When I saw the name of James Crossing, I thought this would a interesting town to look into, and it wasn't that far from my home. At first I thought it would be hard to find any thing on James Crossing but when I started researching, I was supprise to find that the internet was full of information on the town. Although there was a lot on the web it was a piece here and a piece there. I found myself going from web site to web site for a little piece of information. I decided to put some of the pieces together on one site.
James Crossing was just a stop in the road, it couldn't even be called a town. There couldn't have been more then one or two bulidings at the most. The town is historically interesting but little eles. However the town is very in important to those in genealogy research, it's a reference point for those looking for their family roots.
As a surname researcher James Crossing is little of importance, although it would have been nice to have found some historical facts about it. But it's the people of the surrounding country side that's who is important. Although James Crossing wasn't big it did have a Postoffice. All the names here used James Crossing as their P. O., address, so James Crossing becomes important after all.
It's hard to pin point just when James Crossing was establish. I believe it was between 1860 and 1862. In 1860, John James bought 160 acres in section 10, which was the sight of James Crossing, I believe the town was name after him. In June of 1862, the Post Office opened and John James was it's Postmaster. The only other business in town was that of the General Store which was run by James Brownlee, these were the only two business of the town. Records shows that James Brownlee was in the county in 1859, but didn't bury any land till 1860, when he bought 160 acres in section 11, between half or a mile from James Crossing. The post Office ran till November of 1886. By 1899, James Crossing is not shown on any maps.
Grant Township.
On September 6, 1870, Grant township was organized from the Southern portion of Jefferson township, it embraces sixty-two sections, and takes it's name from the "Captain of the ages", who was serving his first term as president. S. Stephenson, the first and present Trustee, has servied five years. There are two Post Offices one in Avoca and one in James Crossing. The Jackson county Historical Soc., also listed some of the early settlers of Grant township which were; Peter Bryant, William Cruzan, Peter Dickson, J. P. Faidley, R. P. Hamm, John James, T. Keir, J. F. Pomeroy, Abraham Ray and S. Stepherson. The first school house was built on the farm of Mr. Keir in 1860. Mr. E. S. Hulan taught the first school in 1858.
The North Missouri and Eastern Kansas Business Directory of 1867,
had this to say about James Crossing.
"This is the name of a little place in Jackson County, which is situated to the north of Topeka, on the opposite side of the Kansas river, being to the north of that place, small and of little importance."
Although
the above statement may be true of the town it was not true of the people around the town.
Jackson County Atlas ( Plat Book ) of 1881.
The followin names were in the Atlas of 1881.
R. R. Boan, from Stark county Illinois, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 13., came in 1857.
F. M. Beightel. from Westmoreland Pennsylvania, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 12, came in 1873.
William Cruzan, From Coles county Illinois, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 14, came in 1857.
J. P. Faidley, From Somerset county Pennsylvania, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 16, came in 1867.
John James, From Crawford county Illinois, Farmer and Stock- Raiser and Postmaster, Notray Publie and Lease Agent, Sec 10, came in 1855.
R. D. Osborn, From Geauga county Ohio, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 8, came in 1870.
S. Stephenson, From Muskingum county Ohio, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 10, came in 1863.
L. D. Stephenson, From Mereer county Ohio, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 3, came in 1866.
J. P. Shaklee, From Morgan county Ohio, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 12, came in 1871.
G. S. Shaklee, From Henry county Ohio, Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 12, came in 1871.
S. T. Warwick, From R. I., Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Sec. 13, came in 1869.
List of pension of James Crossing January 1883.
John James, injure right hip, $3., per month, starting August 1868.
William W. Miler, Gun shot wound left thigh, $4., per month, started April 1882.
Ransom D. Osborn, Gun shot wound right leg, $4., per month, started March 1882.
Mary I. Reynolds, Widow of 1812, $8., per month, started November 1878.
Plat Book.
James Crossing.
1881.
Township 7-S, Range 13- E., Sec. 10.
to see a full size map of this township take this link.
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/219811/page/49
The following names used James Crossing as their P. O., Address.
WILLIAM CRUZAN, farmer and stock-raiser,
Section 14, Township 7, Range 13, P. O. James' Crossing, was born in Rush County, Ind., in 1827, and lived in his native State but a short time, when his parents removed to Coles County, Ill., where Mr. Cruzan resided until April 5, 1857, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating in the following August on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He participated in the war of the Rebellion during the Price raid as a member of Company D, Twentieth Regiment Kansas Militia, enlisting in Holton in the fall of 1864, serving eighteen days and being discharged at Holton, Jackson County. He took part in the engagement at Westport, Mo. He has been married twice. The first marriage occurred in Coles County, Ill., in 1848, to Miss Mary Bennett, a native of Illinois. Four children were the fruits of this marriage, three of whom are living and who are named: Hiram(married to Miss Katie Meek, a native of Kansas), Sarah Jane(married to Phillip Claypoole, a native of Ohio), and Kansas(married to M. B. Meek, a native of Missouri). The second marriage took place in 1864, in Grant Township to Miss Elizabeth Bowen, a native of Ohio.
