Life Events – webtrees

Media file	Title: Life Events Media type: story Format:
Record ID number	598e5c08-69d7-440a-a09d-74f71ee93429
OBJE:_META	<metadataxml><content><line><p></p></line><line /><line><div class="noprint"></line><line><div class="pubnation" data-target="div-gpt-ad-1457972092551-2">ad feedback</div></line><line></div></line><line /><line><p></p></line><line /><line><tbody></line><line><tr></line><line><td class="gr" colspan="2" align="CENTER" valign="TOP"><span class="plus2" style="font-size: small;"><strong>Thomas Martin James</strong></span></td></line><line></tr></line><line><tr></line><line><td class="grTabs" colspan="2" align="CENTER" valign="TOP"></line><line><div id="fgTab" class="noprint"></line><line><ul></line><line><li id="current"><a title="Click to View Memorial Page" href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=61426758">Memorial</a></li></line><line><li><a title="Click to View Photos" href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&amp;GRid=61426758">Photos</a></li></line><line><li><a title="Click to View Flowers" href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=dfl&amp;GRid=61426758">Flowers</a></li></line><line><li style="float: right;"><a title="Click to make changes to memorial" href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=editGr&amp;GRid=61426758">Edit</a></li></line><line><li class="addthis_button" style="float: right;"><a title="Click to share or print this page" href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&amp;pubid=ra-4f60bb8c15ac2b31">Share</a></li></line><line></ul></line><line></div></line><line></td></line><line></tr></line><line><tr></line><line><td class="grAdBar noprint" colspan="2" align="CENTER" valign="TOP"><a href="https://secure.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=ra&amp;RAid=61426758"><span class="plus1" style="font-size: xx-small;">Learn about removing the ads from this memorial...</span></a></td></line><line></tr></line><line><tr></line><line><td class="gr" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="DCD0CF" width="315"></line><line><table width="315" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1"></line><line><tbody></line><line><tr></line><line><td align="center" valign="top" bgcolor="cbc0bF"></line><line><table width="315" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"></line><line><tbody></line><line><tr></line><line><td align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="DCD0CF"></line><line><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"></line><line><tbody></line><line><tr></line><line><td valign="top">Birth:&nbsp;</td></line><line><td align="left" valign="top">Apr. 8, 1823<br>Logan County<br>Kentucky, USA</td></line><line></tr></line><line><tr></line><line><td valign="top">Death:&nbsp;</td></line><line><td align="left" valign="top">Dec. 25, 1901<br>Kansas City<br>Jackson County<br>Missouri, USA</td></line><line></tr></line><line><tr></line><line><td colspan="2" valign="top"><br><br>Before moving to Kansas City, Thomas Martin James operated a store in Todd County, Kentucky, and was a parter in a trading company serving Sac and Fox Indians.<br>Upon arrival in Kansas City, he founded the T. M. James Co., built the James building, operated a warehouse and a retail store where he sold Queen's Ware, Wedgwood and Spode china and art objects. After his death, his two surviving sons, both graduates of Brown University, operated the company. Later the store was sold to Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards.<br><br><strong>Queensware</strong><br>The wholesale and retail queensware house of T. M. James, corner Main and Seventh, sold goods during the year ending 31 August, 1869, amounting to $75,000.<br>Mr. James is one of Kansas City's oldest citizens, and is in business since the incorporation of the city in 1858. He linked his fate to her destiny when young, rising and falling with her fortunes, till at length he came out triumphantly, and is now one of her wealthiest merchants. He keeps on hand every description of queensware, and does a very extensive business, both wholesale and retail. His integrity and uprightness in trade have won the confidence of the community.<br>From an article about business in Kansas City appearing in the 1870 City Directory, page 19<br><br><strong>T.M. JAMES DEAD.<br>Was a Leading Business Man and the<br>Oldest Citizen of Kansas City.