Charles James1

(April 5, 1827 - August 17, 1896)
Charles James|b. Apr 5, 1827\nd. Aug 17, 1896|p1459.htm|Thomas (William) James|d. 1850|p1481.htm|Mary||p1482.htm|||||||||||||
Charles James
     Charles James was born on Thursday, April 5, 1827 in Staffordshire, England, son of Thomas (William) James and Mary.1

On June 9, 1862, Charles married Amelia Kolker, a widow, daughter of Thomas Graybill and Amelia Womer. The ceremony took place in Cottage Hill, Dubuque County, Iowa. She was 27 years old and was the mother of three young children ages ten, eight, and three.

Donald Moser's Kolker family sketch adds the following comments:
This "...marriage proved to be a most unhappy union. Mr James was 'The meanest man I ever knew,' according to Jessie Kolker Borrett, his step-daughter. His own son, Ben had the following to say, 'Father's unhappy and insainely irritable dispostion which resulted in a most unhappy home.'"

"Amelia later made a huge mistake by marrying Charlie James...I have found no reference that has anything good to say about Charlie James!"1,3




Charles & Amelia James


Four children were born to Charles and Amelia; Benjamin W., Ada, Hannah M., and William.1

Charles and Amelia lived Charles made his living lettering tombstones and lived with Amelia on a farm that she had inherited..3

Charles appeared in the Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa, US census of June 21, 1870 as head of household. He was 45 year old farmer. His real estate was valued at $1600 and his personal estate was valued at $800. He was born in England but was a United States citizen ( both of his parents were foreign born).. The household also included Amelia, his wife. She was 35 years old and was keeping house. Six children were living at home. The oldest two were from Amelia's first marriage; Thomas was age 17, Sarah was age 11. The children in the home that were from her marriage to Charles were Benjamin age seven, Ada age five, Hannah age four, and Esther who was age two.4

The following paragraph was included in the published History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882.5

The Charles James household was listed in the 1885 Iowa state census in Millville Township. The family members included were Charles and Amelia and their children Benjamin, Ada, Hannah, William, and Lillly.6

Charles died on Monday, August 17, 1896 at age 69.1,7 He was laid to rest in the Goshen Church Cemetery on Pumpkin Ridge near Turkey River in Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa.8

Children of Charles James and Amelia Graybill

Citations

  1. [S34] Monona, Iowa Reprinted by: Monona Historical Society, 1882 History of Clayton County Iowa (1401 North Fares Ave, Evansville, Indiana 47711: Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1882, Reproduction by: Unigraphics, Inc., Republished 1975), p. 1016 (Millville Twp. - Charles James). Hereinafter cited as Book - 1882 History of Clayton Co.
  2. [S229] Interview with Donald Moser (Millville, IA), by Susan Noyes, 2005, Historical summary ~ "Some Information about the Kolker Family" DSC03452.jpg.
  3. [S229] Interview with Donald Moser (Millville, IA), by Susan Noyes, 2005, Historical summary ~ "Some Information about the Kolker Family."
  4. [S123] 1870 US Census, US Census Search, Heritage Quest Online, 1870 Iowa, Clayton, Millville Twp, Series: M593 Roll: 383 Page: 420.
  5. [S34] Monona, Iowa Reprinted by: Monona Historical Society, 1882 History of Clayton County Iowa (1401 North Fares Ave, Evansville, Indiana 47711: Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1882, Reproduction by: Unigraphics, Inc., Republished 1975), p. 1016. Hereinafter cited as Book - 1882 History of Clayton Co.
  6. [S417] 1885 Iowa State Census, Provo, Utah, USA, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com. Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Census 1885 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest.
  7. [S314] Spencer L. Kraybill & Noah L. Zimmerman, History of a John Graybill Family in America 1681-1981 (111 Water Street, Baltimore, MD 21202: Gateway Press, Inc., First Edition 1977, Baltimore, Second Edition 1982, Baltimore), p. 543. Hereinafter cited as History of a John Graybill Family in America.
  8. [S173] Clayton County Genealogical Society / Box 866 Elkader - Iowa 52043, Our First One Hundred Sixty Years, The History of Millville 1833-1993 (Elkader, Iowa 52043: Compiled by Francis Behrend and Oakland Becker, 1993), p.152. Hereinafter cited as The History of Millville 1833-1993.
  9. [S229] Interview with Donald Moser (Millville, IA), by Susan Noyes, 2005.
 


  • A family history
    leads to the satisfaction in really knowing who you are
    and from when you came.

  • "Nor long shall any name resound
    Beyond the grave, unless't be found
    In some clerk's book; it is the pen
    Gives immortality to men."

  • A good life lasts for several generations.

  • In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep,
    to know our heritage, to know who we are
    and where we come from.

    — Alex Haley
  • To forget one's ancestors
    is to be a brook without a source,
    a tree without a root.

    — Chinese Proverb
  • Family faces are magic mirrors.
    Looking at people who belong to us,
    we see the past, present, and future.
    We make discoveries about ourselves.

    — Gail Lumet Buckley
  • In every conceivable manner,
    the family is a link to our past,
    a bridge to our future.

    — Alex Haley
  • What greater thing is there for human souls
    than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other
    in silent unspeakable memories.

    — George Eliot
  • Some people come and go in our lives.
    Some stay forever.

  • We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,
    we borrow it from our children.

    — Native American Proverb
  • The memories we give may a lifetime live in the heart
    of those we hold so close.

    — Unknown
  • Families are like fudge . . .
    mostly sweet with a few nuts.

    — Unknown
  • The family is one of Nature's masterpieces.

    — George Santayana
  • Having a place to go – is a home.
    Having someone to love – is a family.
    Having both – is a blessing.

    — Donna Hedges
  • Every man is his own ancestor,
    and every man is his own heir.
    He devises his own future,
    and he inherits his own past.

    — Fredrick Henry Hedge