John Thornton James
1836 - 1906 (70 years)
Person ID: I2219 | Tree: Imported from RootsMagic | Last Modified: 25 Oct 2022
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Name John Thornton James Notes - Moved to KS about 1873 with wife and children. Lived in a one room house above on same 10 acres owned and occupied by father George C. James.On 17 Mar 1898 the purchased the 10 acres and father's house and moved into it. George C. went back to WV after Rebecca's death and John assumed his father's job as Postmaster (source: D. Wulfkuhle). The 1895 state census has them living with George and his second wife Mary in Elk Township, Osage County, along with 6 of their children, pg13 vol 275.
4th Regiment, US Artillery (Regular Army)
More links and info about 4th Regiment
Regiment History: http://www.history.army.mil/books/R&H/R&H-4Art.htm
Gettyburg Monument: http://drawthesword.goellnitz.org/2008/03/4th-us-artillery-battery-c/
General info about artillery regiments: http://www.taylorsbattery.org/Mounted%20But%20Not%20Mounted.htm
Birth 27 Nov 1836 Hampshire, Virginia, United States 
Gender Male Died 27 Nov 1906 Union, Osage, Kansas, United States - Overbrook Citizen, Nov. 29, 1906, page 4:
Richland Locals -- Thornton James died Tuesday morning at 2 o'clock after a lingering illness. The services were held at the house. Interment was made in the Richland cemetery.
Farmers Mail and Breeze, Dec. 8, 1906:
Richland – J.F. James was born in West Virginia, November 27, 1836, and died November 27, 1906. He was married to Lydia M. Lyons, January 28, 1868. To this union were born 11 children, five girls and six boys, all of whom are living, and all but one of whom, a daughter who was in West Virginia, were at the funeral.
Mr. James came to Kansas in 1876 and has made this community his home ever since. He enlisted in the War of the Rebellion in its beginning and served his country until its close. He fought in many of the important battles of the war and always acquitted himself with credit. He was a public spirited man, interested in the things that were conducive to the best interests of all as he saw them. He was respected by all who knew him.
The funeral services were held at the home, conducted by Rev. Roby, and on account of the large number present had to be held out of doors. His remaining comrades of the G.A.R. were in attendance and conducted the service at the grave, which is in the Richland cemetery. He died at 2 o'clock in the morning and was buried in the evening, since it was his 70th birthday.
The family have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement.
(from findagrave.com)
Buried Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States - Moved to KS about 1873 with wife and children. Lived in a one room house above on same 10 acres owned and occupied by father George C. James.On 17 Mar 1898 the purchased the 10 acres and father's house and moved into it. George C. went back to WV after Rebecca's death and John assumed his father's job as Postmaster (source: D. Wulfkuhle). The 1895 state census has them living with George and his second wife Mary in Elk Township, Osage County, along with 6 of their children, pg13 vol 275.
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Parents
Father George Culp James (ID:I2231), b. 22 Feb 1818, Hampshire, Virginia, United States d. 12 Jun 1914, Wirt, West Virginia, United States (Age 96 years) Mother Rebecca Lechleiter (ID:I2232), b. 8 Feb 1817, West Virginia, United States d. 15 Mar 1888, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States (Age 71 years) Marriage 28 Feb 1836 - Another source says married 1835 in Fountain Springs WV (or possibly Mineral Wells in Wood Co?)
Children 1. John Thornton James (ID:I2219)
(current person)
, b. 27 Nov 1836, Hampshire, Virginia, United States d. 27 Nov 1906, Union, Osage, Kansas, United States (Age 70 years)2. 
