Tag Archives: John

In-Laws of Our James Know More Than Us Sometimes


Was it not for Ruby Tidwell-Johnson, few of our James family would know about the descendants of John James of Alvarado, his story, & the story of his line. Ruby is the wife of Dennis Lee Johnson, a James family descendant. For years, Ruby meticulously compiled a history of her husband’s family. Ruby not only collected the required genealogy of… (more…)

Randall James attends the Pioneers & Old Settlers Reunion


Randall James is attending the Pioneers & Old Settlers Reunion in Alvarado, Texas this weekend, and shares some pictures with us. Here Randy stands beside the plaque commemorating the Reunion, co-founded by John James of Alvarado. The commemorative plaque tells the story of the founding of the Reunion. From the Facebook page for Alvarado, we obtained this year’s schedule of… (more…)

Indiana Cousins of Zerelda Elizabeth Cole-James Family


Before Lucy Cole of Woodford County, Kentucky married Jonathan Sebastian Cropper, the Cropper family’s ancestry reached back to 1685 and the birth of Ebenezer Cropper in Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland. After Lucy Cole Cropper died, Sebastian Cropper married Provey Dorsey of New Castle, in Henry County, KY. Sebastian & Lucy Cole Cropper’s son, Joseph Yates Cropper born in Woodford… (more…)

Dr. Samuel Evans James’ Yacht “The Wanderer”


Russell Hatter, the assistant curator of the Capital City Museum in Frankfort, Kentucky, sent us this newspaper clipping from the Kentucky Journal of September 8, 1903. The story documents a day cruise on the Kentucky River aboard Dr. James’ yacht The Wanderer. Among the guests, the article identifies Sally Jouett Taylor, Dr. James’ wife. After Dr. James died, Sally married… (more…)

Obituary of Dr. John R. James, Uncle of Frank and Jesse James


The James Preservation Trust recently received the contribution of the obituary of Dr. John R. James. For over a hundred years the obituary lay inside the family bible of Jesse Edward Smith, Dr. James’ grandson. Upon the death of Jesse Edwards Smith, the bible was passed to his daughter Agnes. Although Agnes married, she bore no children. Agnes left the… (more…)

One of 5 Historic James Homes in Pulaski County, Kentucky


This is one of five historic homes of our James family in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Located at the intersection of Route 80 and James Road, the site is about eight miles east of Somerset, Kentucky. Unclear is whether this home was built by John M. James (1751-1823), or by his son, Reverend Daniel Field James (1795-1871). I believe it was… (more…)

John James of Alvarado & the Choctaw at Stockbridge Academy


Between 1884 and 1888, John James of Alvarado, Texas, returned to the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory from his home in Wise County, Texas. He came to Stockbridge Academy, found today at Eagletown, Eagle County, Oklahoma, to fulfill his dream of being with the Choctaw, a dream he held to since his first encounter with them on his family’s migration… (more…)

Edmond Thompson James Serves the Confederacy


The Civil War had begun to surround the old Virginia home that James Carter James once occupied at Plainview in Fauquier County, before he died in 1842. His progeny occupied the place since. Avoiding the war for the James family was impossible. On April 15, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered 75,000 troops, authorizing the Union to launch an aggressive attack… (more…)

John William James – James Family Banker


From: Interior Journal, Stanford, Ky. March 2, 1906 Obituary of Mr. J. W. James Crab Orchard, Ky. Feb 27, — on February 25th, near the somber hour of midnight, the noble and generous spirit of J. W. James, the noblest man that ever lived in all the tide of Time, took its flight from his elegant home to a far… (more…)

Ruby Lee Hunt Whitney has died


Ruby Lee Hunt-Whitney has died. Distantly related to the James through her ancestry among the Ironmonger family and the royal families of England, Ruby bore the unique distinction of also being related to the family of Sheriff Wyatt Earp, and his Earp relatives in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky. Ruby is more closely related to the James through her ancestry in… (more…)

James-Younger Gang Conference, 2010


On Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, I dropped in on the annual conference of the James-Younger Gang, gathered in Bardstown, Kentucky, where I visited with some old friends. Here’s John Koblas, author of Faithful Unto Death, The Jesse James Northfield Raid, The Great Cole Younger & Frank James Historical Wild West Show, and Jesse James Ate Here. Donna Rose Harrell (L)… (more…)

HISTORIC TINTYPE of RHODA MAY-JAMES


RHODA MAY (1806-1889) is the stalwart spouse of the “talented, but erratic” Rev. Joseph Martin James (1791-1848). Rhoda withstood all transgressions, indignities, & social ostracism that her husband created with admirable Teutonic stoicism. When acute alcoholism took Joe’s life at age fifty-seven, Rhoda became a forty-two year old widow, left alone to raise nine children. For the next forty-one years… (more…)

Jesse Edward Smith Recalls Jesse James, His Namesake & Cousin


My mother (ed. Susan Prudence James-Smith) and her brother, R. W. James (ed. Robert Woodson James 1838-1922), were first cousins to the James Brothers. The Jesse in my name was taken from Jesse James. He paid some special attention to me when I was a small boy and made occasional visits to our house until the law was in such… (more…)

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  • Welcome to LEAVES OF GAS, the official blog for the family of Frank & Jesse James & their offical web site Stray Leaves. Under the WELCOME link you will find News & a photo Gallery with biographies of James family members. The CONTENTS page will take you to our main content menu. Click JESSE JAMES for content specifically related to Frank & Jesse James. In the SURNAMES genealogy database, you can explore all the known relatives of the James family. We hope you enjoy our web site & blog. Whatever interests you, be sure to LIKE us, or SHARE the page. Thanks.