Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....James, John D.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown A-L


 JOHN D. JAMES attorney-at-law, P.O. Doylestown, was born in 
Doylestown, December 1, 1856, and is a son of Nathan C. and 
Maria (Megargee) James, his father being a native of Bucks 
county and his mother of Montgomery county.  The first of 
the family to come to Bucks county was John James, who came 
from Wales about 1711, and bought a large tract of land near 
where Doylestown now stands from the Society of Free 
Traders.  His great-grandfather, Nathan, served in the war 
of 1812, and his grandfather, John D., also offered to 
enlist but was refused on account of his youth.  He was a 
farmer by occupation.  He was appointed crier of the court 
in 1820, and held that position until 1871.  Of the land 
which was first taken up by the James family two tracts 
still remain in the name.  Our subject's father, Nathan C., 
was admitted to the bar in 1851.  He held the office of 
district attorney for six years, and was appointed revenue 
collector under Andrew Johnson's administration, but was not 
confirmed.  The Jameses are all democrats.  Our subject, 
John D., attended the Doylestown school until he graduated 
in 1874, when he entered the Lehigh University in 1872-73.  
He studied law under his father and was admitted to the bar 
September 9, 1878, which was the first legal business 
transacted in the new court-house.  He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and also of the I. O. O. F.  Encampment; 
also St. Tammany Castle K. G. E., and is a prominent young 
attorney and an able speaker.