William Rufus James

Male14 February 1886–14 November 1957

Brief Life History of William Rufus

William Rufus James was born on 14 February 1886, in Indian Territory, United States. He married Mary Lou Neel on 27 August 1905, in Craig, Oklahoma, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Sherman, Grayson, Texas, United States in 1930 and Ontario, San Bernardino, California, United States for about 2 years. He died on 14 November 1957, in San Bernardino, California, United States, at the age of 71, and was buried in Ontario, San Bernardino, California, United States.

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Family Time Line

William Rufus James
1886–1957
Mary Lou Neel
1885–1920
Marriage: 27 August 1905
Thomas I James
1907–
John W James
1911–
Blanche Lavona James
1913–1994

Sources (18)

  • William R James, "United States Census, 1910"
  • Wm R James, "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995"
  • William Ruffus James, "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942"

Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    27 August 1905Craig, Oklahoma, United States

    • Children (3)

    World Events (8)

    1889

    Age 3

    The Oklahoma Land Run on April 22, 1889, was the first land rush, or land opened for settlement on a first-come basis, opened to the Unassigned Lands. The land rush lured approximately 50,000 people, saddled with their fastest horses, looking to claim their piece of the newly available two million acres. The requirements included the settler to live and improve on their 160 acres for five years in order to receive the title. Choice land tempted people to hide out and get an early lead on their claim. These people became known as “sooners.” It is estimated that eleven thousand homesteads were claimed. Oklahoma Historical Society - Land Run of 1889

    1890 · The Sherman Antitrust Act

    Age 4

    This Act tried to prevent the raising of prices by restricting trade. The purpose of the Act was to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuse.

    1905 · Construction of the Praetorian Building

    Age 19

    Texas completed the construction of the Praetorian Building (Stone Plane Tower) in 1909. It was the first skyscraper in Texas and the Southwestern United States. The building had 15 stories and was 190 ft tall.

    Name Meaning

    English and Welsh: from the Middle English personal name James. Introduced to England by the Normans, this is an Old French form of Late Latin Iacomus, a variant of Latin Iacobus, Greek Iakōbos, the New Testament rendering of Hebrew Ya‘aqob (see Jacob ). The medieval Latin (Vulgate) Bible distinguished between Old Testament Iacob (which was uninflected) and New Testament Iacobus (with inflections). The latter developed into James in medieval French. The distinction was carried over into the King James Bible of 1611, and Jacob and James remain as separate names in English usage. Most European languages, however, make no such distinction, so that forms such as French Jacques , stand for both the Old and the New Testament names. This surname is also very common among African Americans. Compare Jack .

    Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

    Possible Related Names

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