ky-footsteps Sunday, January 19, 2003 Volume 03 : Issue 3 Today's Topics: # 1 [KYF] BIO: John M. James, 1751-c. 1853, Pulaski County # 2 [KYF] BIO: Andrew Jackson James, b. 1827, Pulaski County # 3 [KYF] DEED: John Smith to Andrew McMillen, 1837 Hardin Co. # 4 [KYF] DEED: John Jenkins, Jr. to John S. Willett, 1839 Hardin Co. # 5 [KYF] OBIT: Earl J. Ballard, 1975, Kenton County # 6 [KYF] OBIT: James S. Taylor, 1975, Kenton County # 7 [KYF] OBIT: Helen M. Quinn, 1975, Kenton County # 8 [KYF] OBIT: Betty Jane Poer, 1975, Kenton County and Maryland # 9 [KYF] OBIT: Mrs. Dunckley, 1893, Campbell County # 10 [kyf] OBIT: Charles Dunckley, 1901, Campbell County _____________________________X-Message: #1 ------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by E-mail Registry submittor Eric James Date: 18 Jan 2003 Subject: [KYF] BIO: John M. James, 1751-c. 1853, Pulaski County ------------------------------------------------------------ From the Stray Leaves website, with permission: STRAY LEAVES, A JAMES FAMILY IN AMERICA SINCE 1650 http://www.ericjames.org JOHN M. JAMES 1751- c.1823 The family of JOHN M. JAMES had been in America since 1650. His great grandfather John James immigrated from Caernarvon, Wales, where the family descended from the crowns of Edward II & Edward III. James family lore identifies themselves as bastards of a crown. In colonial Virginia the James were agriculturists. They planted tobacco & assembled estates which included a land grant from Lord Thomas Fairfax handed down from Charles II. They married into prominent families, and exercised their faith at Aquia Church & Overwharton Parish. They also participated in the Virginian recreation of the day - politics and building a government. In March of 1770 John M. James married Clara Nalle, born in 1755. She was his second choice, his first choice having run off with another man. The Nalle family of Rappahonack, Essex County, Virginia, were second generation American descendants of the Nalle & Aldin families of England. Clara Nalle's father was Maritn Nalle, a Captain of the Virginian Minute Men. During the War Of The Revolution, these James were suppliers to American armies. Some James were Culpeper Minute Men, serving under the rattlesnake flag proclaiming "Don't Tread On Me." While brothers, uncles, & cousins had their own commands, John M. James served under his neighbor, Benjamin Harrison, and his Fauquier County Militia. John M. James also served in the 11th and 15th Virginia Regiments, under Col. Daniel Morgan. At war's end John & Clara returned to Spottsylvania County, Virginia, from Pitt County, North Carolina. An ambitious 30 year old John M. James was ready to strike his fortunes in the new America. As America was born, the rigors of the Anglican, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian faiths were supplanted by Baptists who sought a faith more simple and free. John M. James aligned his family with "The Travelling Church." In September 1781, at Upper Spottsylvania Baptist Church, a large and disordered assembly of men, women, children, slaves, animals, and wagons set out for the "District of Kentucke" in western Virginia, on a path of Daniel Boone's over mountains to a land the native-American Shawnee called their heaven on earth. The next year John M. James was on the payroll of the Ranging Party of Lincoln Militia, under Col. Benjamin Logan, assisting settlers entering the region. In this year his father Joseph James, the elder, died in Culepper County, Virginia. For the next ten years, sometimes under the command of George Rogers Clark, John M. James remained in the Kentucke to settle its frontier. His family was first safely established at the Forks of the Elkhorn River near Frankfort. There, as Rev. John M. James, he co-founded The Forks of the Elkhorn Baptist Church. About 1785 he & Clara travelled buffalo & Indian traces to St. Asaph's, Logan's Fort, one mile from today's Stanford, Lincoln county, Kentucky. There they prepared to settle permanently in Crab Orchard, a community rapidly becoming a safe settlement hub & magnate for fashionable Virginian frontier society. He traded in building materials rare on the frontier, brick & glass. His brother William James migrated from the Forks to present Woodford County, where descendants of William James bore the celebrated American outlaws Frank & Jesse James. John M. James hired Daniel Field in 1788 as attorney to settle all remaining debts back in Culpeper County. Since 1782 John M. James had been purchasing land on Dick's River adjoining William Whitley's pre-emption and William Menifee's settlement. John & brother George James had been surveying & purchasing other lands, too. In 1802 John M. James purchased 70 acres of William Whitley's land, giving Whitley the necessary funds to construct his home, the first brick residence on the Kentucky frontier, presently preserved by the State of Kentucky as a museum. John M. James followed shortly, building the second brick residence on the frontier in an area of Lincoln County which later became Pulaski County. This home also remains today. Abraham James, another family member, was surveying lands in Lincoln County at this time. Gen. George Washington had been investing there. On March 3, 1789, Lund Washington Sr., reported to the future President on the eve of his inauguration, that Lund Jr., Washington's nephew, had recently visited John M. James' granduncle, Justice John