Deliah E James (ID:I2233), b. 13 Sep 1838, Hampshire, Virginia, United States d. 18 Aug 1893, Wirt, West Virginia, United States (Age 54 years)3. Mary Catherine James (ID:I2234), b. 8 Apr 1840, Ritchie, Virginia, United States d. 8 Oct 1935, Osage, Kansas, United States (Age 95 years)4. Sarah H James (ID:I2235), b. 11 Dec 1841, Hampshire, Virginia, United States d. 24 Oct 1916, Wirt County, West Virginia, United States (Age 74 years)5. Henry Clay James (ID:I2236), b. 20 Oct 1843, Virginia, United States d. 1919, Wood, West Virginia, United States (Age 75 years)6. George Lewis James (ID:I2237), b. 14 Aug 1845 d. 19 Feb 1865 (Age 19 years)7. Rebecca Ann James (ID:I2238), b. 12 May 1847 d. Yes, date unknown8. Isaac N. James (ID:I2239), b. 12 Jul 1849, Wood, Virginia, United States d. 29 Jul 1854, Wirt, West Virginia, United States (Age 5 years)9. William Milton James (ID:I2241), b. 27 Apr 1851 d. Aft 1935, Slate, Wood, West Virginia, United States (Age > 85 years)10. Charles W. James (ID:I2240), b. 19 Jul 1853, Wood, Virginia, United States d. 14 Jun 1900, Wirt County, West Virginia, United States (Age 46 years)11. Thomas M. James (ID:I2242), b. 25 Jun 1855, Wood, Virginia, United States d. 13 May 1899 (Age 43 years)12. Andrew W James (ID:I2243), b. 30 Aug 1857 d. Yes, date unknown13. Martha Virginia James (ID:I2244), b. 2 Jul 1861 d. Yes, date unknown -
Family
Wife Lydia Martha Lyons (ID:I2220), b. 7 Aug 1846, Elizabeth, Wirt, West Virginia, United States d. 2 Jun 1925, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States (Age 78 years) Marriage 6 Feb 1866 Wirt County, West Virginia, United States [5] - Date: 06 Feb 1968
Town or County: Wirt County
Husband: John T. James, age 31, Hampshire County VA
Wife: Lydia M. Lyons, age 21, Wirt County VA
Children 1. Mary Magdeline James (ID:I2221), b. 29 May 1868, Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia, United States d. 28 Oct 1949, Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona, United States (Age 81 years)2. Ida Isabella James (ID:I2222), b. 5 Jul 1870, Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia, United States d. 3 Mar 1910, Elizabeth, Wirt, West Virginia, United States (Age 39 years)3. George Grant James (ID:I2170), b. 28 Jul 1871, Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia, United States d. 6 Dec 1951, Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas, United States (Age 80 years)4. Ellsworth Eugene James (ID:I2223), b. 31 Mar 1873, Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia, United States d. 6 Apr 1947, Brainerd, Crow Wing, Minnesota, United States (Age 74 years)5. Alma Elmyra James (ID:I2224), b. 7 Mar 1875, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. 9 Apr 1945, Clinton, Douglas, Kansas, United States (Age 70 years)6. William James (ID:I2225), b. 23 Oct 1876, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. 22 Nov 1948, Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, United States (Age 72 years)7. Lottie Elizabeth James (ID:I2226), b. 20 Dec 1878, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. 28 Aug 1941, Overbrook, Osage, Kansas, United States (Age 62 years)8. Amos James (ID:I2227), b. 1 Mar 1881, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. Yes, date unknown9. Ethel James (ID:I2228), b. 29 Jul 1883, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. 28 Jan 1932, Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas, United States (Age 48 years)10. Charles James (ID:I2229), b. 25 Feb 1885, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. 10 Jan 1938 (Age 52 years)11. John Henry James (ID:I2230), b. 12 Mar 1887, Union, Shawnee, Kansas, United States d. 20 Jul 1934, Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, United States (Age 47 years) - Date: 06 Feb 1968
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Other Personal Events
Military Service 1861 Union, Osage, Kansas, United States [1] - Unknown transcription of "Declaration of a Widow for Original Pension"
John Thornton James was enrolled in the Army on the 7th day of August 1861 and was discharged on teh 12th day of Feb. 1867 and died at his home at Carbondale, Kansas on the 27th day of November of disabilities due to his service.
In service 5 years and 6 months.
John Thornton and Lydia Martha James and their four small children Mary Magdeline (Maggie), Ida Isabelle, George Grant, and Elizabeth 6 weeks old came to Kansas in 1873 from West Virginia. They lived in a one room house with a room above (a story and a half) a short distance from his father's (George C. James) house on same 10-ac tract of land, where they lived for several years and where their last 7 children were born, Elmyra (Myra), William, Elizabeth (Lizzie), Amos, Ethel, Charley, and Henry. After the death of Mary C. James, George C. James returned to West Virginia (date unknown) where he died and was buried. Date of death unknown. He would have been 80 years old when Mary died.
John T. and Lydia M. James moved with their family into John T.'s father's house which they purchased with the 10 acres March 17, 1898 and where for a number of years they conducted the store and had charge of what was then the Union Post Office until the rural route of of Carbondale caused the office to be discontinued.
