Washington James

From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 426

WASHINGTON JAMES, who is numbered among the early settlers of Rock County of 1848, and is now a wealthy citizen of Beloit, was born near Auburn, N.Y., on the 22d day of May, 1820. His grandfather, Paul JAMES, served in the Revolutionary War for six years, after which he settled in Rhode Island, but subsequently removed to Truxton, Cortland County, N.Y., where his death occurred. The parents of our subject, Sheffield and Judy (CARD) JAMES, were married at Lebanon, N.Y., and to them were born eleven children - Joseph, who was a pioneer of McHenry County, Ill., of 1841, died in 1887; Sheffield L. is a prominent manufacturer of wagons and carriages and dealer in the same, also agricultural implements, of Janesville; Newbury located in Kane County, Ill., in 1844, and there died two years later; Washington is the next in order of birth; Mason settled in McHenry County, Ill., in 1844; Avery resides in Onondaga County, N.Y.; Emily is the wife of A. FILMORE, of Lake County, Fla.; Eliza and John died at the ages of eleven and nine respectively; Cordelia is the wife of Jardin GOLLY, of Oneida County, N.Y., and Christiana, who is the wife of a Mr. WOOD and now resides near Utica, N.Y. Mr. JAMES died in 1847, and Mrs. JAMES departed this life in 1875. The latter was a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject, who is one of the prominent farmers and stock-growers of the Northwest, received but a limited school education, being virtually a self-made man, but possessing an observant eye and retentive memory, he soon acquired, by private study and reading, sufficient knowledge to qualify him for teaching, and he followed that profession for eight seasons before coming West. In 1841, desiring to view the far West, he started out, visiting Milwaukee, then a town of a few thousand inhabitants, and from there proceeded to Jefferson. Making inquiries of a few settlers whose homes he passed, he came to the conclusion that the country was too new to make it desirable for a location and so returned to the East. In 1848 he again came to Wisconsin, going to Marengo, where he had two brothers living. The day after his arrival he was employed to teach the school at that place for five months, but before entering upon his duties as a teacher he made a tour of inspection through the southern part of Wisconsin, and being pleased with the country around Beloit, he determined to settle there. Acting upon this resolution, in 1850 he purchased the lots on which he yet resides, and his life in Rock County began. In the month of October, 1854, Mr. JAMES led to the marriage altar Miss Cordelia D. MACKLEN, of Walworth County, Wis., and by their union one child was born, Cordelia Adel, now the wife of S. H. SECRIST, a commercial traveler. Mrs. JAMES died May 28, 1864, and Mr. JAMES subsequently married Miss Frances J. MACKLEN, a sister of his former wife. After coming to Beloit Mr. JAMES engaged in teaching for three years, when he became a dealer in grain and stock, buying for the Chicago market. For a number of years he followed that pursuit, but at length purchased forty acres of land, which was the foundation of his present farms, comprising 1,000 acres, 800 of which is under cultivation and well stocked. On starting out in life his capital consisted only of a good constitution and the bright hopes of youth, but by industry and economy, together with the exercise of his good business ability, he has accumulated a large property, and today is numbered among the most prosperous farmers of Rock River valley. Politically Mr. JAMES is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and a faithful adherent to its principles, and has been honored with several local offices of trust. He has represented his township for three years on the County Board of Supervisors and has served as a member of the City Council.

Submitted By Carol