Obituaries: Thomas Jefferson James, Confederate Veteran, 1940, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: July 19, 1940 Winnfield News-American

"Uncle Tom" James Dies At Ouachita River Home July 13

Was Last Confederate Veteran In Winn Parish

Funeral services for Thomas Jefferson James, who died Saturday at his
plantation home on the Ouachita River near Columbia, were held Sunday
afternoon at the Old Union Baptist Church.  Interment was in Old Union
Cemetery.

Mr. James was born in Mississippi, but was brought to Winn Parish when an
infant by his father, whose name was also Thomas Jefferson James.  The senior
James was one of the leaders in creating Winn Parish in 1852 and his three
sons, Chris, Randall, and Thomas, for many years were business and political
leaders in the parish.  At one time they owned many thousands of acres of the
finest timber lands in the parish.

Near the turn of the century, Mr. Tom James sold his Winn Parish holdings and
bought a large plantation on the Ouachita River near Columbia, which he
operated until his death.  He was the father of State Senator John James of
Columiba.

Was Confederate Veteran

With the death of "Uncle Tom", as he was a familiarly known, Winn Parish's
last Confederate Veteran is gone.  Mr. James enlisted from Winn Parish and saw
action at Pleasant Hill and the Battle of Mansfield.  

Although W. E. Dark of Gaars Mill is also a veteran, he enlisted from
Carrollton, Ga.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. John Kitchenham, former pastor of
the Columbia Baptist Church.  Rev. Kitchenham was assisted by the present
Columbia pastor and Rev. Harrison Cockerham, pastor of the Old Union Baptist
Church.  Hundreds of relatives and friends from many sections of the state
came to pay their respects to a man loved and honored by all who knew him.

Besides Senator James, Mr. James is survived by his third wife, Mrs. Jessie
James; sons Columbus and Jesse of Columbia and three daughters, Mrs. Maggie
Goff, Columbia, Mrs. D. D. Pool, Tallulah, and Mrs. G. I. Kelly, Winnfield;
besides hundreds of other relatives.