Barclay Arney James1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 10352, (1842 - 1909)
FatherJames Lawrence James4 (abt 1800 - )
MotherBeulah B. Arney4 (abt 1802 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 1 Oct 1842, Stewart Co., Tennessee5,6,7
Marriage: 25 Jun 1877, Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, Bobella Cobb (3 Sep 1848 - 20 Oct 1922)8,9
Death: 9 Mar 1909, Madison and Tenth Sts., Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee10,11
Burial: 11 Mar 1909, Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee12
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb
Descendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Barclay Arney James was born on 1 Oct 1842 in Stewart Co., Tennessee.5,6,7
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Stewart Co., Tennessee, in the household of his parents, James Lawrence James and Beulah B. Arney.13
     Barclay moved to Clarksville as a child and attended school there.14
     He moved to Kentucky about 1859.15 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, in the household of Giles Lyon Cobb and Marion Catlett.16,17

In the Confederate Army --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Barclay enlisted 16 Aug 1861, as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F, 3rd Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Capt. H. B. Lyon's Company. He reported for duty at Camp Boone, Tennessee. That company later became Cobb's Kentucky Battery.18,19,20 His bay mare, apparently his personal property, was killed 6 Apr 1862 at the battle of Shiloh. It was appraised at $155, and he was paid that amount 27 Nov 1862 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.21
     Barclay was reported as severely wounded, in the right breast and arms, at Jackson, Mississippi. He was sent to the rear. While that report is undated, it probably happened during the battle near that town on 14 May 1863. A second report, at Strong's River dated 24 Jul 1863, shows he was slightly wounded on the right side by a shell and sent to Lauderdale Springs.22,23
     His unit surrendered 9 May 1865, at Paris, Tennessee, and the records show he was paroled 16 May at Nashville. However he is shown as signed with a mark, which is unexpected since he was literate. It may be that it was "signed" for him by someone else and he was not actually there. His obituary states that he surrendered with Johnson's army at Jonesboro, North Carolina, which happened 26 Apr 1865. That seems unlikely as there is no record of any of his unit being there. The report in the obituary that he was again severely wounded, and his brother killed, by bushwhackers on his way home may be correct.24,14

A Career as a Commercial Traveler --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Barclay moved to Evansville, Indiana by 1869, when he was working as a clerk for G. Maghee & Co., wholesale dealers in staple and fancy dry goods, at 12 N. 1st,25,26 and boarding at the St. Cloud Hotel.27 By 1874 he was a traveling agent for a firm at 209 Upper 1st, and was boarding at the St. James Restaurant. It was an occupation he would pursue for most of his career.28
     He then became a traveling agent for Mackey, Nisbet & Co. It was a jobber of dry goods and notions, located at 104 Upper 1st. He continued with them until about 1888.29,30,31,32 He was then boarding at the St. George Hotel. He seems to have used that as his residence while in Evansville for many years, while the family home remained in Kentucky.33,34
     Barclay married Bobella Cobb, daughter of Robert Livingston Cobb and Cornelia Barbour Mims, on 25 Jun 1877 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky.8,9
     Barclay's work as traveling agent seems to have kept him on the road much of the time, but his base of operations remained in Evansville. He and Bobella seem to have established their family residence in Eddyville, Kentucky, soon after their marriage.35 They appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, enumerated 1 Jun 1880. Their children Linah and Linda were listed as living with them, as were her daughters, Cornelia and Laura, by her previous marriage.36 Barclay also appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, at 106 First St., enumerated 1 Jun 1880, living with five other salesman, two of them, like himself, shown as married.37
     Barclay and Bobella moved their family home to Paducah about 1882.38

Becoming a Businessman --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     The Evansville Woolen Mills Company was incorporated in 1888, and located at 1st and Bond. By the following year Barclay was working there. He bought an interest in the company and by 1890 was the secretary and treasurer of the firm. By 1896 he had become vice president.39,40
Barcley James Home, 1448 Upper 2nd c. 1895
from Historic Evansville website 41
He also opened a factory in Eddyville, Kentucky, for the manufacture of jeans clothing.14
     In about 1889, with Barclay no longer traveling, he established a more permanent residence at 1048 Upper 1st, Evansville. Whether the family ever moved there at this time is unclear.42
     By 1891 the family was living in Clarksville, boarding at Mrs. Allen Johnson's. By 1892 Barclay regarded Clarksville has his home as well.43,44,45 By 1893 Barclay and Bobella had established another residence in Evansville, at 1448 Upper 2nd.46,47
     He left the woolen mill about 1899, and returned to working as a traveling salesman. By 1903 he was a principal in Leonard, James & Co., manufacturers of mens wear, at 26-28 Main. Two years later he was the manager of the New York Imperial Shirt Co., manufacturers of ladies waking skirts and all kinds of ladies underwear, located at the same address.48,49
     Barclay and Bobella appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, at 1448 Second St., enumerated 6 Jun 1900, reporting that the family owned its home. Their children Linah, Linda, Arney and Robert were listed as living with them, as were three Black servants, Mary Wilson, age 31, Mary Suggs, age 26, and Joseph Stokes, a hostler, age 38.50
     On 10 Mar 1903 Barclay was issued a U.S. patent for a safety-pocket. It involved shield of "wire-gauze" sown into the outer surface of the pocket to prevent a thief from cutting the pocket and stealing the contents.51
     Barclay and Bobella moved to Clarksville in 1906.52,53
     The skirt business in Evansville seems to have closed by 1906. Barclay launched the B. A. James Manufacturing Company in Clarksville, in association with a number of local backers. A "modern plant" was erected in the eastern section of the city and he began the manufacture of skirts. According to an obituary, "Although an important one the venture, unfortunately, was a failure from a financial standpoint, proving a great disappointment to Mr. James, who was deeply interested in the enterprise."54,55
     By 1908 Barclay had returned to being a commercial traveler, working for Hinkle, Barbour & Co., manufacturers of boots and shoes in Evansville.56,57,58
     Barclay died on 9 Mar 1909, at his home at Madison and Tenth Sts., Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, at age 66.10,11 He was buried on 11 Mar 1909 in Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.12

