Obed Sandbury James and Elizabeth C. Russell

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Husband Obed Sandbury James ¹

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           Born: 18 Sep 1843 - Nantucket, Nantucket Co, MA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 8 Jan 1915 1
         Buried: 

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         Father: Edwin James (1808-1868) 1 2
         Mother: Sarah G. Sandbury (1815-1902) 1

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Elizabeth C. Russell ^{1 3}

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           Born: 24 Feb 1850 - Titusville, Crawford Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Russell (1817-1896) 4
         Mother: Harriet Matilda Corbin (1830-1902) 4

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Children

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1 M Horace Greeley James ³

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           Born: 31 Dec 1869 - Titusville, Crawford Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Ruth Valjean Murray (      -      ) 3

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2 M Wayland Victor James ³

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           Born: 30 Nov 1871 - near Titusville, Crawford Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Ida E. Flower (      -      ) 3

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3 F Ida M. James ³

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           Born: 25 Jun 1873 - Petrolia, Fairview Twp, Butler Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 26 Nov 1878 - Pleasantville, Oil Creek Twp, Venango Co, PA 3
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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4 F Gertrude M. James ⁴

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           Born: 24 Dec 1874 - Petrolia, Fairview Twp, Butler Co, PA 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Charles Eugene Putnam (1873-      ) 4

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5 F Edra Mabel James ⁴

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           Born: 20 May 1882 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Obed Sandbury James

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He attended the public schools of his native place, and at the age of fourteen began to follow the sea in a whaling vessel, the "Mohawk," on which he remained for two and a half years. On account of the brutality of the mate, he ran away from the ship while it was in an Australian port and traveled several hundred miles on foot through wild and unfrequented portions of the country to reach Melbourne where he believed he would be able to get an opportunity to return home. After a month of hardship and suffering he joined the crew of the ship "Almira," at Mel­bourne, and made his way back to Nantucket. Mr. James' experiences at sea and particularly in Australia left a deep impression upon his mind and character. He was always mindful of others and sought the good rather than the evil in their acts, his experiences teaching him that the good predominates in human nature and that the worth of a man is not to be measured by his misfortunes.
He enlisted, August 10, 1861, in the United States naval service and was mustered out, three years later, August 15, 1864, having taken part in many engagements during the civil war. He was at the capture of New Orleans by Ad­miral Farragut on the ship "Adolph Hugle," which was under heavy fire. He was for eleven days in the siege in front of Vicksburg. Mr. James was promoted to the rank of sailmaker's mate. He was afterward at Pensacola Bay and at Alexandria on guard duty until he was discharged.
After the war he became an oil pro­ducer, following the development of different fields. In 1889 he located in Bradford, Penn­sylvania, where he thereafter made his home, residing at 238 South avenue. In business he was fortunate and successful. In the course of business he had to travel much, making four trips to South America, where he spent nine years altogether, later making a trip to Italy in the interest of his company. He drilled the first oil well ever drilled in South America, in 1865, in northern Peru.
Mr. James was a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 3, United Workmen, and was at one time a mem­ber of Chrozen Lodge, No. 505, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Titusville. He was also a member of Bradford Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He attended the United Brethren church. In politics he was an uncom­promising, stalwart Republican, but never held any public office although taking a keen interest in all public affairs, never failing to vote either at a primary or regular election unless prevented by some unavoidable circum­stance. [GPHAV, 180]

1 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 615.

2 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1044.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 180.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 181.