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Redfield, Georgia B.
3.24.89
words 44
kajeet ispiala Jason 4. James
sour,' it Infermat4an; Memories
and ftswgeints by Copt:An Jam
men W. James, MO.
CAPTALIS J.LJ W. 4411:.5
Came to Jew Modes in 1892,
1m 1893, Appointed, manager of
leeos Talley Investment and la.
provemeni
is 1908 Presented with
First Target Rifles and Ammunition
for Iarget Apostle*,
Omelet Mani for James medals for
Markman:alp at Nal•ka•
01111INIMIONINNIMNOPRO
Captain Jasen W. James was born in Lexington, Missouri Aril
28, 1843. When he was a lad outt or nine years old his tether
wont to California, where he died about 1822, hiving his widow
and four sons: Thomas Charles, Jason W., William G., and John W.
Aadh boy, though at an age when they should have been in :wheel,
was oompelled to assume responsibilities and do a strong man's
work on their farm. Jason, who afterwards was known throughout
the State of Louisiana as Captain Jason W, Janes, (one of the
bravest soldiers in nervioe of the South during the Civil War) had
only the eduoation he Gould master during a bait term every winter,
until he was fifteen years olds ES worked the reet of the time at
what jobs he could secure at wash an early age.
In the spring of 1858 he was employed by Shelby aMAortas
to go tq Salt Lake Valley in Utah, with an ox wagon train bearing
supplies for the government soldiers, sent to ths seene of murder-
ings and troubles owned by the liormons. General 1,helby (afterwards
of the Confederate Army) had known Jason James an of hie life, ant
understood the integrity and launtlesr spirit of the lad, whom he
knew would assume his nhare of the work with the strongest of the
men employet by him for the outfit.
There were no railroads west of the Miseouri Mirror at that
time and the goverment had established, forts or garrisons in
Kansas, Colorado, Msbratka, Ziw Maximo, *risen& and other parts
of the Wset, as a protestion against Indians. krovisions and army
supplies were sent out by wagon trains from the missouri River
points, whit* were mostly drawn by oxen taking from four to OWTOR
months to haul one load and return.
The wagon train unsigned to Jason Jamel was loaded at the out.
fit establishment between Leavenworth City and Fort Leavenworth.
SsVen months of almost unbelievable hardships passed before he re.
turned again to hie hose in Missouri*
The next spring, in 18596 in spite of the hardships, danger
and InciTering from frozen feet and logs he had undergone on his
first trip, he started with another =MI over the old trail.
Gold had been disoovered late ,n the fall St 1858, near 21kisPeak.
Gold seekers were on the trail everywhere, in wagons of every des.
oription, making the journey less desolate end dangerous* However,
no matter how hanardous the journey would have been, Captain James
would have taken the trail just as readily as he had begun the trip
a year before.
on the 17th of April 1866 Captain James was married to Mine
Mary lisnderson of Carroll iarish Louisiana, Captain Jose* C. Lea,
afterwarde of Roswell, Mew Mexico, was best own and his brother
Judge Frank Lea the second. of honor in the weddine party. Thu*
three men, comrades during fierce battles of the Civil war, renewed
old friendship days in Roswell when Captain Jame_ magi to make that
place his hme in 182, where he began the manarenent of the keoos
Valley Impreveisent and Investmen Company in 1893.
Besides his wife and his wife's sister, Miss Nett Henderson.
the three daughters of his brothelrvotteArod with Captain James in
Roswell. After the death of their W. C. Jamee and mother Bettie
James, the three girls were rained and educated by Captain Janos,
Idly (Mrs. Hobert Kellshin of Roswell) graduated at Hartin College
Pulaski, Tennesse before sousing to make Roswell her home in 1894.
Jennie (Hrs. Robert MeClenny of Roswell) attended Martin College
one year completing her course at 11.11.X4I. at Roswell. Zees (who
married Ben Urton of Roswell) was educated at Yieatherford College
Tense, Her death, from pneumonia, occurred at Roswell in 1929.
The James family after coming to Roswell became leaders in the
Church, ant club and sooial life of the city.
Captain James was a brave soldier, a high ranking Raison and
a friend to all in need of assistance. his death occurred at his
ranch near Uvalde, Texas on September 17, 1933. He lies beside
his wife and near his friends and oomrades of the Civil liar, Cap.
taln Joseph and Judge Frank Lea, who are buried at south -Park elen.
Wry near Roswell.
In 1902 Captain James presented the Zw Mincieo Hilitary in.
stitute with twenty 2, caliber target rifle and ammunition for
the school's first target practice, and superintended the building
of the targets. He wev.: not satisfied that the training of cadilpts
for wars was only marching and manual of arms. Colonel il1son
on having modals engraved for marksmanship had them designated as
the James 14edals (one of these the eon of the writer treaeures as
one of his Institute achievements for marksmanship while a cadet in
1913.
ec,11.4„,
A fund was set saidekfor the oontinuation eaoh year of
presentation of the James Medals.t7-462ftetr-ftweel,
4
In an address delivered to the outlets by Captain JBM08 at one
of the presentations of the medals, he said with great feeling
that those leo heard will never forget !room men, I now present
to you these rifle team medals as an evidenoe of your splendid
work and our appreolation of you. It is for you to see to it
that our flag is never dragged in the dirt, never limited with
impunity, nor lowered in defeat to any of the world powers, great
or am, -11."
On another oocasion, addressing the Uasonio Lodge members
his words in some portions seemed. prophetie of conditions of
today: "Eternal Vigilanoe is the price of Liberty; I feel that
this beautiful country of ours was never intened to be the world's
oommon property to be used as a dumping ground for the refuse of
European Nations. It was reserved by our All -Wise Creator, for
thouslnds of years, as a splendid heritage of the Anglo-Saxon race
and in all probability as an asylum for hiJ' favored people the
Jews."
In closing this same &dress he said, and very truthfully:
inherited an interest in this beautiful country from our hevolution..
ary Fathers. I could in confidence look them in the face and say,
Iliad all that in me lay to preserve and perpetuate for future genera-
tions, unsullied and with blemish, the splendid heritage which you
left me."
olhat more could any man do for his country, for his State and
for his home City of -oswell, than was done by Captain Jason W. James?