My Genealogy Hound

Dr. William H. James was born in Blount County, Tenn., April 17, 1827, and is the eldest of nine children born to John and Elizabeth H. (Kelly) James, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The paternal grandfather, John James, Sr., was a native Virginian. John and Elizabeth (Kelly) James were both natives of Blount County, Tenn., the former born in 1805, and died in Webster County, Mo., in 1872, and the latter born in 1808, and died in Johnson County, Mo. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1837 he and his family immigrated to Missouri, settling in Johnson County, where Dr. William H. James attained his growth. He obtained a good practical education, and in 1844 began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. William Huff, a native of old Kentucky. Later he began the practice of his profession in Johnson County, in 1847, and continued there about two years, when he went to California. He remained on the Pacific slope for twenty years, and during that time was engaged in merchandising, mining and in the practice of his profession. He returned to Missouri in 1869, and settled in Webster County. In 1877 he came to Marshfield, where, in addition to the practice of his profession, he has carried on the drug business, which he still continues, doing a good trade and business. He was married in California, in 1856, to Miss Lucy A. Wade, who was born in Virginia in 1837, and seven children were the result of this union, six of whom are living: John T., a druggist, living in Hamilton, Tex.; Dr. W. C, a graduate of Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tenn., and of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in New York City (is now located at Springfield, Mo.); Jefferson B., a jeweler at Marshfield; Virginia Lee, Edward and Mary. Dr. James is a Democrat in his political opinions, and cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. He is one of the leading citizens of Webster County, and is an intellectual, clever gentleman. Mrs. James is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.