They have three children whose names are: Rosa, Nettie and Robert. Mr. Cruzan owns a magnificent estate of 1,300 acres lying on Soldier Creek, divided into bottom and upland. It is all enclosed except fifty acres in timber, is in a high state of cultivation and is well supplied with water by wells and springs and the creek which flows in a southeasterly direction through the farm. The improvements are first class and embrace among others an elegant residence containing eight rooms, a frame barn 30x50 feet, and other outbuildings. There are two orchards on the farm - one covering three acres and containing 250 apple trees, and the other covering one acre and having 100 fruit trees of different varieties.
Mr. Cruzan devotes his attention chiefly to raising corn, cattle and hogs. He grows 4,000 bushels of corn, 400 bushels of oats, cuts 150 tons of hay and millet and feeds three car loads of cattle yearly, keeps 125 head of fine grade and a few thoroughbred cattle, 100 stock-hogs and fourteen head of excellent horses. At the head of his herd of fine cattle stands the "Prince of Kansas", a thoroughbred Bates' bull, an animal of faultless pedigree and superior personal traits. Mr. Cruzan is an old Kansas pioneer, an honest, unassuming, straight-forward and practical farmer and stock-raiser, and a good and useful citizen and man of high standing and respectability.
LORENZO D. STEPHENSON, farmer and stock-raiser,
Section 3, Township 7, Range 13, P. O. James' Crossing, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1841, and lived in his native State until his twenty-second year, when he entered the Union army as a member of Company A, Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted in Salina, Ohio, October 9, 1861, and was discharged at Gallitin, Tenn., in February 1864, re-enlisting the same day in the same company and regiment and was finally discharged at Columbus, Ohio, January 6, 1866. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Jonesboro, Atlanta, Nashville and numerous minor engagements. After his discharge he returned to his Ohio home, where he resided nearly one year, and on the 17th day of December, 1866, became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married in Soldier Township, Jackson County, April, 29, 1875, to Miss Mary Tolin, a native of Indiana. They have four children, whose names are: Lorin, Albert, Walter and Naomi. Mr. Stephenson is the fortunate owner of a fine farm lying on Soldier Creek, containing 720 acres. It is all upland but 160 acres, which is bottom land of the finest quality. It is all enclosed, is in a good state of cultivation, and is well supplied with timber and water.
The improvements are good and consist in part of a comfortable and cozy dwelling containing six rooms, a fine barn, 32x30 feet, stock stables, sheds and lots, and handsome groves and orchards. Mr. Stephenson grows 6,000 bushels of corn, 2,600 bushels of small grain, and cuts 100 tons of hay yearly, keeps seventy-five fine grade cattle, 100 stock hogs and fifteen to twenty fine horses and mules. MR. Stephenson is an energetic, industrious and model farmer, an honorable and straight-forward man, and a good citizen and neighbor.
SAMUEL STEPHENSON, farmer and stock-raiser,
Section 10, Township 7, Range 13, P. O. James' Crossing, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1834, and lived in his native State until April 1860, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating in Miami County, where he resided one year. He then removed to Fort Scott, Bourbon County, where he resided until February, 1863, when he settled on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He is a member of the German Baptist Church. He has been a member of and Treasurer of School District No. 11, Jackson County, about ten years, and has served as Trustee of Grant Township five terms.
He participated in the war of the Rebellion during the Price raid, as a member of the Kansas Militia, enlisting at, and being discharged at James' Crossing, Jackson County, after serving eighteen days. He was married January 2, 1870, in Washington County, Kan., to Miss Katie Burr, a native of Indiana. They have four children, whose names are: Nellie Blanche, Mary May, Mary Elizabeth, and Etha Lucretia. Mr. Stephenson owns a fine farm of 340 acres lying on Soldier Creek. The farm is all enclosed, is in a good state of cultivation and is well supplied with water by means of wells, springs, spring branches and the creek which flows through the centre of it. The improvements are first class, embracing in part an elegant new, modern residence containing seven rooms, surrounded by handsome grounds.
The dwelling is erected on an elevated site which commands a magnificent view for miles of the surrounding country. The property is also further improved by two tenant houses, a frame barn, 20x40 feet, a large new granary and other outbuildings, two fine orchards covering ten acres and containing 1,000 fruit trees of various kinds, etc. Mr. Stephenson grows from 3,000 to 4,000 bushels of corn, 1,000 bushels of oats, 125 bushels of flax seed, cuts 100 tons of hay yearly, keeps 75 to 100 head of cattle, 75 to 100 stock hogs and twenty head of horses. Mr. Stephenson is a thorough practical farmer, a prosperous and substantial citizen and enjoys the confidence of the people.
Private, Cone Edgar W., Kansas 7th., cavalry, company A., Residence Albany, Enlisted Sept. 14, 1861, Mustered in Sept. 14, 1861. Prom. Corporal;Reduced to ranks January 4, 1862. Mustered out Sept. 14, 1864.