</strong><br>T.M. James, founder and many years head of the queensware house of T.M. James &amp; Sons and for more than 40 years a prominent factor in Kansas City affairs, died this afternoon at his home, 927 Harrison street. His health had been failing when he was injured by a cable car near Ninth and Grand avenue during February of the present year. <br>James was not only one of the wealthiest, best known and most prominent citizens of Kansas City, but he was also the oldest. He came here in March, 1851. The place was then known as Westport Landing, and had a population of a few hundred. So far as is known there is not now residing in Kansas City a single person who lived here at that times. <br>Mr. James was a native of Kentucky and was almost 79 years of age. Kansas City was known as Westport Landing when he came here and engaged in the milling business.<br>During the war Mr. James was a Union sympathizer, but he resolved to take no part in the hostilities, and to this adhered strictly, excepting upon one occasion. This was when Gen. Sterling Price was almost hourly expected to descend upon Kansas City with a Confederate army. Then Mr. James, with every other able-bodied citizen, was pressed into service by the Union officers for the town's protection. With tools in his hand and a gun by his side he helped to build a fort and fortify the east side of the hill on which the Coates house now stands.<br>His peaceful attitude during that turbulent time did not save him from trouble. His Union sentiments were well known and he was frequently threatened by Confederate soldiers and sympathizers. Many of the Union men, on the other hand, regarded him as lukewarm and were bitter toward him. But he had equal amounts of moral and physical courage and the threats of neither side were sufficient to swerve him from the course he had determined to follow. By his bravery he on one occasion saved the life of Maj. Ranson, of the Union army. A band of guerrillas, learning Maj. Ranson was here, came in search of him, sworn to kill him if they found him. They did find him at the corner of Seventh and Main streets and covered him with their guns. Mr. James ran between Maj. Ranson and his intended slayers and gave Ranson a chance to escape, which he very quickly took advantage of.<br>Mr. James amassed a fortune of nearly $1,000,000. He was prominent in Baptist affairs, having practically given every Baptist church in the city its start. His benefactions to the Calvary Baptist church alone exceeded $95,000.<br>Mr. James was uncle to Frank and Jesse James, but would never discuss them in any way. He leaves a widow and two sons. <br>The Kansas City Star<br>25 Dec 1901<br><br><strong>From Missouri Record of Death Roster:</strong><br>Jackson County, Page 64, #8862<br>&bull; James, Thomas Martin<br>&bull; 25 Dec 1901<br>&bull; Male<br>&bull; White<br>&bull; Age: 78<br>&bull; Married<br>&bull; Born: Kentucky<br>&bull; Place of death: 427 Harrison<br>&bull; Cause of death: White cerebral softening<br>&bull; Reporting physician: F W Rathbone<br><br><strong>From cemetery records:</strong><br>&bull; James, T M<br>&bull; Burial: 28 Dec 1901<br>&bull; Undertaker: Stine<br>&bull; Burial fee: $7<br>&bull; Section 30 Lot 3</td></line><line></tr></line><line></tbody></line><line></table></line><line></td></line><line></tr></line><line></tbody></line><line></table></line><line></td></line><line></tr></line><line></tbody></line><line></table></line><line></td></line><line></tr></line><line></tbody></line><line /></content></metadataxml>
OBJE:_CREA	2021-04-16 01:35:32.000
OBJE:_CLON	_TID: 56657840 _PID: 120014080315 _OID: 484a60f8-4ea1-46fd-84c6-9f9f68136865
OBJE:_ORIG	u
Unique identifier	134B54E7ACAF4E4397D8284A1316571C023E

Alive Dead Death>100 Death<=100 Birth>100 Birth<=100 Roots Leaves
Given names	Surname	Sosa	Birth		Place		Death		Age	Place	Last change
Thomas Martin James Thomas Martin James ,FOUNDER OF THE T. M. JAMES CO. Thomas Martin James ,FOUNDER OF THE T. M. JAMES CO. Father: John Martin James Reverend Mother: Mary Polly Poor				April 8, 1823	201	Logan, Kentucky, United States	0	December 25, 1901	122	78	Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, United States of America	Never	M	YES	YES

Both alive Widower Widow Both dead Roots Leaves Not married Marriage>100 Marriage<=100 Divorce Multiple marriages
Given names	Surname	Age	Given names	Surname	Age	Marriage		Place		Last change