The James Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

Francis James with wife and two servants, Thomas Sucklin and Richard Baxter, came from Hingham, England, in 1638, and settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, of which he became a proprietor and he was admitted a freeman, May 10, 1643. His house was burned in May, 1647, and he died December 27 of the same year; his widow, Elizabeth, was appointed administratrix and July 12, 1688, she administered on the estate of her son Philip. Francis James owned land at Cohasset.

Philip James, brother of Francis James, was born in England and came thither with wife and four children and two servants, William Pitts and Edward Mitchell, from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. He died soon afterward. His widow, Jane, married (second) February, 1640, George Russell.

Francis, son of Philip James, named for his uncle, according to the weight of evidence, was probably born in England. He died in Hingham, Massachusetts, November 29, 1684, intestate. His widow Elizabeth was administratrix of his estate. He was a farmer at Hingham Center. Children, born at Hingham:

1. Elizabeth James, died April 11, 1660.
2. Sarah James, born February 27, 1661-62.
3. Jane James, November 6, 1664.
4. Francis James, January 25, 1666-67.
5. Thomas James, December 3, 1669.
6. Philip James, died February 15, 1687-88.
7. Samuel James, born April 6, 1676.

Francis James, a descendant several generations later of Francis James (II), was born about 1760. The vital records of the town of Sherburn, now Nantucket, Island of Nantucket, show that he married, February 3, 1783, Elizabeth Milton. She died about 1850, aged ninety-one years. In 1790, according to the first federal census, he had two sons and a daughter under sixteen years. The census shows but two other families on Nantucket in 1790, Abigail, whose family consisted of three females, and Hart whose family consisted of four females. Abigail was the widow of Robert Alsop James, whom she married at Sherburn, Nantucket, May 15, 1777. All three families were probably closely related.

Edwin James, son or grandson of Francis James, was born on the Island of Nantucket, April 10, 1808, and there spent his life. He attended the public schools and learned the trade of ropemaker, following it with industry and skill. In early life he was a Whig, later a Republican. He died at Nantucket, August 14, 1868. He and his family were Methodists. He married (first) August 30, 1826, Sarah G. Cash, born December 27, 1807, died December 27, 1833. He married (second) at Nantucket, Sarah G. Sandbury, born at Nantucket, September 13, 1815, died March 21, 1902. Children: the first five by first wife; the remaining children by second wife.

1. Edwin James, born at Nantucket, August 30, 1827, died in infancy.
2. Edwin C. James, born at Nantucket, March 10, 1829, died in 1871; was a whaler and cooper by trade; married Charlotte R. James, a cousin, who died in Nantucket; children:
   1. Nellie James, lives at Nantucket, unmarried.
   2. Eveline James, married John Smith, foreman of a lumber company at Nantucket.
3. Roland B. James, born July 17, 1830, died in infancy.
4. Phoebe Ann James, born May 5, 1832, died in infancy.
5. Sarah G. James, born December 11, 1833, died in 1834.
6. Walter Bunker James, born September 2, 1836, died at Nantucket, in 1905.
7. Alexander James, August 5, 1838, died April 6, 1912; was a cooper in Fair Haven, Massachusetts; married Nellie Haskill, of New Bedford, who died in 1900.
8. Lydia C. James, born June 22, 1840; married Benjamin B. Long, of Nantucket, a painter by trade, who died in 1904, at Nantucket, where his widow lives with two children:
   1. Carrie J. Long, born 1866, unmarried.
   2. Anna T. Long, born 1869, unmarried.
9. Henry F. James, born December 5, 1841, died November 7, 1911; married Susan Hunter, of Nantucket; he was a whaler and afterward an oil producer at Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he died; his widow lives at Franklin, Pennsylvania; their children:
   1. Bertha James, born 1866, married Charles Hollister, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, an oil worker and storekeeper, and has a child:
      1. Henry James Hollister, born June 1, 1901.
   2. Frank James, born 1871, an oil producer, married Louise Holman, of Franklin.
10. Obed Sandsbury James, of whom further.
11. Isabelle L. James, born May 23, 1845, died in 1908; married William H. Gibbs, of Nantucket, a seaman and merchant, who died in 1904; children:
    1. Two children, died young.
    2. Alice Gibbs, born 1862, married Charles Marks, of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, now a farmer on Nantucket, children:
       1. Mary Marks, born 1888.
       2. Harold Marks, 1893.
       3. Horace Marks, 1896.
12. Sarah E. James, born April 11, 1847, died in 1892; married George Andrews, of Nantucket, a painter, now living at Chelsea, Massachusetts, and had two children:
    1. Charles Andrews, born 1874, married and has children, lives in Boston, engaged in the automobile business,
    2. Dwight Andrews, born 1876, a resident of Boston.
13. Andrew C. James, born November 1, 1849, died December 6, 1852.
14. Ferdinand James, born October 12, 1851, died December 19, 1852.
15. Clarence A. James, born November 28, 1853, died June 17, 1865.
16. Horace A. James, born February 6, 1856; unmarried; lives at Plainville, Connecticut, where he is in the dry goods business.
17. Carrie H. James, born May 28, 1857, died February 26, 1865.

Sarah G. Sandbury’s father was James Sandbury, who was born July 2, 1782, in Sweden, whence he came to Nantucket and settled, following the occupation of whaler and mariner. He began in early youth to follow the sea as cabin boy for Captain West. He died at Nantucket, in 1860. He married, October 18, 1808, Anne Cleveland, born February 7, 1789, at Nantucket, died there about 1850.

