The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-01-28
VIM. 7. JAMES
City Shocked by the Death Of
this Popular Citizen and
Friend

IL Was Will tue UOSI pIOIOuuO
feelings of regret that the news be.
came general Saturday morning Of
the death of William T. James at
the Sacred Heart Sanitarium al
Milwaukee, Wis. on the evening
previous. So far we have been
unable to ascertain the exact cause
of the demise.
Mr.. James left here during the
first week of August for Milwaukee
for treatment. He was at that
time of the impression that he had
hardening of the arteries. Later il
was ascertained that this was not
the case and so far as can be
learned he was suffering from a
nervous breakdown. For several
months letters received from him
were of hopeful disposition but
the last month of his life the letters
to friends were far between and of
less hopeful tone. Short notes
received the week before his deaf b
spoke of nothing favorable to re-
port. While his friends were con-
siderably alarmed, the news of his
death came as a shock.
The remains were taken to Rock
land, Mich. for burial where the
interment took place Sunday after
noon. The funeral was one of the
largest ever seen in the little
Michigan city where the James
family had been resident for years,
where the burial place is located
and where the remains of father
and mother and two brothers were
laid away. A large number of
friends of the family from neigh
boring towns were present and
paid their last respects to the de-
parted who was held in high
esteem by all who had the pleasure
of his acquaintance.
William T. James was born at
Rockland, Mich, 81 years ago.
He worked about the mines and
attended the public schools of his
native city. When the mines at
Tower were first opened Mr.. James
accepted a position as clerk at the
Minnesota and for several years
held this position. Ely was then
placed on the map and later when
the Exchange Bank of Ely was
organized he was made cashier
which position he held until 1895
when he went into the general
insurance and the timber business.
He also was cashier of a bank at
Crystal Falls, Mich. for a year or
more he having been sent there by
Mr.. Kinney to put the new institu-
ton in working order.
He held the positions of city
clerk and city treasurer in this city
for many years and was always
prominent in the public life of the
city. Of late years he has been
prominent as a jobber in timber and
was recognized as very able man
in this line. He was an Epis-
copalean by faith and prominent in
the Masonic fraternity he having
attained high degrees in this order.
In politics he was Republican.
Mr.. James will be missed by an
exceptional large number of friends
and acquaintance. He was of a
generous forgiving disposition and
these traits were very much adj
mired by his circle of friends. He
is survived by sister, Miss Sarah
James, who resides in Duluth. His
brothers, James and Houghton
preceded him in death by several
years.
In the death of Will James the
city loses a good citizen and all Of
us a good friend.
The Daily Virginian in speaking
of Mr.. James said in Tuesdays
issue:
THE death of William T. James,
pioneer business man of Ely, in g
hospital at Milwaukee is a matter
of keen regret 10 many in this city
who knew Mr.. James we'll.
In the early days even he was
recognized as one of the substantial
business men of this then new
country and filled many position:
of trust. He first was employed
by the Minnesota Iron company al
Tower and later moved to Ely
where he became cashier for the
First National bank. Retiring
from the banking business, Mr.
James engaged in the buying and
selling of timber and mining lands
| in which avocation he was very
successful.
He was particular friend o
the late 0. D. Kinney, the founde
of the most substantial of Virgins
interests and often advised him il
business transactions. Mr.. Jane
for a short period was connecte'
with the First National bank @
this city at the time when MI
Kinney was actively interested ii
its conduct.