Inscription:

WILLIAM JAMES
HUSBAND OF
EVELINE JAMES
BORN
May 27, 1803
DIED
Mar. 31, 1875
AGED
71 Y. 10 M. 4 D.

William James
Birth: 27 May 1803
Death: 31 March 1875
Burial: Cold Water Cemetery, Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri

Family members buried in Cold Water Cemetery:
Children: Mary Jane James Russell and William H. James

Census:
1850 Census: District 82, St Louis, Missouri; Roll: M432_414; Page: 474A; Image: 426. Household Members: William James 48, Eveline James 34, Mary J. James 10, John R. James 8, Amanda E. James 7, William H. James 1 month. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Will of William James:
I, William James, in the county of Saint Louis and the state of Missouri; do make this my last Will and Testament.

First – I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Mary Jane Russell, wife of William R. Russell, of Saint Louis County, the following piece or parcel of land (to wit) Beginning at the southeast corner of land purchased by me from Thomas Hopkins estate on James Richardson’s line, a stone from which a white oak (24) twenty-four inches diameter bears (N 23º W) north twenty-three degrees west, distant seventy-three links and a white oak eighteen inches in diameter bears north seventeen and three-quarters of a degree east, distant eighty-eight links. Thence north fifty-three degrees west, with Richardson’s line, a sufficient distance, so that a line runs parallel with the eastern lines of the Hopkins purchase ——– includes just sixty-six acres. To have and to hold the said premises, with the appurtenances to her the said Mary Jane Russell, to the sole and separate use of her and her children, free from the interference or control of her said Husband, and to her and her children after this forever.

Secondly, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved and youngest Daughter, Margaret Eveline James the following described tract or parcel of land – Beginning at the southwest corner of the above-described tract of Mary Jane Russell on the Richardson line. Thence north fifty-three degrees West with the Richardson line so far that a line runs parallel with the western line of Mary Jane Russell will include seventy-nine and sixty-hundredths of an acre – including also my dwelling ——-, well and barn north of the dwelling and to have and to hold the said premises with the appurtenances to her the said Margaret Eveline James to her sole and separate use free from the interference or control of her Husband (should she ever marry) and to her and her heirs forever – This child Margaret is my youngest, has yet to be raised and educated at her own cost, and for the purpose of giving her some ——– ——- I will her this advantage over my other children, which I think reasonable.

Thirdly – I give, devise and bequeath unto my son John Robert James the following tract or parcel of land to wit beginning at the southwest corner of the land above described tract of Margaret Eveline James on the Richardson line, thence north fifty-three degrees west with said Richardson’s line, so far that a line run parallel with the western line of Margaret Eveline James will include sixty-seven acres (This includes one-acre heretofore needed for school purposes) to have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

Fourthly – I will devise and bequeath to my beloved daughter Amanda Elizabeth Smith wife of Thomas W. Smith of Callaway County, Missouri, the following described piece or parcel of land: The residue of my home track containing about twenty-six acres. Together with a lot adjoining and lying west of the same, that I received in a partition of my father James James’s estate, containing forty acres – making in the whole about sixty-six acres. To have and to hold the said premises, with the appurtenances to her the said Amanda Elizabeth Smith and her children to their sole and separate use, free from the interference or control of her said husband and to her and her heirs forever.

Further – My Personal property I leave to be disposed of the hereafter as I may think proper and I hereby appoint my son John R. James as my sole executor of this my last will and testament, in regard to any real estate, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of December A.D. 1865.
William James
Witnessed by:
Signed and declared by the above named William James to be his last Will and Testament (of his real estate) in the presence of us, who at his request, and in his presence, have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto,
Joseph L. Hyatt
Ben. Douglass