After the war Shannon was married to Jane Daniel in Franklin County on 19 Jul 1817. She was born about 1799 in Virginia. Shannon already held
an esteemed position in Frankfort society. The Kentucky Legislature in January 1827 approved a bill to build a third capitol building and appointed
John Brown, Daniel Weisinger, Peter Dudley, John J. Crittenden, John Harvie, Evan Evans and James Shannon as Commissioners. In the early 1830's
it was determined to build a new courthouse and James Shannon was again a member of the supervising committee. James also served several terms
as trustee of the city of Frankfort; served as one of the Board of Magistrates for the county; and was a Justice of the Peace for Franklin County.

A member and trustee of the Baptist Church of Frankfort, Shannon and others were excommunicated in 1841 because of their personal use of the
church property. However, James continued his community service. In 1846 he with others filed to incorporate the "South Frankfort Bridge Company"
to erect and construct a permanent bridge across the Kentucky river.

In 1840 James had six young male adults living with him. He does not name any children in his will. Perhaps he was also a tutor. The census for 1850
shows James and Jane Shannon had one Walter W. Stapp living with them. At that time Walter was the Editor of the Kentucky Yeoman and probably
a relative of Shannon's. Walter's mother, Nancy Shannon, was Mrs. Elijah Stapp of Victoria County, Texas. Also residents in the home were Sampson,
a free black man and well digger; William Gerdon, James Dohoney, and Richard H. Patten. James' occupation was that of saddler and the value of his
real estate was $4,000. On 22 Dec 1858, the slave Ann was born at Frankfort, the slave of James Shannon, resident of Frankfort. James owned four
slaves in 1860; two black males ages 40 and 45; two mulatto females age 20 and age one.

At the age of seventy in 1860, James's real estate was $4,000 and his personal estate $3,000. Living with him and Jane were Kate Kenney, an eighteen
year old mulatto female born 1842 in Kentucky; Sampson Thomas, now age 80 and born in Virginia; James Lucas, 12, George W. Robb, a merchant
age 30, W. J. Chinn, age 32, clerk, Ellen H. Chinn, age 26, Mary S. Chinn, age one, and A. Sonaberger, age 37, merchant, born in Bavaria, Germany.

When he was age seventy-eight, James signed his last will on 15 Aug 1868. He died 2 Jul 1869 and was buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. The four items
in Shannon's will were: 1. He bequeaths to his sister Nancy and her husband, Samuel B. Clark, residents of Pike County Missouri, $1,000; 2. He bequeaths
to Kate Harvy the daughter of Ann Harvy a former servant of mine, said Kate is a very fair mulatto and was my property on the 22nd day of December 1858,
$200; 3. He bequeaths the remainder of his estate to his niece Susan Ally, wife of Nelson Ally of the city of Frankfort; 4. He appoints Nelson Ally Executor.
William B. Gay and W. H. Greenup were witnesses to James Shannon's will. William B. Gay was married to Elenora F. Alley 10 Oct 1864 in Franklin County.
She was the daughter of Nelson and Susan Alley.

James' sister Nancy is living with her husband, Samuel B. Clark in Buffalo Township, Pike County, Missouri in 1850. Nancy was born about 1800 in
Virginia. Living with them was the James M. and Jane Newman family. Susan H., wife of Nelson Ally [Alley], was born about 1818 in Kentucky. Nelson
was a grocer in Frankfort in 1860. Susan Crutcher who owned a house and lot in Midway, Woodford County, Kentucky, left one third of her estate to Susan
Alley on 1 Sep 1854. At Franklin County, James Shannon and Benjamin C. Milam were witnesses to her will.