Children:
     Children with Bobella Cobb:

Citations

  1. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows name as Barclay Arney James.
  2. [S8308] James L James household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows name as Barkly James.
  3. [S8335] Marriages Record, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, 10:109, Charles Viele and Beaulah Arney James, shows name as Barckley Arney James.
  4. [S8308] James L James household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  5. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows date and county.
  6. [S8308] James L James household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows age 4 and state.
  7. [S2312] Bracley A. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, shows month and year, as Sep 1841, age 58 and state.
  8. [S2311] Marriages, Kentucky, state copy, 1877, McCracken Co., James, B. A. and Bobbie Sanders, shows date, town, and county, and his first marriage and her second.
  9. [S8293] Mrs. B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows year.
  10. [S3412] B. A. James, Deaths, shows date and city.
  11. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows died, address, and at his home.
  12. [S8307] B. A. James obituary, The Paducah Sun.
  13. [S8308] James L James household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee.
  14. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.
  15. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows he attended school in Clarksville until age 17 then moved to Eddyville.
  16. [S1814] Giles L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  17. [S1677] Giles L. Cobb, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  18. [S8311] B. A. James, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, card for company muster-in roll, shows unit, rank, date, and place.
  19. [S4543] Battle, Perrin and Kniffin, Kentucky - A History of the State, pg 859, shows battery later known as Cobb's Battery.
  20. [S8293] Mrs. B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows he served in Cobb's Kentucky Battery.
  21. [S8312] Barclay A. James, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, receipt dated 27 Nov 1862.
  22. [S8312] Barclay A. James, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, card from report of wounded at Jackson, Miss; card from report of casualties dated 24 Jul 1863.
  23. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows he was severly wounded at Jackson, Miss.
  24. [S8312] Barclay A. James, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, card from Oath of Allegiance document dated 16 May 1865, shows date and place of surrender and of oath.
  25. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows year, and firm, as McGehee & Co.
  26. [S8309] Williams' Evansville Directory, 1870, pg 159, shows occupation and address; pg 183, shows firm.
  27. [S8309] Williams' Evansville Directory, 1870, pg 159.
  28. [S8309] Williams' Evansville Directory, 1874, pg 172.
  29. [S8309] Williams' Evansville Directory, 1877, pg 155, shows occupation and business address, pg 190 shows firm at that address.
  30. [S2313] Joh. R. Storn household, 1880 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, shows occupation as salesman.
  31. [S2321] Barclay James household, 1880 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as commercial agent.
  32. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows he worked for them for 16 years.
  33. [S8309] Williams' Evansville Directory, 1877, pg 155.
  34. [S2311] Marriages, Kentucky, state copy, 1877, McCracken Co., James, B. A. and Bobbie Sanders, shows him a resident of Evansville.
  35. [S8309] Williams' Evansville Directory, 1878 pg 153, shows residence as Eddyville.
  36. [S2321] Barclay James household, 1880 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  37. [S2313] Joh. R. Storn household, 1880 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.
  38. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1883 pg 203, shows residence as Paducah.
  39. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1889 pg 32, shows incorporation date, pg 234 shows him employed there and address; 1890, pg 249, show title; 1896, pg 343.
  40. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows he bought and interest in the firm.
  41. [S8430] Historic Evansville, online, citing Book of Evansville Illustrated.
  42. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1890, pg 249.
  43. [S8357] "Leaflets," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf-Chronicle, 28 Jul 1891, shows Bart James, of Evansville, was visiting his family at Mrs. Allen Johnson's.
  44. [S8355] "With Our Neighbors," The Daily American, 7 Jun 1891, in section dateline Clarksville, 5 Jun, shows Nell Saunders had returned home after visiting friends in Paducah, and Laura returned home from Anchorage, Ky.
  45. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1892, pg 315, shows residence as Clarksville.
  46. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1893, pg 318, shows residence as e s Upper 2d no of Madison; 1894, pg 327 shows address.
  47. [S8331] Bart A. James obituary, Owensboro Daily Messenger, shows he moved to Evansville with his family 17 years before.
  48. [S2312] Bracley A. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, shows occupation as traveling salesman.
  49. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1899, pg 381, shows no occupation; 1903, pg 359, shows employer, pg 422 shows business; 1905, pg 361, shows occupation, pg 498 shows business.
  50. [S2312] Bracley A. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.
  51. [S8314] Barclay Arney James, Patent No. 722,584.
  52. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows he returned to Clarksville in 1906 and resided there with his family since.
  53. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1906, pg 362, shows res in Evansville with Mrs. Bobbie; 1908, pg 345, shows residence as Clarksville.
  54. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1906, pg 362, shows occupation as mang'r with no buiness, the business is not listed; 1907, he is not listed.
  55. [S8358] B. A. James obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, describes new business.
  56. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1908, pg 345, shows occupation as com trav; 1902, pg 329, shows company and business.
  57. [S8331] Bart A. James obituary, Owensboro Daily Messenger, shows he was traveling salesman for Hinkle-Barbour company at his death.
  58. [S3412] B. A. James, Deaths, shows occupation as traveling man.
  59. [S8389] James, Linah C. James, Certificate of Death.
  60. [S8335] Marriages Record, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, 10:109, Charles Viele and Beaulah Arney James.
  61. [S8276] Arney James Viele, Certificate of Death.
  62. [S3411] Robert L. James, Certificate of Death.