Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-James J. Law


Portrait and Biographical Album
of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890




JAMES J. LAW. During the early settlement of Sherman Township, Clay County, there emigrated to it a young man of twenty years, landing here in November, 1865, with a capital of seventy-five cents in his pocket. He had already seen considerable of the world and experienced the vicissitudes of life in two armies and his determination now was to cast his lot with the people of the young State of Kansas, and if possible acquire for himself a home and a competence. The task before him was no small one, but he possessed the courage and resolution of which successful men are made and he set about this self appointed work in the best manner which then offered.

For four years thereafter he worked as a farm laborer and then in March, 1869, homesteaded 160 acres of land where he now lives. He labored early and late the first few years in cultivating the soil, erecting buildings and bringing about the improvements naturally suggested to the intelligent and enterprising man. We now find him, James J. Law�the owner of a good farm and surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. In addition to this he is a highly respected citizen and one who has been valuable to his community.

A native of Gibson County. Tenn., Mr. Law was born June 8, 1845, and there spent the years of his childhood and youth on his father's farm. The latter, Lemuel H. Law, was likewise a native of Tennessee, where he was reared and married to Miss Mary, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Coppage) Thomas. This lady was born in North Carolina, and removed to Tennessee with her parents in her girlhood. The latter reared their family of five children in Tennessee and died there. When James J. Law was sixteen years old and still pursuing his studies in the district school, a company was organized, chiefly of school boys, and at its head was William Thomas, his uncle, who officiated as a recruiting officer. He persuaded young Law to enlist in Company E, 31st Tennessee Cavalry, and he served, with other schoolmates, for about two and one-half years and until Sherman made his raid through Georgia. Young Law during this time had his scruples about serving with the enemies of his country, and escaping from the Confederate ranks joined the Union army and was taken as a loyal prisoner to Chicago, and as an applicant for the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. As soon as the oath was administered he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company H, 5th United States Infantry, and served on the frontier in the States of Colorado and Texas, for about eight months, when his services were no longer needed. He then received his honorable discharge and turned his steps toward the State of Kansas, of which he has since been a resident.

On the 22d of October, 1866, Mr. Law, esteeming it not good for even a young man to be alone, took unto himself a wife and helpmate. Miss Lydia E., daughter of Hiram and Sarah E. (Lakin) Cooper. The young people did not receive any costly wedding presents nor take an extended lour, but soon after their marriage commenced housekeeping in a log cabin, with a dirt roof and the same material for a floor. Later Mr. Law put up an addition to his dwelling, which he covered with a roof of shingles and which was considered quite a pretentious structure for those times. The little family occupied this until the present comfortable dwelling was built. In the meantime Mr. Law proceeded with the improvement of his property planting forest and fruit trees and erecting by degrees the necessary buildings. He now has an apple orchard of 150 trees in good bearing condition, besides other trees, also stable, granary and corn-cribs. His land is mostly in a productive condition and devoted to general farming and stock raising.

The six children born to our subject and his estimable wife were named respectively, William F., Hiram L., Charles W. and Perry J., Mary E. and Frances E. The two latter died while young. Mr. and Mrs. Law have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church for about twenty-three years. Mr. Law has been recognized as one of the pillars, serving as Class-Leader and Steward and contributing a liberal support. He is identified with the A. F. & A. M., being a member of Clifton Lodge. No. 122. In politics, he is a sound Republican. His honored father, although a resident of Tennessee, was a member of the old Whig party.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jesse Law, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and subsequently located in Smith County, Tenn., where he reared his family and died. He was for some years a pensioner. His father had served in the Indian War in Florida. Back another generation, we find John Law, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America with his brothers, William and Henry, prior to the Revolutionary War and located in Virginia where they were all married, reared families and died. Their descendants are scattered throughout nearly every State in the Union. On his mother's side the grandparents of our subject were natives of North Carolina, and spent their last days in Tennessee. An interesting fact in connection with the history of Mr. and Mrs. Law is, that they were the first couple married in Clay County, Kan., after its organization.



(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for Clay County KS AHGP