Mrs. Lydia M. James continued to operate the store for a number of years after the death of her husband John T. James.
Unknown transcription
John Thornton James
Army of the United States
To all Whom it May Concern:
Know Ye, That John T. James a private of Captain Francis Beach Company C of the Fourth Regiment of the Artillery who was enlisted the SEventh day of August on thousand eight hundred and sixty-one (August 7, 1861) to serve three years is hereby discharged from the Army of the United States in consequence of.
Said John T. James was born in Hampshire County in the State of Virginia is 26 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, dark complexion, Black eyes, black hair and by occupation when enlisted a Farmer. Given under my hand at Brandy Station Virginia this 12 day of Feb. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four (Febraury 12, 1864) Chas L. Commanding
Character
Good has served with credit in the following engagements:
Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg
1. Know Ye, That John T. James a Private of Captain Frank Beach Company C of the Fourth Regiment of U.S. Artillery who was enlisted the 12 day of Feb one thousand eight hundred and sixty four (Feb 12, 1864) to serve three years is hereby discharged from the Army of the United States in consequence of
Expiration of Service
2. Said John T. James was born in Hampshire County in the State of Virginia is 30 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair and by occupation when enlisted a soldier. Given under my hand at Fort Whipple Virginia this 12th day of February in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty severn (Febraury 12, 1867).
John Thornton James married in Wirt County, West Virginia to Lydia Martha Lyons February 6, 1867.
John Thornton James discharged from Army Feb. 12, 1867 in service 5 years 6 months.
J.T. James, Private; Company C; Regiment 7, West Virginia Infantry, volunteer.
Wound: gun shot would in Right Hand
Pension $4/month.
Member of G.A.R. Richland 370 post in Union, Osage County.
C.4. U.S. Art.
C.7. W. Va. Inf.
Invalid application: 397537
Invalid certificate: 347370
Widow application: 860090
Window certificate 625987
1870 Federal Census 22 Aug 1870 Tucker, Wirt, West Virginia, USA [2] - James, J.T., age 34, male, white, farmer
James, L.M., age 24, female, white, keeps house
James, M.M., age 2, female, white
1880 Federal Census 3 Jun 1880 Rigeway, Osage, Kansas, United States [3] - John T. James, white, male, 44, blacksmith
Liddy M. James, white, female, 34, wife
Mary M. James, white, female, 12, daughter
Ida I. James, white, female, 10, daughter
George G. James, white, male, 8, son
Elmer E. James, white, male, 7, son
Alma A. James, white, female, 5, daughter
William W. James, white, male, 3, son
Lottie E. James, white, female, 1 daughter
1900 Federal Census 22 Jun 1900 Elk, Osage, Kansas, USA [4] - John T. James, head, white, male married, 63
Lydia A., white, female, married 53
Ellsworth E., son, white, male, single, 29
Amos, son, white, male, single, 18
Ethel, daughter, white, female, single, 16
Charles, son, white, male, single, 15
John H., son, white, male, single, 13
George C., father, white, male, widowed, 82
- Unknown transcription of "Declaration of a Widow for Original Pension"
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Source Citations
- [S241] Kansas, U.S. Enrollment of Civil War Veterans.
1889, Book 66, West Virginia, J.T. James (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 Jul 2021) citing Enrollment of Ex-Soldiers and Sailors, their Widows and Orphans, 1889. Unit ID #190462, 69 volumes. Records of the Adjutant General’s Office. Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas. - [S8] 1870 U.S. Census, Wirt Co., West Virginia, population schedule, Tucker Township, page no. 9, family 56, J.T. James household, digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 July 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T132, Roll: M593_1701.
- [S13] 1880 U.S. Census.
Osage Co., Kansas, population schedule, Ridgeway Township, enumeration district (ED) 39, sheet 188C, family 31, John T. James household, digital image, Ancestry, (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 July 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T9, FHL microfilm 1254392. - [S21] 1900 U.S. Census.
Osage Co., Kansas, population schedule, Elk Township, enumeration district (ED) 116, sheet 12A, (penned), family 252, John T. James household; digital image, Ancestry, (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 July 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm: 1240494. - [S240] West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, Register of Marriages, John T. James and Lydia M. Lyons, 6 Feb 1868; digital image, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History; (http://wvculture.org: accessed 29 Jul 2921), page starting Oct 20 1867.