James who stated, "We should have a very pretty President at the head of our new government, one who had paid off his debts within the time of the War with paper money altho it had been lent to him in specie." A grandson of John M. James, Andrew Jackson "A.J." James, Kentucky Attorney General and later Kentucky Secretary of State, would establish a standardized monetary system for Kentucky. When the State of Kentucky was formed in 1794, John M. James was appointed Commissioner to examine the Cumberland Gap Road & to audit the turnpike keeper. When he helped to cut Pulaski County out of Lincoln County and to found the new town of Somerset in 1799, he also served as the first judge & executive to administer the new county. In 1800 he became a Justice, answering citizen petitions in both Pulaski & Lincoln counties. In 1801 Governor James Garrard appointed him Justice of the Peace. John M. James was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature three times, in 1800, 1802, & 1807. As a state representative, he established local & circuit courts, and a state Court of Appeals for the Commonwealth. He provided for the inspection of crops, including flour, hemp, & tobacco, leading to uniform valuations. To further settle Kentucky, he provided for aliens to hold lands & for improvement of vacant lands. He also established penal laws & the first penitentiary. Before leaving office, he simplified laws regarding slaves, free blacks, mulattos, and Indians. Today the descendants of John M. James span the breadth of America & number more than 5000. They have crossed cultures, and even include descendant lines of Choctaw and Cherokee native-Americans. Public service remains a consistent family profession. Many have served as attorneys, judges, sheriffs, commissioners, mayors, state representatives, and governors. Many Baptist churches have been founded by numerous James ministers. Rev. John M. James was a co-founder of the Flat Lick Baptist Church of Pulaski county, Kentucky. This church is widely recognized as the mother church of all Baptist churches in Kentucky and in 1999 celebrated its 200th anniversary. The descendants of John M. James are poets, writers, educators, & founders of universities. As engineers they have built industrial America, while some still tend to their agricultural heritage in the 21st century. These James are known for high intelligence, diligence, an irrepressible sense of humor, and a unique ability to confound expectation. Like John M. James himself, his descendants remain pioneers and architects of community in America. _____________________________X-Message: #2 ------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by E-mail Registry submittor Eric James Date: 18 Jan 2003 Subject: [KYF] BIO: Andrew Jackson James, b. 1827, Pulaski County ------------------------------------------------------------ From the Stray Leaves website, with permission: STRAY LEAVES, A JAMES FAMILY IN AMERICA SINCE 1650 http://www.ericjames.org Andrew Jackson James 1827 - 1883 Andrew Jackson James remained at home until age 15, at which time he worked until age 23, writing in the Court Clerk's office in Somerset, Pulaski COunty, KY. In Somerset he read law with Fountain J. Fox, a family friend & business associate of his grandfather, John M. James. At age 21, he was admitted to the bar and entered into the profession of law and politics. His first taste of politics came at age 23 when he became an elector for President Martin Van Buren. Initially most of his law and political practices were confined to Pulaski County, which his grandfather John M. James formed from Lincoln County in 1799. At age 24 he married Mary Allison Beatty. Between 1848 and 1856, eleven children were born into his family. He tried his hand at ministry. But in 1855 at age 38, A.J. was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature. His legislation was closely tailored to the needs of Pulaski County. His intro- duction to Frankfort society in 1858 distinctly changed his life. His political career accelerated. In 1859 he was elected as Attorney General for the State of Kentucky. He served in the office four years. Some time following he was also elected mayor of Frankfort. In 1871 Gov. Preston H. Leslie appointed him as Secretary of State in the first year of his term. But A.J. only served one year. Partisan politics may have taken their toll on him. He retired to private practice. Later he became a Judge in Frankfort. In 1875 he was Pulaski County's nominee for the Kentucky Governorship. A possible catalyst for the career of A.J. James was Tunstall Quarles who organized and established the first bank in Pulaski County, Farmers Bank, in 1818. Just prior to the War of 1812, Quarles organized a large calvary troop at his own expense, that served in the war under his command. Quarles was both a State Senator & Representative at Frankfort. A.J. not only followed Quarles' lead into state politics, A.J. also was appointed to the bank's board of directors under Quarles, succeeding president Cyrenius Waite. As the banking profession traversed a turbulent period up to and through the Civil War, the bank faithfully issued a 5% return to investors. However, following the war, Farmer's Bank was succeeded by Farmers Bank & Deposit Company. In 1878 Judge A.J. James was elected President of the Farmer's Bank of Frankfort. He continued in his law practice until 1880, watching the developing careers