Attn. Spinsters – Marry, or Go to Jail

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The James family has a number of spinsters and bachelors who have never married.

While researching recently, I came across a newspaper item in the Harrodsburg (Ky.) Herald from 1909. A line of the James family lived in and around Harrodsburg at the time, and some still do today. The paper editorialized that the town’s spinsters and bachelors should marry or be imprisoned. To which came the following reply from a reader in nearby Danville, where James family members also lived:

“After reading your article regarding the new law that old maids over 30 must get married or go to jail, I would like to say that this old maid, in company with another one have been counting up, and we have found 131 over 30 in Danville…It isn’t our fault that we are not married, so for goodness sake don’t suggest such laws that will imprison innocent parties…

“There are plenty of old bachelors who might come to our rescue if they only would but they are too shy to ask the question, or else too stingy to take care of a wife…

“I haven’t been kissed for 13 years, nor my friend for 25. Can’t you please induce somebody to come to the aid of these 131 despairing waiting spinsters? Gray hairs and prison bars don’t go together.”


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Stray Leaves Daily

Stray Leaves Daily

Daily updates from the family of Frank & Jesse James with stories, photos, & two searchable genealog

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3 months ago
Stray Leaves Daily

VIDEO of the Clay County Board of Commissioners bestowing honor upon our James colleague & friend Charlies Broomfield. Recognition begins at 2:00 min. mark.

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Congratulations Charlie!!

4 months ago
Stray Leaves Daily

We have hints from the Clay County Archives in charge of James Farm in Kearney, Missouri, that a road leading to the farm will be renamed Charles Broomfield Rd. Charlie was a Clay County Commissioner who took an active role in arranging the sale and transfer of James Farm from the James family to Clay County. See MoreSee Less

We have hints from the Clay County Archives in charge of James Farm in Kearney, Missouri, that a road leading to the farm will be renamed Charles Broomfield Rd. Charlie was a Clay County Commissioner who took an active role in arranging the sale and transfer of James Farm from the James family to Clay County.Image attachment

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Cant say that I understand the significance of this.

Do you have the address of Jesse & Frank James Cabin in Paseo Robles, California?

6 months ago
Stray Leaves Daily

FIND-A-GRAVE BLUNDERS LEAVE JAMES FAMILY HOWLING . . . Can you spot the errata in this Find a Grave post for the grandfather of Frank & Jesse James? The most glaring deception is the photograph!

History tells us the photograph was invented about the time John M. James was dying. Neither history, nor the administrator of this posting, Charlotte Raley McConaha, can tell us is how photographic technology made its way from France to the distant American frontier to take a photo of John M. James, months before his demise.

Another imprecise miscalculation in this post is the attribution of the middle name “Martin” to John M. James. The name never has been proved by evidence. To guess the name is unreliable and wrong.
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FIND-A-GRAVE BLUNDERS LEAVE JAMES FAMILY HOWLING . . . Can you spot the errata in this Find a Grave post for the grandfather of Frank & Jesse James? The most glaring deception is the photograph!

History tells us the photograph was invented about the time John M. James was dying. Neither history, nor the administrator of this posting, Charlotte Raley McConaha, can tell us is how photographic technology made its way from France to the distant American frontier to take a photo of John M. James, months before his demise.

Another imprecise miscalculation in this post is the attribution of the middle name “Martin” to John M. James. The name never has been proved by evidence. To guess the name is unreliable and wrong.
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