Stephen James, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Stephen James
STEPHEN JAMES, farmer, P. O. Oakland, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, June 23, 1823, son of George F. James, a farmer, born in Stockbridge, Mass., and died in Lorain County, Ohio, in 1863. The mother of our subject was born in Stamford, Conn., and died in James Township in 1864. The parents had six children - three boys and three girls. Our subject began life as a farmer; lived in his native State fifteen years, when he removed to Indiana, where he remained until 1852. He was married, in Porter County, Ind., November 12, 1849, to Charlotte Reynolds, born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., daughter of Hugh Reynolds, born in the same county. In 1852, our subject came to this State, locating at Fort Des Moines, where he lived for three years. He then came to James Township, this county, where he purchased 200 acres of wild land at $6 per acre. He made improvements on it, and, in 1863, sold it at $10 per acre. He then bought 120 acres - eighty acres at $6 and forty acres at $8 per acre. He has made many substantial improvements on this place, including an orchard, a nice grove and good buildings. He has also dealt in land to some extent, having bought, improved and sold over three hundred acres. He engages in general farming Mr. and Mrs. James have six children - Carrie, William, George, Lysander, Anna and Nettie. Our subject has filled many township offices. He is an A., F. & A. M., Ark Lodge, No. 335. In politics, he is a Democrat. In his younger days, Mr. James was very fond of traveling and has been over the greater part of the United States and most of the Territories.
Source: Keatley, John H. 1883. History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Chicago, Illinois: O. L. Baskin & company. 641 p.
Page(s) in Source: 120-121
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook