BIO: Andrew Jackson James, b. 1827, Pulaski County ------------------------ Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Eric James Email Registry Submitter Date: 17 Jan 2003 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** 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.