San Luis Obispo County Biographies

HON. D. W. JAMES

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


HON. D. W. JAMES, one of the founders of the beautiful young city of Paso 
Robles, came to this State across the plains in 1849, and has ever since been 
intimately connected with the growth and development of this State, and had 
he not the sturdy elements of a courageous frontiersman, and of a persevering 
and successful business man, he would not have encountered the obstacles 
and survived the great disasters which come so thick and fast around the pioneer. 

Drury J. James was born in Russellville, on the Whip-poor-will River, in Logan 
County, Kentucky, November 14, 1824, the son of Jackson James, who was born near 
Richmond, Virginia. His grandfather was Martin James, who came from England 
before the Revolution, and settled in Virginia, and aided in the Patriot war as an aide to 
one of the generals. Mr. James' mother was a native of Virginia, and the daughter of a 
soldier who fought on the Patriot side during the same struggle. The subject of this 
sketch, the youngest of eight children, was but three months old when his mother died, 
and but a little over a year old when his father died. His eldest sister, Mary, took 
charge of the family. She afterward married John Mimms. He lived with them until he 
was eighteen years of age, employed upon their tobacco plantation and attending school. 
After that he was engaged with his brother William in mercantile business in Oldham 
County, Kentucky, on the Ohio River; but soon afterward he enlisted in the war with 
Mexico, in one of the companies of the Louisville Legion. Going to the front as a 
private, he participated under General Taylor in the battle of Monterey. On the evening 
of the second day they entered the city and marched to the plaza. The Mexicans 
raised a flag of truce, and the city was surrendered, and the Legion was left to garrison 
the place while the rest of the victorious command, numbering about 4,000 men, 
marched forward to meet the forces commanded by Santa Ana, numbering about 
22,000 men. The Legion was then ordered forward to join Taylor's force, which they 
reached in time by excessive marching. In the effort Mr. James crippled himself by 
bursting one of the veins in his leg, from which injury he has never fully recovered. 
The Americans were victorious in the battle of Buena Vista, fought against fearful odds, 
and the Legion was ordered back to Monterey. His time of enlistment having expired, Mr. 
James was honorably discharged, and resumed business at his home, in company 
with his brother. 

Directly after the news of the gold discovery in California reached him, he joined a 
company of thirty men, left Fort Kearney the last of May, 1849, and crossed plain and 
mountain, safely landing at Weaverville, August 6. He engaged in mining at this 
place and at Hangtown for nine months, with reasonable success. In the spring of 
1850 he engaged in buying cattle to supply the mines with beef, buying first at Santa 
Clara, at $20 per head, and selling them at the mines at sixty cents per pound on foot, 
and dressed meat at $1 per pound. In 1851 he went to Los Angeles and bought cattle at 
$15 to $20 per head and realized about $40 per head at the mines. Starting his drove 
of cattle from Los Angeles, he would make a trip and return to San Luis Obispo, Mon- 
terey and Santa Clara counties, sometimes taking three droves a year, of 500 to 700 
head each time. At one time he drove from Los Angeles 1,500 head. This business he 
continued successfully until 1860, when, in company with John B. Thompson, he bought 
10,000 acres of Government land at La Panza, at $1.25 per acre. They stocked it 
with 2,500 head of cattle, which he drove to Tulare and Buena Vista lakes, and thus 
saved them all, while others lost nearly all they had. In 1868, when he sold out, there 
were 9,000 or 10,000 head of cattle on the ranch, he could not tell how many. In 1859 
he bought a half interest in the EI Paso de Robles Hot Springs, and the one league of 
land embracing it, of his brother-in-law, D. B. Blackburn. They built the hotel and 
surrounding cottages as fast as they required them, and also, from time to time as their 
business grew, they increased the facilities of the place for bathing; and now the place as 
a health resort has grown in great favor throughout the State, and is known to many 
in the East. They have the largest bathhouse in the State, and the hotel and cottages 
around have grown to be quite a village. 

Mr. James and his partner are the founders of the now incorporated city of El Paso 
de Robles (the pass of oaks), generally called by the shorter phrase, Paso Robles. It began 
its rapid growth in 1887, and already has a nice park, tine brick business blocks, palatial 
residences, school-houses, churches, etc. His firm have now in process of construction one 
of the finest brick hotels in the county. It is 185 X 300 feet in dimensions, three stories 
and basement in height, and will be furnished with all modern improvements. The brick 
used in this building will number 500,000. The old hotel and cottages are directly in 
front, but they are to be removed when the space is devoted to hotel grounds. The 
establishment also fronts the park and will be a delightful place when completed. 

Since coming here Mr. James has continued to be interested in stock-raising and 
farming. He has also been a stock-holder and director of the Bank of San Luis Obispo, 
in the steam flouring-mill of the same place, and other business enterprises. A sketch of 
his partner, already mentioned, also appears in this volume. They married sisters, at the 
same time and place, he choosing Miss Louisa Dunn, who was born in Sacramento, 
this State, the daughter of Patrick Dunn, of Irish ancestry, who came from Australia to 
California. Mr. and Mrs. James have seven children, all born in Paso Robles, viz.: � 
Mamie, William, Nellie, Lena, Charles, Carrie and Edward. Carrie and Charles are 
twins; Nellie is the wife of Edward Bennett, now Postmaster at that place; and the other 
children are still with their parents. They have a nice residence on a block reserved for 
that purpose. Mr. James was fittingly elected President of the first Board of Trustees, and 
continues to hold that position. He has also held the office of Supervisor for about 
ten years, and was elected a Representative to the State Legislature from his district in 
1888, and this position he also holds. Although he has experienced an unusual number 
of hardships, during pioneer days, and has had so many heavy business cares for 
many years, he is still an active business man, taking great pride in the improvement 
and adornment of his pet little city. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the 
Masonic order. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.