Family Reunions: Thomas Jefferson James, 1933, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: August 17, 1933 Winn Parish Enterprise Descendants of Thomas Jefferson James Held Family Reunion at Hudson Camp Last Sunday Over five hundred direct descendants, relatives and friends of the Thomas Jefferson James family gathered at the Hudson Camp Grounds several miles from Winnfield Sunday, August 13th, and made acquaintances, renewed friendships, and formed a permanent family organization to perpetuate the history of this pioneer resident of Winn Parish. This was the first meeting of its kind to be held by the family. Wesley Boyett, of Hudson, was elected to preside as chairman during the program. The name "James Memorial Homecoming Association," was later selected and the following officers elected: Thomas Jefferson James of Columbia, President; Dr. D. E. James, Holly Springs, Ark., vice-president; Wayland Smith of Oak Grove, historian; W. L. Sowers, Winnfield, secretary. A committee, composed of John James of Columbia, Mrs. Tennessee Smith, of Sikes, and Columbus White of Winnfield, was named to select a meeting place and time for the reunion each year. They designated the Hudson Camp Grounds as the place and the first Sunday in each September as the time. Other committees selected were: Memorial-Dr. D. E. James, Holly Springs, Ark.; J. W. Boyett, Winnfield, and C. C. McCarty, Winnsboro. Necrology-W. W. McCarty, Sikes, W. E. Boyett, Pollock, and Martin White, Winnfield. The reunion was in honor of Tom James, of Columbia, the only surviving child of Thomas Jefferson James. "Uncle Tom" as he was called by every person present, is enjoying the best of health in his ninetieth year. He was the center of attraction during the day, recalling numerous humorous accounts of things that happened when he resided in Winn Parish, which provoked much merriment among his relatives and friends. Dr. D. E. James, of Holly Springs, Ark., who is the son of the late Randle James and the late Mary Boyett James, brought thirty-nine members of his family to the reunion. Dr. James had prepared a history of his forebears, which he said, though incomplete, was the best that could be done, by collecting the data bit by bit from his cousins. Dr. James read the information that he had secured about the life of grandparents, and gave the following which is of interest to his many relatives as well as the descendants of other pioneer families. "Thomas Jefferson James was born in 1800 in Missouri. He left home at the age of 14 years, going to northeast Mississippi in the county of Lauderville (Lauderdale), where he later married Miss Patsy Pearce. In 1849 he moved to Winn Parish, where he reared a family of five girls and three boys, another son dying at an early age. This pioneer resident of Winn Parish died at his home near the Hudson Community in 1869. He helped form the organization of Winn Parish in 1852. The children of Thomas Jefferson James were considered the thriftiest settlers in this section. They were instrumental in the upbuilding of Winn Parish and were among the first landowners. They were leaders in civic affairs in their communities, and all reared large families and left a long line of descendants. The children of Thomas Jefferson James were: Chris, who had 54 descendants, 35 now living; Mary, whose descendants numbered 2, none living now; Eliza, 58 descendants, 54 now living; Tom, 69 descendants, number unknown now living; Katie, 164 descendants, 152 now living; Synthia, 120 descendants, 104 now living; Randle, 19 descendants, 17 now living; Minerva, no children. The total number of descendants born to this family was 317. The children of Thomas Jefferson James married as follows: Minerva married first to Mr. Stanley and later to Jessie Brister; Eliza married William Brister; Mary first married Tom Crain and later Ulysses Snow; Katie, first married Tom Caves and second, John C. White; Thomas, Jr., married Adeline Caves; Randle married Mary Boyett; Synthia, William Boyett, and Chris, Sara Sills. The children of Thomas Jefferson James continued to live within the same settlement with the exception of two, Tom, moving to Caldwell Parish, and Chris to West Carroll Parish. The above information together with other interesting stories that recalled pleasant scenes of long ago, was given by Dr. D. E. James. Dr. James appealed to his family and friends to think of the hardships borne to their grandfather and his family in settling this country. He said that in those times there was no Red Cross or E. R. A. for the people to fall back on, and that they forged ahead enduring many hardships and handicaps, but in the end they enjoyed life and had not complaints to make. By their diligent labors and own initiative they became independent, and the most substantial citizens of the country. He urged his people to follow their example and be independent. Following his talk, Judge W. M. Wallace, of Shreveport, a life-long friend of the family, told of his connection with the James and recalled pleasant memories of this connection and association. At noon, a bountiful dinner was spread under the pine trees and enjoyed by all. The afternoon was devoted to addresses by Professor C. L. Shell of Sikes, Judge Cas Moss, Judge R. W. Oglesby, and A. Leonard Allen, who told interesting accounts of their connections with this illustrious family and the part it played in the progress of Winn Parish.