Jones COUNTY GA Towns - JAMES File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives Copied with persmission from "History of Jones Co., GA" by Carolyn White Williams (Typed for us by Barbara S.) JAMES In the lower part of Jones County, six miles south of Gray, on the line between Davidson and Burden's Districts, on the Georgia RR between Macon and Camak is James, Ga., Jones County. The population has never exceeded about 140 and most of the residents are related. (1957) James' first inhabitants were the Indians of the Creek tribe. Many Indian relics, such as arrowheads, bits of pottery and beads attest to the fact that Indians were here and the Indian trail came through this place before the white men came and was used as a road, later. A fork off the Garrison Road leads from a mile southeast of Cumslo and a mile and a half southwest of James crossed the Ocmulgee at Tarver's Site according to an early map, this Indian Trail was called "Tusco-Meco Path." The old Clinton and Gordon road crossed what is now the Georgia RR about 150 yards to the north of the present crossing of the RR and followed its present route, except at Morton's it made a direct line to Clinton, a road which is nonexistent today. James was founded after the Georgia RR came through. This RR was in process of construction for many years from prior to the Civil War until its completion in 1871. Tom WOOLFOLK, Sr. owned all of this land and the first flagstop was call Woolfork. Lemuel JAMES was engaged in bridge construction for this RR, bought some of this Woolfolk land and he and his wife Mary E. CHADWICK built a home here. Soon a post office was built, a depot and telegraph office. The RR officials named the place James for Lemuel Photo JAMES, Sr. There were many large plantations here and farmers came here to trade. Mr. DUFFFY was the Postmaster and storekeeper. There was a gin house and gristmill and a turntable beside the tracks for the engines to turn on. Lemuel JAMES gave land for a school and a church. Elam church had been established many years before this and most of the people worshipped there, although some went to Salem and Pitts Chapel. Lemuel JAMES later built a large eleven-room house in an oak grove which is still standing. After his death, Lemuel JAMES, Jr. owned this, was as public-spirited as his father, represented his county, helped obtain electricity for it and was made State Director of Department of Labor. He was president of James Lumber Co. at Haddock at his death. Other families at James were: T.W. DUFFY moved from Clinton to James in 1884, Judge Peyton PITTS in 1885 built a home here, R.H. KINGMAN, Sr. built here in 1890 and was a peach grower, planter and a Christian, died in 1935. R.H. KINGMAN, Jr. was later the leading merchant here. In 1927, J.C. BALKCOM bought this store. Dr. O.C. GIBSON and family were residents of James from 1890 to 1901. This home was later bought by Mrs. C.M. ETHRIDGE and a daughter, Mrs. N.E. VALENTINE later lived here, as the GIBSONS moved to Macon. J.C. BALKCOM, Jr. now owns the store his father ran and another family of MITCHELLS lived here. The old church, called Elam, was built in 1810 and is the historic church of this vicinity. At first this was a Primitive Baptist, but when a church schism arose later, it was changed to a Missionary Baptist church. The first money order written in Jones County was written in James, Ga., and the first telegraph instrument put into use in Jones County was located here. The school built here in 1884 on land donated by L.P. JAMES was burned. There are only two people living here from a large family of James by that name, Misses Hattie and Alice JAMES, daughters of Frank JAMES. Although James never grew in size, the spirit of the first settlers remain. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.