Obed Sandbury James, son of Edwin James, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, September 18, 1843. 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 has always been 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 Mr. James became an oil producer, following the development of different fields. In 1889 he located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he has since made his home, residing at 238 South avenue. In business he has been fortunate and successful. In the course of business he has 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 is also a member of Bradford Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He attends the United Brethren church. In politics he is an uncompromising, stalwart Republican, but has 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.

Mr. James married, November 10, 1868, Elizabeth C. Russell, born at Titusville, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1850, daughter of John Russell. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Obed Sandbury James:

1. Horace Greeley James, born December 31, 1869, in Titusville, Pennsylvania; married Ruth Valjean Murray, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Alfred Murray, oil operator; they live at Independence, Kansas, where Mr. James publishes and edits the Independence Daily Reporter.
2. Wayland Victor James, born near Titusville, November 30, 1871; he is a lawyer at Springfield, Massachusetts; married Ida E. Flower, of Springfield, Massachusetts; have one child:
   1. Elizabeth James, born January 26, 1901.
3. Ida M. James, born at Petrolia, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1873, died at Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1878.
4. Gertrude M. James, born at Petrolia, December 24, 1874; married Charles Eugene Putnam, born February 15, 1873, in Bradford, Pennsylvania; superintendent of an electrical car heating factory in Detroit, Michigan; their children, born at Bradford:
   1. Pearl Gertrude Putnam, June 24, 1896.
   2. Margaret Delphine Putnam, February 15, 1898.
   3. Wayland Arthur Putnam, May 3, 1900.
   4. Horace James Putnam, August 20, 1904.
5. Edra Mabel James, born at Franklin, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1882; unmarried; is assistant superintendent of the Bradford Hospital.

Mrs. James is a member of the Protected Home Circle of Bradford and of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in which she has been superintendent of scientific temperance instruction. She attends the United Brethren church.

The Russell Line

According to tradition the Russell family is descended from Sir John Russell, of England.

(I) John Russell

John Russell, the first of the line of whom we have information, was a native of New York state, from whence he removed to one of the western states. He married and had thirteen children, among whom were

1. John Russell.
2. Benjamin Russell.
3. George Russell.

(II) John (2) Russell

John (2), son of John (1) Russell, was born near Elmira, New York, April 13, 1817, died May 6, 1896, at Sistersville, West Virginia, from injuries received by being struck by a railroad train. He was a farmer, and in politics a Republican. He married (first) February 4, 1840, Content Woodward, who was born September 29, 1817, near Elmira, New York, and died March 8, 1842. He married (second) May 31, 1848, Harriet Matilda Corbin, who was born October 14, 1830, and died April 17, 1902, and was a native of New York state, and a descendant of an old New England family. Children of John Russell: Sarah by his first wife; the remaining children by second wife.

1. Sarah Russell, born 1841, died in Elmira.
2. Elizabeth C. Russell, of whom further.
3. Francis Lafayette Russell, born December 9, 1851, died August 8, 1889; married Hannah Widell, of Buffalo, New York, where she now lives; he was an engineer; their children:
   1. Charles Russell, died in infancy.
   2. Hattie Russell, lives in Buffalo.
   3. Alma Russell, lives in New York City.
   4. Myrtle Russell, deceased.
   5. William Russell, lives in Buffalo.
4. Marshall Fidelon Russell, born February 28, 1854, near Titusville; married Martha Blystone, of Kittanning, Pennsylvania; he is in the oil business and lives at Sandusky, Ohio; their children:
   1. Judson Russell, born 1875.
   2. Willis Russell, 1877.
   3. Bertha Russell, 1882.
   4. Arthur Russell, 1886.
   5. Hubert Russell, 1890.
   6. Lloyd Russell, 1894.
5. Wallis B. Russell, born February 24, 1856, died July 8, 1856.
6. Eber E. Russell, born April 1, 1858; married Lizzie Oakes, of Lima, Ohio, and lives at Ada, Ohio, where he is in the confectionery business.
7. Clarence Russell, born June 10, 1860, died in 1898; he was a rigger by trade; married (first) December 12, 1883, Kate M. Higgins, married (second) Maude —–, a native of Indiana, where she now resides. Children:
   1. Two children, by first marriage, died in infancy.
   2. A son, by second marriage, born in 1900.
   3. Gladys Russell, by second marriage, born 1902.
8. Leister Gordon Russell, born March 16, 1862; married, September 16, 1885, Mary E. Courtney, of Pittsburgh; he is a confectioner at Norwalk, Ohio; their children:
   1. Merl Russell, born 1888.
   2. Myrtle Russell, 1890.
   3. Twila Russell, 1894.
   4. Dorothy Russell, 1902.
   5. Hazel Russell.
9. Fanny Rosella Russell, born September 4, 1864; married, September 14, 1881, Tobias F. Miller, of Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, a painter, living at Franklin, Pennsylvania; their children:
   1. Fred Miller, born 1884.
   2. Gilbert Miller, 1886.
   3. Edna Miller, 1890.
   4. Francis Miller, 1897.
10. Myrtle Edith Russell, born January 24, 1867, died unmarried in 1889, at Bolivar, New York.
11. Charles M. Russell, born December 25, 1872; a rigger by trade; married and has a family.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.