Rev. William Eynon James Family

Compiled by Great Great Grandson, Will E. James

William Eynon James (1830-1906) was born in Fishguard, Wales and immigrated to the United States with his new bride Hannah Davies Edmund (1831-1904) in August of 1854.  After some twenty plus years spent in Wisconsin and Illinois, in 1877 he brought his wife and eight surviving children to Rockdale, Milam County, first and then to Caldwell in 1878.  He was called to serve as the pastor at Dove Baptist Church (later called First Baptist Church – Caldwell) on two occasions, from 1878-1882, and from 1889-1892, where his children and grandchildren and even great grandchildren have remained active to this day.  He lived in Caldwell for 23 years and pastored at other near-by churches, as well.  His headstone in Bowie, Texas reads: A Minister of the Gospel – 46 years.

Margaretta Ann James Coffield (1855-1927) was their oldest child, who married Captain William T. Coffield (1844-1924) of Rockdale in 1879 and later moved to Bowie, Texas.  They had three sons.

Gwilym Eynon James (1859-1928) was their oldest son and  a fifty year resident of Caldwell.  He married Alma Farmer (1860-1946) of Caldwell and had 8 children, though only three reached adulthood.  They had one son, Hugh Eynon James, who spent 55 years of his life as a banker in Pendleton and Temple, and two daughters, Lelia “Maude” James Taylor of Temple, a music teacher, and Miriam “Ray” James Broaddus, a music teacher and 91-year resident of Caldwell.  G.E. James was a dry goods merchant, alderman, school board member, and active member of the Baptist church, where he served as Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Church Clerk, a Deacon for 28 years (and chairman for 18).  He was one of the most competent and faithful members of the church choir.

Dr. Adoniram “Judson” James (1861-1945) married Annie C Moore (1864-1930) of Polk County, Texas and had four children.  He received his formal medical training in Illinois and Galveston, and spent his career in the Houston area.

T. O. “Taddy” James (1863-1934) married Mary Elizabeth Maughan (1862-1926) of Wisconsin and had two children, William Edmund James and Elise Mae James.  He spent most of his life in the Texas panhandle area and New Mexico as a rancher.

Claudia “Calista” James Ousley (1865-1894) married Euzema L. Ousley (1857-1930) in Burleson County.  They moved to Rockdale and had three children before her premature death.

Francis Wayland “FW” James (1868-1949) married Birdie Herald (1877-1952) of Bowie, Texas and had one daughter, Laura Mae James.  He lived in Bowie, Texas for over 47 years.

Jonathan Wade James (1870-1953) married Georgia Alford Watford (1876-1953) of Caldwell in 1901.  They moved to Plainview, Texas and had one son, Lester Wade James.  They lived in Plainview for over 43 years.

Miss Bertha Mae James (1875-1956) moved to Bowie about 1900, and then Fort Worth, Texas, where she was employed for more than 50 years as a teacher, and principal.

Last Update Wednesday, 18-Sep-2024 17:51:30 MDT