Husband Henry F. James 1 2 3
Born: 3 Dec 1841 - Nantucket, Nantucket Co, MA 1 2
Christened:
Died: 7 Nov 1911 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 4
Buried:
Father: Edwin James (1808-1868) 2 5
Mother: Sarah G. Sandbury (1815-1902) 5
Marriage: 7 Jan 1866 1 2 6
• Business: : Sugarcreek Twp, Venango Co, PA.
Wife Susan M. Hunter 2 6
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1919
Buried:
Children
1 F Bertha H. James 2 6
Born: 1867 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Charles H. Hollister ( - ) 6
Marr: 1897 - ? Venango Co, PA
2 M Frank A. James 2 7
Born: 13 May 1871 - Nantucket, Nantucket Co, MA 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Lois Homan ( - ) 6
Marr: 1893 - ? Venango Co, PA
General Notes: Husband - Henry F. James
He was born December 5. [CAB, 615]
He learned the cooper trade, and subsequently engaged in the whaling business. In 1861 he came to Venango County, Pennsylvania; in February, 1865, he located at Pithole as superintendent for A. R. Williams. In 1871 he removed to Sugar Creek township to accept the position of superintendent for the Franklin Pipe Line Company, and soon afterward leased one hundred and fifty acres of the McCalmont farm, and engaged in oil operating. He developed sixty wells on this farm. Politically he was a Republican; he always took a deep interest in the progress of education, and was secretary of the school board in his district. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and the K. of P., and was one of the well-known and enterprising citizens of his adopted county.
He grew up at Nantucket, Massachusetts, attending school up to the age of twelve years. During the next two years he was employed in fishing, from the shores to the island, and when fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of cooper with David Folger, Esq., with whom he remained two and a half years. But a seafaring life had more attraction for him, and he became engaged in whaling, which he followed until he became interested in the mineral oils of western Pennsylvania and found his way to fortune. He went around the world three or four times. He first came to Venango County, Pennsylvania, in 1861, and spent a year working in the oil fields on Oil creek, after which he made another three years' voyage, his last cruise, before returning to this section in February, 1865. At that time he located at Pithole, becoming superintendent for A. R. Williams, and in 1871 he came to Franklin to take the position of superintendent of the first pipe line, the Franklin Pipe Line in Sugarcreek Township, continuing in that capacity for a little over six years. In the latter part of this period, about 1875, he became interested in oil operations on his own account, buying a valuable lease which covered the oil rights on about 140 acres of the McCalmont farm, lying on a hill one mile north of Franklin, in Sugarcreek Township. There were only four wells in operation on this property when it came into his hands. By February, 1878, he had increased the production to such an extent that he was obliged to resign the superintendency, his brother Horace taking his place, and a year later he had twenty-two producing wells with a total yield of five hundred barrels per month, with the price at four dollars and a quarter a barrel. His native intelligence and broad grasp of business principles brought him to the front among progressive operators, and he was quick to see the advantages of consolidating the various departments of his work, connecting all his pumps with one engine and in other ways availing himself of up-to-date ideas for facilitating business and getting the full worth of his equipment. Several important innovations were the substantial results of the exercise of his ingenuity, and he took out patents for drilling and pumping devices of his own invention, soon ranking with the leading operators of the region. By 1890 he had developed sixty wells in all and had thirty flowing, and the yield was so high that at one time he was getting nine hundred barrels monthly out of about twenty wells. He continued prospecting and drilling until he had thirty-six active wells, though the yield decreased in volume, amounting to but one hundred barrels a month. Though interested in many fields Mr. James had his oil interests centered in this lease, and he was active in business until his death.
He made his home on the McCalmont tract from the time he became interested in its exploitation, later, in 1878, building the James home at Rocky Grove, on the McCalmont tract, in the northern part of the town, later the residence of Mr. Bacon. Rocky Grove always counted him among her most valuable and public-spirited citizens. From early life he took a deep interest in education, agriculture and politics, and was zealous in the promotion of all progressive measures and a moving spirit in the inception of various projects for advancing social conditions in his community. Always solicitous of those around him, and diligent in helping toward the betterment of all classes, he was especially mindful of the young and particularly enthusiastic in securing the best possible school facilities for his district, being one of a small group at Rocky Grove who were ever willing to sacrifice time and money in that cause. He served several years on the Sugarcreek school board, was its secretary, and spent the closing hours of his life with one of his fellow directors, Mr. C. D. Phipps, in school visiting, the last summons coming suddenly. Mr. Phipps writes thus of his old friend and associate:
Henry F. James was a gentleman of the old school. Like Homer, he lived by the side of the road and was a friend of man, hospitable at home and abroad. While his conduct in public and private life was above reproach, he showed at his best at his own fire-side. To him his happy home, brightened by a devoted wife, filial daughters and dutiful sons, was the dearest and sweetest spot on earth, and he believed that every man's home should be his palace. He served in the Pennsylvania legislature with honor to himself and his constituents, and though always a Republican in principle was ever a hearty supporter of what was best, nothing being potent enough to swerve him from his duty to the right or from his friends. No one ever stayed with his friends and dealt justly better than he. His ability as a peacemaker was well exemplified in his services as justice of the peace, all who came to him going home friends, and none going away without kind words and advice. Adhering to no church, he gave liberally to all. He never used tobacco or spirituous liquors, and was a strong advocate of Prohibition. [CAB, 616]
General Notes: Wife - Susan M. Hunter
of Nantucket, MA