My Genealogy Hound

JOHN JAMES, machine draftsman, post-office Verona, Pa., was born in Caermarthen South Wales, Nov. 4, 1841. His grandfather, Evan James, was a brightsmith, as was his father, Hugh James, likewise a No. 1 practical engineer, as was said by all who knew him. Hugh James was born in Breckon, England, and acquired a thorough knowledge of his trade from his father, who located himself at Caermarthen, whence he went to Bristol, England, and worked at Acraman & Jones, engineers, he being one of the parties who worked on the first Atlantic steamer from Bristol, called the Great Britain. Mr. James now has a model of the propeller of this vessel, which was six-bladed. Mr. James married Miss Eleanor George, daughter of John and Elizabeth George, from Cardiganshire. She was born at Caermarthen, and died there, as did Hugh James, being buried at St. David’s church, Lamas street. John James was reared in his native town, where he had access to excellent schools, and made a special study of drawing. When twelve years of age he went into a machine-shop and acquired a mastery of his trade. In 1870 he came to Pittsburgh, and was for a time employed by the Keystone No. 1 Bridge company, then engaged in building the famous St. Louis bridge. In September, 1871, he engaged as a machinist with the A. V. R. R. Co., and for two or three years has been engaged in making drawings. He became a resident of Verona in 1876, and owns two houses on Penn street. Mr. James has a sister, Elizabeth Bower, now a widow, having buried her husband, Henry Bower, July 17, 1888, and is now residing with her two sons, David and Henry Bower. Both are members of the Masonic fraternity, and reside at South Side, Pittsburgh. David is a blacksmith, as was his father, and Henry is a machinist. The mother was born at Caermarthen, and is now (1889) fifty-six years old. Of her two sons, David was born at East St. Louis, Ill., and Henry at Llanelly, Caermarthenshire, Wales.

Mr. James is a member of the Episcopal Church, of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. In 1866 he was married to Miss Diana Jones, daughter of Evan and Mary Jones, and a native of Wales. Of seven children born to this couple six survive, as follows: Jane Eleanor, Elizabeth, John Hugh, Mary, William David and Nelly. Margaretta, the third child, died when less than two years old and was buried at Allegheny cemetery. Mrs. James has one brother, Thomas Jones, in Illinois, and also a nephew and a niece near Peoria, Ill., they having buried their father and mother some eleven or twelve years ago; their names are Peter and Mary Davies. Her brother, John Jones, is at present at New Tredegar, Monmouthshire, England.