History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 47
James of West Greenwich and his grandfather, William James of
Exeter, all of Rhode Island. His father died January 22, 1888, and
his mother September 1, 1893 and both are interred in Wood
River cemetery, near Wyoming, Rhode Island. The James family
is of English lineage and came to New England in an early day but
at the present time are well scattered thi-oughout the United States.
P. M. James received his secondary education in Providence
Conference Seminary at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, the high
school at Mendota, Illinois, at the University of Illinois and by
private study. He was a teacher for many years,—was superin-
tendent of schools at El Paso and Amboy and county superintend-
ent of schools of Lee county, all in Illinois. He was admitted to the
bar in 1881 and in 1882 he resigned his position in the Amboy
schools and opened a law office in the Vaughan block in Amboy,
where he has since remained. He is a director in the First National
Bank of Amboy, president of the Sanitary Creamery Company,
vice president of the Jones-Berry Lumber Company and of the
Colson Clothing Company,
At Amboy, on December 25, 1878, Mr. James was manied to
Miss Lottie L. Vaughan, a daughter of C. I), and Lomse M. (Balch)
Vaughan of Amboy.
Mr. and Mrs. James are the parents of six children; Harold D.,
born April 12, 1881, Avho has the degrees of A. B., University of
Illinois, and LL. B., Illinois College of Law, and who is practicing
law at Freeport, Illinois; Leonard V., born June 9, 1884, who has
the degrees B. S., M. S. and E. E., University of Illinois, and is at
the present time a member of the faculty of the University, with;
the rank of associate in electrical engineering; Herbert M., born
February 13, 1886, who has the degree B. C. S., New York University,
and at the present time is engaged in audit work in New York
city ; Louise A., born April 22, 1890, who has the degree of A. B.,,
University of Hlinois, and is the wife of Chester H. Forsyth, of Ann
Arbor, Michigan, who is a member of the faculty of the University
of Michigan; Edward A., born February 5, 1893, and at the present
time a junior in electrical engineering at the University of Hlinois;
and Harriet L., born November 18, 1895, who is at the present time
a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of
Hlinois.
In politics, Mr. James is a republican; in church affiliation a
Baptist and he is secretary of the board of education. Ho is -past
master of Illinois Central Lodge, No. 178, A. F. & A. 'M.. past high
priest of Amboy Chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., a member of Dixon