Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/247

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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is a strong Democratic sympathizer, and is a communicant of the Baptist church.

Dr. Martin married Catherine E. Skikes, born in Northampton county, North Caro- lina, September i, 1880, daughter of John A. and Nannie (Carter) Skikes, the cere- mony being solemnized May 12, 1904. They are the parents of: \"irginia C, born in Richmond, Virginia, May 24, 1909; Mary Lou, born in Northampton county, North Carolina, January 27, 191 1; Catherine Louise, born in Northampton county, North Carolina, xA.ugust 17, 1912.

Benjamin Oliver James. There were sev- eral emigrant ancestors by the name of James, who founded families in America during the colonial times. At the close of the revolutionary war there were some twenty-five or more heads of families of that name in Virginia, who were scattered in a number of counties of that state. A family tradition handed down in this par- ticular branch of the James family is to the effect that the antecedents of this family settled in Charles City county near the James river early in the seventeenth cen- tury ; and in Hotten's lists of emigrants from the port of London to be transported to Virginia there appears the following names, to wit: In a list dated January 22, 1632, William James ; in a list dated Janu- ary 2, 1634, Thomas James ; in a list dated May 15, 1635, William James; in a list dated August 21, 1635, Lewis James, Richard James, minister Richard James, and Ursula James; and in a list dated October 13, 1635, Roger James. It is probable that the emi- grant ancestor of the Charles City county, Virginia, family of James, was some one in the above mentioned lists ; but as to which one there is no extant lineage record to show.

Also Levi James, an emigrant, had de- scendants who settled in Loudoun county, Virginia, and scattered from there to var- ious other places. He was born about 171 5 in Pembrokeshire, Wales ; married there, in 1740, Mary James, whose family was known as the "Little James," while her husband's family was known as the "Big James," and emigrated to America in 1745. He arrived at the port of Wilmington, Delaware, and settled in, probably, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, where he died in 1757. They had a son, Joseph James, born 1745, during the

ocean voyage of his parents to America; he served in the war of the revolution ; died in 1786, at Bacon Ford, Virginia, leaving sur- viving issue in Loudoun county, Virginia. Another James family was of Westmore- land county, Virginia, prior to the separa- tion from the mother country, whose de- scendants have not been followed.

Martin James was born June 21, 1789, in Goochland county, Virginia. He was a schoolmaster, a farmer and a merchant, and one of the justices of the county for some years ; also served a brief time in the war of 1812, probably in the state militia. He mar- ried Emmaline Duvall, daughter of Clai- borne and Mary (Falconer) Duvall, March 18, 1834, in Spottsylvania county, Virginia. She was born July 26, 1813, in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, and was descended from Huguenot ancestors. Her mother was Alary Falconer, of Orange county, Virginia ; and her father, Claiborne Duvall, was born in Maryland, and was a farmer in Spottsyl- vania county, Virginia.

Benjamin Oliver James, son of Martin and Emmaline (Duvall) James, was born Tune 4. 1852, at Elton, Goochland county, Virginia. He received elementary instruc- tion in the local schools of his native county, and then attended the Hampden-Sidney College of Prince Edward county, Virginia, where he received an academic education. Later he studied law at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, in 1873-74. Soon afterward he began the prac- tice of law at Goochland Court House, Vir- ginia, and about 1882 was elected common- wealth attorney for Goochland county, Vir- ginia. He served two successive terms, be- ing re-elected ; afterward he was elected a member of the house of delegates for the session 1891-92, and served on the commit- tees of courts and judiciary. Federal rela- tions, and of the Chesapeake and its trib- utaries. He continued to practice law in Goochland county until he was appointed by the governor to fill an unexpired term of secretary of the commonwealth, in October, 1909. At the state elections held in No- vember, 1909, he was elected secretary of state for the ensuing term, and has served four years in that office. He was a candi- date for re-election to the same of^ce in 191 3, and was elected at the November elections of that year. Mr. James has al- wavs been a stanch Democrat, and has for