L. H. JAMES, Crittenden County, attorney at law, was born January 9, 1844, in Smith County, Tenn., and is a son of Bartley A. and Elizabeth (Tucker) James, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of South Carolina. Bartley James left his native State, when a mere boy, going to Tennessee, where he died in 1855, at the age of about sixty years. His widow died in 1858, at the age of sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. James were the parents of twelve children, only four of whom are now living: John R., Martha (wife of Richard Wilson), William D. and L. H. After his parents' death, L. H. came to Crittenden County, Ky., where he found employment as a farm laborer in various places. In 1861 he commenced farming for himself, and continued until 1874, except two years that he was in the Union army, Company E, Forty-eighth Kentucky, when he commenced the practice of the law, in Marion, having previously fitted himself for the profession by diligent application to study, while filling the position of magistrate, which he was elected to in 1867. In studying for the law, he was greatly assisted by Mr. S. Marble, the leading attorney of Princeton, Caldwell County, who tendered him the use of his large library and gave him the necessary instructions. In 1874 he was elected county attorney and re-elected in 1878,and since that time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been quite successful, particularly as a criminal lawyer. Mr. James was married April 25, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Jane Braley, daughter of John and Elizabeth Braley, of Tennessee. Eight children have been born to this marriage, viz.: Mary E., William H. (deceased), Edgar H., Flora, Olly, Ada, Ruby and Rodney (deceased). Mr. James is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the K. of H., and votes with the Democratic party. Mrs. James belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Marion.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 732-733.