David Solon James 1842 - 1925 My Great Grandfather

Taken When He Was About 40

His army description says he is 5.9" tall, with fair complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair. His Cherokee records say he was white. (He Married a Cherokee)

David was born January 5, 1842 in Jasper, Missouri. His father Calvin was 28 and his mother Perlina was 22.

David Solon James was a Corporal of Captain George Clark Company E, 14th Regiment of the Kansas Calvary Volunteers (Union) who was enrolled on the 15th day of July 1863 to serve three years or during the war (he furnished his own horse and equipment).

Discharged from the service of the U.S. this 25 day of June 1865 at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation. On the muster roll March-April 1864 David owed the U.S. $7.50 for one sabre.

The 14th Kansas Cavalry (Union) was organized and placed in the field November, 1863.Company E was engaged in different battles of the border with the rebel Gen. Price during the fall of 1864. This Company, with its commanding officer Lt. William B. Clark, acted as the personal escort to Major Gen. Blunt.

Soon after the Civil War, David Solon James and his wife, Tennessee A. James, moved from Kansas to Indian Territory. "Aunt Tenn," as she was later to be affectionately called, was one-eight Cherokee thus qualifying the family to stay here although Solon was a white man. They settled in the community that later became known as Hickory Grove. Several children were born to this couple, including Lorenzo, Albert, Della, Lulu, Jesse, Calvin, Reece and Claud. Solon became active in the community and served several terms on the newly organized school board. He was known as a fairly prosperous farmer.

When the Dawes Commission made up the Indian rolls and allotted land, some of the children were grown and did their own enrolling. Most of them were enrolled as one-sixteenth Cherokee but some listed themselves as one-thirty-second which gives a little strangeness on the rolls. As the children got old enough, they attended the Cherokee seminaries at Tahlequah.

On 29 June 1922 at Miami, Ottawa Co., OK. David gave a deposition on the behalf of Malinda Ann JAMES. It was given to T Quin Jones, Special Examiner of the Bureau of Pension. He stated that he was 80 years of age, his address was 202 C Street N.E.., Miami, OK. and that he was receiving a pension on account of his service in Co., E 14th Kansas Cavalry. He was also in the same Company as William Whig JAMES his brother.

At 24 years of age he married Tennessee Almira Lane, age 17, on October 16, 1866 in Jasper, Missouri. They had 11 children in 28 years.

Although David was white, once he married Tennessee he was considered Cherokee

Dawes Card Information

tribe	last	first	middle	age	sex	blood	card	roll	misc	type
Cherokee	Coffman	Jesse	S	1	M	1/16	82	272	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	Coffman	Condia	Jane	15	F	1/16	82	269	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	James	Calru		0	M		82			P
Cherokee	James	Farrett		0	M		82			P
Cherokee	James	Jane		0	F		82			P
Cherokee	James	Rnlina		0	F		82			P
Cherokee	James	Claud	Frannie	10	F	1/16	82	271	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	James	Jesse	Samar	13	M	1/16	82	270	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	James	Sula	Bell	19	F	1/16	82	268	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	James	Clara	Bell	26	F	1/16	82	267	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	James	Tennessa	A	51	F	1/8	82	266	FAIRLAND	BB
Cherokee	James	Solon		58	M	IW	82	NR	FAIRLAND	BB
2/22/2009

The 1900 U.S. Federal Census Indian Population shows Solon as 58 years old living with Tennessee, his wife of 33 years, and 2 grown daughters of 19 and 25 years and a 15 year old daughter and his 2 youngest living sons of 12 and 10. In 1895 Baby Reece died in the year he was born. Another son and daughter died in infancy.

Solon lists his occupation as a farmer, his race as white  and he could read, write and speak English  He owned a farm which was mortgage free.

In the 1920 Federal Census Sloan is 78 and list is occupation as Gardner. (Since he was prosperous I imagine this was gardening on his own property.)

Family Portrait of  the 8 living children with Mother Tennessee and Father Solon

The Fairland News, Fairland, Ottawa County, OK. Friday, Nov. 22, 1912

Solon JAMES, of Route 2, was in town Wednesday and renewed his subscription to The News. Mr. JAMES is one of the old settlers of this section of the country, having lived where he now lives for the past thirty-five years. He said that in the early days here people did not think the prairie land would ever be suitable for cultivation, but he has lived to see it transformed from a homeless prairie into the best agricultural section of the State. -  

FAMILY REUNION AT HOME OF SOLON JAMES, 1916

David Solon James died September 30, 1925. He is buried at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery (G.A.R. Cemetery) in Miami, Ottawa County, OK at the age of 83.