Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In Victorian Frankfort, Kentucky, high society held washtub boat races on the Kentucky River. In once race, Campbell E. James took his competing craft Bashi-Bazouk to victory. From the Turkish, Bashi-bazouk translates as “damaged head,” and as “disorderly,” and as “leaderless.” The term originated when applied to different soldiers in the Ottoman Army who fought as irregulars. The intent of Campbell E. James to characterize his prospects for victory was evident in his irrepressible humor.
In her book Filling the Chinks, Ermina Jett Darnell wrote about everyday life in Frankfort at the time. As a descendant of the Cole family ancestors of Frank & Jesse James, Darnell was their 3rd cousin. Campbell Edmundson James, or C. E. James, was the son of Judge A. J. James & Mary Allison Beatty, and also a relation. In Filling the Chinks, Darnell recorded the following story of Campbell E. James taking his Bashi-Bazouk to victory.
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But of the twenty entries, only sixteen started, and of these, only three reached the goal. The Bashi-Bazouk, paddled by Campbell James, came in full two tub lengths ahead of Ocean Wave, paddled by Dudley Watson. The Undine No. 2, by Albert Crutcher, was capsized, alas, about ten feet from the string!
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C.E. James Authors a History of Franklin County
A. J. James, father of C. E. James
Dr. Samuel Evans James, brother of C. E. James
Stray Leaves Daily
Daily updates from the family of Frank & Jesse James with stories, photos, & two searchable genealog
Stray Leaves Diary of John James of Alvarado, TX
Stray Leaves Diary of John James of Alvarado, TX
ericjames.org
This website takes its name of Stray Leaves from the diary of John James of Alvarado, Texas. John began his diary “Stray Leaves” on March 8, 1903. But he
LISTEN TO The Stray Leaves Diary of John James "of Alvarado" Texas, NOW AUDIO ENHANCED . . .When you listen to this post, instead of reading it, a whole new dimension appears to the persona and story of John James "of Alvarado."
Not only does John James come to life in this audio, but the progression of his story also grows more personal and intimate.
As John relates the events of his life that were important to him, he personally communicates to you what impact those events had, and how he was affected by them.
Stray Leaves Diary of John James of Alvarado, TX
ericjames.org
This website takes its name of Stray Leaves from the diary of John James of Alvarado, Texas. John began his diary “Stray Leaves” on March 8, 1903. But heCharlie Chaplin’s film THE GREAT DICTATOR, co-written by Daniel Lewis James Jr. of our family, was screened this June in front of a crowd of 6,000 people at the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, Italy. The film opened the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival. The festival program also included a 100th-anniversary screening of Chaplin’s final two-reeler, PAY DAY.
A NEW POST ON STRAY LEAVES . . . The grandfather of Frank & Jesse James, John M. James, aligned himself with the Baptist dissenters. They bartered their role as "fighting Baptists" in the American Revolution for the separation of Church and State.
ericjames.org/wordpress/2022/07/20/baptist-dissenters-separate-church-from-state/
Baptist Dissenters Separate Church from State
ericjames.org
Since 1698, the Church of England was the established church in the Virginia Colony. The rights to baptize, consecrate marriage, teach school, and The grandfather of Frank & Jesse James, John M. James…
AUDIO COMING TO STRAY LEAVES . . . Stray Leaves currently working on an audio transcription of the Diary of John James "of Alvarado." Our website takes its name from this diary.
We hope this recording will be the first of an entire archive of podcast recordings of original documents pertaining to our James family.
Hearing these records, instead of reading them, actually produces focus and emphasis on content that might be too easily overlooked when the document is read. For instance, in this document of the Diary of John James "of Alvarado," John emphasizes his discovery of his power to cure people as a faith healer.
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When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it’s been deleted.That’s my great-great grandfather.