My Genealogy Hound

JOHN JAMES, one of the prominent old citizens of Spencer County, was born December 28, 1808, in South Wales, being the eldest of seven children born to James and Catharine (Howell) James, who were also natives of Wales where they lived and died. John James was reared in his native country and was liberally educated in Welsh and English. Learning the woolen manufacturer’s trade, which was his father’s occupation, he continued that in Wales until twenty-three years old, when he immigrated to the United States, landing at Quebec, and until the Canada rebellion broke out, resided near the city of Detroit. Then moving to New York, he worked as a machinest at that point, Pittsburgh, Zanesville, and New Albany, and then moved to Harrison County, Ind. In 1852, he went to Cannelton, this State, and about 1869, moved on a farm in Hull Township, this county. In 1868 Mr. James and son, Samuel T., engaged in running a line of packets between Evansville and Cincinnati, at which they were very successful. In 1874 he moved to Rockport, where he has since continued to reside, retired from active labor and at peace with all mankind. Mr. James has met with many reverses in life, but indomitable pluck and energy has always brought him through with a general favorable result. He and his sons at present own 1,400 acres of land besides other valuable property. Of the ten children born to his marriage with Margaret Jones, a native of North Wales, which occurred August 12, 1835, these six are yet living: John W., Samuel T., Hannah M., Benjamin E., Alice and Hiram Franklin. Mr. James is a man of sterling honesty and integrity, is a Sir Knight in Masonry and he and wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church.