Trenton Leroy James; Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Trenton Leroy James, parish assessor of Rapides Parish, was for some 
years prominently identified with the sugar industry, and is a technical 
engineer and chemist, an expert sugar manufacturer.

Mr. James was born at Boyce, Louisiana, September 6, 1890, son of 
Francis Henderson and Vanangus (Sleet) James.  His mother, a native 
of Virginia, lives in Alexandria, and is an active member of the 
Methodist Church.  His father was born in Rapides Parish, and died 
October 20, 1899, was a planter and merchant, and an active figure 
in local democratic politics.

Trenton Leroy James graduated in 1907 from the Boyce High School and 
took his technical and higher literary education in the Louisiana 
State University, where he was graduated in 1912 with the degree 
Bachelor of Science, having done his work largely in the sugar 
chemistry laboratory of the Audubon School.  His first work was 
with the South Down Sugar Company, following which he was employed 
by the Cuban American Company at Delicious, Cuba, from 1912 to 1914.  
He returned to the United States the day Germany declared war on 
England.

In 1916 Mr. James became chief deputy assessor of Rapides Parish, 
and in January, 1920, was elected parish assessor and reelected in 
1924.  He gives all his time to the duties of his office and has two 
deputies in the courthouse under him and also a deputy in each of the 
ten wards of the parish.

Mr. James married April 28, 1915, Miss Willie Frank Texada, a native 
of Rapides Parish.  They are active Methodists, Mr. James being a 
steward in the church.  He is affiliated with the Knights of the 
Maccabees, the Woodmen of the World, Benevolent and Protective Order 
of Elks, the Kiwanis Club, Sigma Nu Fraternity, Knights of Pythias.  
Mrs. James' father served in the office of tax assessor of Rapides 
Parish for twenty years, and was one of the most influential men in 
the parish politics.

NOTE:  The referenced source contains a black and white photograph of 
the subject with his/her autograph.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 251-252, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and 
New York, 1925.