Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 788-789 [Caldwell]

     W. A. JAMES, a retired merchant of Princeton, Kentucky, is one
of the oldest citizens of the town, and has a life record of unusual
interest and filled with honorable and effective endeavors.  He was
born in Morganfield, Union county, Kentucky, August 6, 1821.  His
father Hon. Thomas James, was also a native of Kentucky and of
English descent.  He was a farmer and politician, and served in the
legislature on the Democratic side for twenty-four years, and was
also in the constitutional convention of 1849, so that he spent
twenty-five winters away from home.  He was one of the leading men
of the state, and exerted a wide and beneficial influence in
legislation and other affairs during his long life of seventy years. 
He died in Memphis, Tennessee, whither he had moved after retiring
from politics.  His wife was born near Frankfort, Kentucky, and
lived to be fifty-five years old.  They were the parents of five
children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom reached
majority.
     W. A. James, the second child and son, was taken in infancy to
the Jackson Purchase in Hickman county, and was reared there and
received some of his education in Missouri and Tennessee.  He
entered upon his business career at the age of seventeen by selling
goods as a clerk, and afterwards engaged in general mercantile
business on his own account in middle Tennessee.  He has also
carried on business in Missouri and Ohio, having been located in
Cincinnati for about eight years.  He was in business in Princeton,
Kentucky, for some years, and of forty-nine years, and has well
earned his retirement and rest.
     Mr. James married a daughter of John C. Collier, and they have
three children living: J. E., the wife of Judge Caton, of Dexter,
Missouri; John T., in the railroad business in Chicago; and W. A.,
the wife of John G. Orr.  Mr. James is a Democrat in politics, but
has never taken an active part because of his devotion to business
and domestic affairs.  He has been a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church for many years, and affiliates with the Masonic
order.  He is a representative and well known citizen of western
Kentucky.

James Collier Caton Orr
=
Union-KY England TN Hickman-KY MO OH IL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/caldwell/james.wa2.txt