The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-03-19
G. w. JAMES, Sr.
Born December IL, 1911;
Died March Il, 1896.

SnaTleS w OTIii JdlueS WAS DOI ii Ecdi
" nchester, Virginia, December II,
1911. When about nine years old
he went with his parents, Elijah and
Margaret James, to Loudoun county,
Virginia, settling near Union. He
was educated in the ordinary sub
scription schools of that day. On
leaving home he was employed as
clerk iii the store of John Francis, at
Mountville, Virginia, .remaing with
him over one year, when he was en-
ployed in country store in Loudoun
county by Joseph w. Richardson,
with whom he remained eighteen
months, when in November, 1882, his
employer removed his goods to
Logan, Ohio, and Mr.. James was sent
in charge of them. He carried on
the mercantile business for Mr.. Rich
ardson, who remained in Virginia
until 1885, when the store was sold
and Mr.. James was engaged in set
tling up the business. In 1885 he
was elected recorder of Hooking
county, and reelected in 1886, filling
the position six years.
When Logan was incorporated by
an act of the Legislature, March 5th,
1889 he was elected mayor, the pop
ulation at that date being 436.
He was appointed by the associate
Judges of Hooking county, clerk of
the court of common pleas for term
of seven years. At the expiration of
his term in 1874 he was re-appointed
for term of seven years.
In 1850 he was representative of
Hooking county to the general assem-
bly, of Ohio, and resigned his clerk
S hip to accept the Office. In the fall
of 1850 he was re- elected representa-
tive. In the assembly of 1851 the
term of office of representative was
made two years instead of one, so Mr..
James served as representative three
sessions.
During the last to I'm he was one of
the representative of district in
which Perry county was a part, and
was a prominent actor in the cele-
brated county seat fight which then
began, strong friend of the Somer-
set cause.
November 1, 1882 he was married
to Martha Brown ;of Beaver Dam,
Loudoun county, and on the day fol-
lowing, the young couple started on
horseback for their new home in the
wilderness of Ohio. 1t was election
day. Young James lacked one day
of being 21 years of age, but he was
a mama Virginian by birth, he was a
born Democrat. The road took the cou-
pie through the village where the
election was held. The young bride
held the horses while the husband,
not yet in law voter, cast his first
ballot, a vote for Andrew Jackson.
He was Jackson Democrat through
all his life, and with the Judge Rob't
Wright, at his death, the last but one
living member of that old guard who
voted for Old Hickory. During the
war he united with the Republicans
and generally voted with that party
in his later years, but he was always
a Jackson Democrat.
He and his wife were members of
the Methodist Episcopal church of
Logan since 1884. He was Master
Royal Arch and Council Mason, and
a member of Mingo lodge No. III,
and of Logan chapter, No. IS of
which he is principal iSojourner, and
is past high priest. He was also a
of the Hook Hooking council
No. 80, of which he was thrice Illus
trious Master for seven years. He
was also an Odd Fellow, and a men,
Der of Hooking Valley lodge, No. 1852,
of which he was past grand. For
several years he was associated with
J. L. Collins in the mercantile busi.
ness at Logan, under the firm name
of j. l.. Collins & Company. In
1860 he gave his interest to his two
sons, William T., and Charles w.,
anv retired from that business. He
he afterward became associated with
William Dewar, and purchased
partial interest in the Hooking Falls
FIGURING mills at Logan, and was en-
gagged in milling some two or three
Years, when the mill burned. They
then rebuilt and continued business
some time, when it was sold on par
tition, and they then built the present
Hooking mills, being associated with
William Dewar and A. J. Wright.
He afterward sold his interest and re-
tired from that business, when he
purchased farm in the vicinity of
Logan, where he pursued farming
until 1881, when he sssold his farm,
retired from business, and took up
his residence in Logan.
He was the father of eight children