of three of his sons who followed him in the practice of law. Judge Andrew Jackson "A.J." James died in 1883 and was buried in Frankfort Cemetery in the company of the founders of the State of Kentucky. _____________________________X-Message: #3 ------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by E-mail Registry submittor Sheila Gatlin Date: 18 Jan 2003 Subject: [KYF] DEED: John Smith to Andrew McMillen, 1837 Hardin Co. ------------------------------------------------------------ Deed Book Q, Page 226 (Andrew McMillen 1837) This Indenture made this 6th day of May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and thirty seven between John SMITH of the County of Hardin and State of Kentucky of the one part and Andrew McMILLEN of the County & State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John SMITH for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and fifty eight dollars to him in hand paid by the said Andrew McMILLEN before the signing Sealing and delivery of these Presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath this day granted bargained and sold & by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien and convey to the said Andrew McMILLEN his heirs and assigns a certain tract or parcel of Land Situate Lying and being in the said County of Hardin on the waters of Clear Creek being part of C. EVENSALS (EVENSOLE’S?) 400 acre survey containing Eighty six acres be the same more or less and Bounded as follows towit. Beginning at a white Oak or Stake a corner of sd. 400 acre survey thence with a line of the Same S 5, W 225 poles to the Beginning Corner of sd 400 acre survey two white Oaks thence with a line of the same N 65, W 122 (poles) to a white oak and two dogwoods thence N 52, E 80 poles to a branch thence down sd. Branch with its meanders to the Beginning. To have & to hold the aforesaid bargained and sold Land and Premises together with all & singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to him and the said Andrew McMILLEN his heirs and assigns to his & them only proper use benefit and behoof Forever and the said John SMITH further covenants and agrees to and with the said Andrew McMILLEN that he the _?_ grantor the party of the frst part will Warrant and defend the aforesaid land and premises from the claim of himself his heirs and assigns and all and every other person claiming the same to the said Andrew McMILLEN his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof the said John SMITH hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. John SMITH (seal) Ann SMITH her mark (seal) (Note: In the margain alongside this deed is written: "The Certificate of Dower is recorded in Book L, Page 513 & is to be copied as apart of this deed if......" [too dark to read].) _____________________________X-Message: #4 ------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by E-mail Registry submittor Sheila Gatlin Date: 18 Jan 2003 Subject: [KYF] DEED: John Jenkins, Jr. to John S. Willett, 1839 Hardin Co. ------------------------------------------------------------ Deed Book S, Page 302 (Lein for Repayment of Debt) (John Jenkins, Junior-1839) This Indenture made this 20th day of july 1839 between John JENKINS Jun. of Hardin County Kentucky of the one part and John S. WILLETT of Nelson County & State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John JENKINS Jun. Stands justly indebted to the said John S. WILLETT in the sum of two hundred and sixteen dollars due on the 20th day July 1840. Evidenced by a Note under seal bearing even date here with and being desirous More effectively to secure the said WILLETT in the payment of the said debt hath this day Granted bargained & Sold to the said John S. WILLETT a Certain tract of land Situate lying and being in the said County of Hardin on the Rolling fork of Salt river, the same he purchased of the heirs of John JENKINS deceased and is bounded as follows to wit.. Beginning on the bank of the said Rolling fork at 2 locusts and white oake running thence S 52 W 141 to an ash and small hickory thence N 6 W 150 poles to three birches standing on the bank of the said rolling fork Near the Mouth of a gut thence running up the rolling fork with its Meanders to the Beginning. With the appertances(sp) to Have and to Hold the said tract of land hereby Conveyed to the said John S. WILLETT his heirs & assigns forever. And the sd John JENKINS Jun. further Covenants to Warrant and defend the same land aforesaid to the sd WILLETT his heirs and assigns forever but be it understood by and between the parties that if the said John JENKINS Jun. shall on or before the 20th July 1840 Well and truly pay the said John S. WILLETT, the said sum of two hundred and sixteen dollars then this Conveyance to be null and void and the property to revert back .. Other wise to be and remain in full force and virtue in Law. In Testimony whereof the said John JENKINS Jun. hath this hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and year first written. John JENKINS (seal) I Samuel HAYCRAFT Clerk of the Hardin County Court in the state of Kentucky do Certify that the 20th day of July 1839 The foregoing Mortgage from John JENKINS Jun. to John S. WILLETT was provided to me in my office and acknowledged by the JENKINS to be his act and deed...... _____________________________X-Message: #5 ------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by E-mail Registry submittor Mary Quinn