BENJAMIN C. JAMES, Jr., was born in Hopkins County, Ky., November 29, 1844, and is a son of Benjamin C. and Jane E. (Bone) James, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, and Scotch-Irish descent. When a small boy Benjamin C. James, Sr., was taken by his parents to Tennessee, where he was educated, married, and where he was engaged in farming several years. Later he moved to Hopkins County, Ky., where he bought a farm and resided until his death in 1846. He also followed wagon-making to some extent in connection with farming. Benjamin C. James, Jr., remained with his mother on the farm, and at Providence, until 1879. He and his brother-in-law owned a farm one-half mile northwest of Providence, where they were also engaged in agricultural pursuits for several years. In 1880 he moved to the farm where he now lives, some three miles northeast from Providence, which he had bought some time before. Mr. James was surveyor of Webster County for four years, from 1870 to 1874. He was married December 18, 1879, to Miss Helen T. Rice, a native of Webster County, Ky. One son—Thomas C,—was born to this union, Mrs. Helen T. James departed this life February 11, 1882. Mr. James is an earnest advocate of the temperance cause, and in politics is a Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 1036-1037.