James was born on 22 FEB 1859 in Inkerman, Renfrew, Scotland, the son of unknown parents.
He died in 1947 in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania.
His wife was Margaret Thompson Hotchkiss, who he married on 25 JUN 1885 in 1st Presby, Lonaconing, Allegany, MD. Their eight known children were Jeanette (1886-?), Margaret Stewart (1887-?), Martha Frances (1889-?), Blanche Knight (1892-1982), Andrew (1894-1895), William Claude (1895-1981), Andrew Stewart (1896-1990) and Helen Virginia (1907-?).
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 22 FEB 1859 |
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| Death | 1947 |
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Note 1
!Source: This family line from Mary Ellen Hughes.
!Notes: Emigration 1870. Naturalization 29 Sep 1887. Occupation Mine Engeneer.
P: Claud[e] and Margaret Janet STEELE of Inkerman [1 1/2 miles N.W. of Paisley], in Renfrewshire, Scotland came April 21, 1876 to the port of Baltimore on the ship "Hibernian" from Liverpool, England. Their two youngest of five sons were with them, James age 17 and Robert age 14. Destination was Lonaconing, MD where their older sons had located previously. Work at the coal mines seemed to be done by many of the males, even though Claud[e]s occupation is listed as farmer on the passenger list. Immigration dates on census shows Andew and John may have come to the US the same year.
P: They had a daughter who was kidnapped while they were still in Scotland. "She had gone outside to a delivery wagon to buy maybe bread and was never seen again", tells granddaughter Helen Steele.
P: James was a mine engineer. He migrated later to West Virginia. His {widowed?] brother Andrew lived with him for a brief period. James later settled in Uniontown, Pennsylvania area among small mining towns. One of these was Helen, Pennsylvania where his youngest daughter Helen was born. "James spent his time aboard ship in the engine area", tells daughter Helen. "He never lost his brogue which became thicker as he got older." Helen also tells that he said, "the flowers in Scotland were better". His granddaughter Betty Morrow Harvey quoted him as saying, "education was better in Scotland". He played the clarinet with a band and transposed music. He had a mustache and a full head of hair. "When he died he had no gray hair and the light through it would show red on his dark hair" recalls daughter Helen. She also said "even though he was a religious man, he didn't like Sunday". "His wife's father was killed in the Civil War and her mother's brother adopted her", relates daughter Helen.