and Angelina Ryan (1812-1906) of Bedford County, Virginia.

 

John H. James (born 1854) appears in 1860 U.S. Census in Beat No. 4, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 6) but does not appear in any further census reports.

 

Rev. George William James (1856-1901) appears in the 1860 U.S. Census in Beat No. 4, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 4); appears in the 1870 U.S. Census in Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 14); appears in the 1880 U.S. Census in Precinct 6, Hunt County, Texas as head of household (age 24) and married to Alice James; and appears in the 1900 U.S. Census in Justice Precinct 8, Palo Pinto, Texas as head of household (age 44) married to Alice James. (* Note: one report indicates George was born in “Kentucky.”)

 

Leroy Campbell “Leonard” James (1858-1937) appears in the 1860 U.S. Census in Beat No. 4, Fannin County, Texas with family as “Leroy C.” (age 1).  He appears in the 1870 U.S. Census in Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas with family as “Leonard” (age 12).  He then appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family as “Leroy C.” (age 21).  Marriage records at the James Family Archives indicate he was married July 18, 1887 in Hunt County, Texas to Minnie Nail.

 

Melinda Alice James (1861-1934) appears in the 1870 U.S. Census in Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 9); appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family (age 18); and appears in the 1900 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas as “Alice” with father only (age 39).

 

Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) appears in the 1870 U.S. Census in Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 6); appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family (age 16); and appears in the 1900 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with wife and children.

 

Florence Theodora James (born 1866) appears in the 1870 U.S. Census in Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 4); and appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family (age 14).

 

Charles M. James (born 1868) appears in the 1870 U.S. Census in Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas with family (age 1); and appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family (age 12).

 

Richard M. James (1871-1899) appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family (age 9).  In the 1900 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas, Richard’s wife Dora May (Allen) James is living with her brother J.G. Allen along with her two children Alice May James (aged 3 - born in Tennessee) and Richard C. James (aged 1 born in Texas).  Alice is identified as a “widow” which places the death of Richard M. James between 1898 and 1900.

 

Carey Cordelia James (1875-1972) appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Precinct No. 6, Hunt County, Texas with family (age 6).

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Sources:

 

See, Marriage License of George William James (1856-1901) and L.E. Stivers issued in Hunt County Texas dated December 19, 1881 - Original on file with the James Family Archives.

 

See also, Historical Records of Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) - including marriage license to Flora Alice Johnson (1812-1960) and death certificate.

 

See also, Marriage License of Richard M. James (1871-1899) and Dora May Allen (1879-1947) issued in Hunt County, Texas dated January 1, 1896 - Original on file with the James Family Archives.

 

See also, Standard Certificate of Death of Leroy Campbell James (1858-1937), No. 27978, issued by the Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics dated June 28, 1937.

 

See also, 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Beat No. 4, Fannin County, Texas, Household of W.G. James.

 

See also, 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Ladonia, Fannin County, Household of W.G. James.

 

See also, 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Hunt County, Texas, Precinct No. 6, Household of W.G. James.

 

See also, 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Hunt County, Texas, Precinct No. 6, Household of W.G. James.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

George William James (1856-1901), Memorial ID No. 239060649, by James Family Archives, added April 20, 2022.

 

Martha Alice Dorris James (1862-1933), Memorial, ID No. 68675648, by Ralph Terry, added April 20, 2011.

 

Leroy Campbell “Leonard” James (1858-1937), Memorial, ID No. 17907488, by May Ashby Royer, added Feb. 12, 2007.

 

Minnie Lee Draper James (1875-1953), Memorial ID No. 30249473, by May Ashby Royer, added October 1, 2008.

 

Melinda Alice James Lewis (1861-1934), Memorial ID No. 86919835, by Marty Rutledge, added March 17, 2012.

 

Robert T. Lewis (1862-1946), Memorial ID No. 75089330, by Ralph Terry, added August 17, 2011.

 

Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923), Memorial ID No. 76246507, by Marty Rutledge, added September 9, 2011.

 

Flora Alice Johnson James (1874-1960), Memorial ID No. 76246607, by Marty Rutledge, added Sept.. 9, 2011.

 

Florence Theodora James (1866-ukn), Memorial ID No. 86920124, by Marty Rutledge, added March 17, 2012.

 

Cordelia James Daniel (1875-1972), Memorial ID No. 51239225, by Sharon, added April 17, 2010.

 

Jessie Benjamin Daniel (1871-1936), Memorial ID No. 51239590, by Sharon, added April 17, 2010.

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Photos:

 

Pictured above is the family of William George James (1832-1908), elder man seated in center, of Bedford County, Virginia and the great, great, great grandson of David James (circa 1660-1739).  From left to right, William’s son Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) of Fannin County, Texas; daughter-in-law Flora Alice Johnson (1874-1960); granddaughter Flora Agnes James (1900-1982); granddaughter Vera Blanche James (1892-1989); grandson Manson Leon ”Cap” James (1902-1974); daughter Melinda Alice James (1861-1934) (adult woman standing in back); granddaughter Elizabeth Alice James (1904-1972); grandson William Jackson “Bill” James (1894-1974); and, grandson Marvin Leftrich James (1895-1969) of Hunt County, Texas.  This photo was taken in 1906 in front of the James family home, a.ka., “the Old Rock House”, located near the town of Trent in Jones County, Texas between the towns of Abilene and Sweetwater.

 

Braxton Leftrich James (1864-1923) with his horse in 1906 in Trent, Jones County, Texas.

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Updated: August 10, 2025