George O. James was born in Ash county, North Carolina, April 14, 1806. When a child, he, with his father's family, removed to Kentucky, and from that State to Morgan county, Illinois. Mr. James travelled from the latter county to Whiteside in 1835, on horseback, first stopping at Elkhorn, where he remained about six months. At the expiration of that time he made a claim on section 9 in the north part of Mt. Pleasant, where he still lives. For the first two years of his residence in the township, he lived in a cabin in the timber on section 5. Mr. James has been a hard-working farmer all his life, and assisted much in the development of the country.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Fatherkill, November 1, 1830, who died in 1831, about one year after marriage. On February 9, 1836; Mr. James married Miss Margaret Thomas, who died January 6, 1866. On January 6, 1870, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Jane S. Mecem, of Pennsylvania. Mr. James is the father of William S., born September 14, 1831; Anthony A., born August 26, 1837 (died 12 May 1917 buried in Grove Hill Cemetery); Elizabeth J., born Apri1 5, 1840; Adam C., born March 27, 1842; Anna L., born December 11, 1845. William S. married Miss Rosanna Shepler, and lives in Fenton; Anthony A., married Miss Anna Norrish, and lives in Clyde; Elizabeth J. married Hiram Smith, and lives in Story county, Iowa; Adam C. married Miss Mabel Robertson, and lives in New York; Anna L. married John Little, and lives in Iowa.
Biography from Bent & Wilson - History of Whiteside County 1877, Page 298
