A family tree

[william richard james]

MIKE BILL of Odessa Pamand I aregoing to work on a tree so everyone who gets on knows who they are wether there kids grandkids or greatgrandkids of frank or bud i know you probably called bud granddad but what did he usally go by of course would have to do your side because were really ignorant of the west coast gang thanks bill

[Melissa James Hoppman]

This would be great to actually see, can not wait to see the end product!!

[Gregory Dean James]

When I was a kid I stayed at Bud's house for several days, I called him grandpa and he told me not to call him grandpa. When asked what I should call him he said "Sonny". Later one day at our house my dad heard me call Bud Sonny and just about kicked my ass.

[Pamela Jo James King]

That is so funny. My dad will love this story. He and his brother, my grandad, must have been quite different. I don't believe I have ever seen a picture of Bud. He lived on what we called the lower place which was about half a mile west of the main house. The house did not have electricity then. The way I understand it he called my grandad and told him that he needed to take care of the barnyard animals because he was going on the traveling threshing crews. So my dad and probably his brother were sent to do that chore. Apparently he migrated to CA not long after and sent for his wife...did he have kids by then? I know the last time he was in Iowa was after Great Grandma James died. Bud and Grandad removed mementos from her house. I am old enought to remember Great Grandma but don't think I met Bud when he was there.

[Mike James]

I was talking to my dad today about coming out to California. Bud was first working up in Washington State then he went down to California. My dad and Grandma hitched a ride with a doctor out from Astor to Raymond, California in the Sierra foothills. Bud got a job as a ranch foreman. My dad was 13 so this would of been around 1936.

The story I like was about Bud was when he would be out with mule plowing the field in Astor, a friend would come by to see if Bud wanted to go have a drink. He would leave the mule and take-off. Apparently the mule always made it home before he did.

[Georgia (Gigi) James Edwards]

I am so glad we are all connecting and talking about all these great stories !!!!
I did not know Great Grandad or Great Grandma James I was born in 1958 which makes me 51.......so i love hearing all this. However my Mom Lois has told me a lot since we started this website it is so interesting......can not wait till we all get to meet and greet each other in Iowa or wherever. We did not call our Grandad Frank anything but "Grandad" except one summer day Jim (my Bro) & I were down in thier basement playing with the receipt books from The James Hardware store.....I was acting like Mimi and Jim suppose to be Grandad..I talking smak.......etc...I said FRANK really loud My Grandad came down those stairs and next thing I knew I was running across the street to the church to pray for my life!!!!