1940, Northumberlnd. Adam and Helen James, both 39, with William 13, George 11 and Adam R 2.

I have done a little bit of research on the Adam James family and can provide this brief sketch:

He and Helen were listed in the 1930 Census, they had been married about 5 years. He was listed as Adam R James; he worked for the railroad. They had two sons at that time: William age 3 and George H age 11 months.

Adam’s World War I Draft Registration Card listed his name as Adam Renner James and gave his birth date. He listed his main contact as his mother Sadie Renner James.

I also found Adam in 1920 before his marriage living with his parents: Francis and Sadie James. They had a large family which in 1920 included 2 daughters and 5 sons.

And, I went back to the 1880 Census and found that Sadie Renner was the daughter of Adam Renner (makes sense) and his wife Emma. Adam and Emma were neighbors of George P Mertz, which may be a total coincidence or may have something to do with how their grandson came to meet and marry the sister of the wife of George’s grandson.

One son of Adam and Emma appears to have been named Hopewell Renner. That is a very curious name and makes me wonder if there was some connection between our Hopewell ancestors and Emma, but there is no way I can see what it could be.

In 2009, I heard from Jessamy James, daughter of Helen’s son William. She had found my web site and expressed how thrilled she was to see all the information I had compiled about Radie and her ancestors.

Between what Dick Mertz told me and Jessamy, I now know there were three brothers: George or Bob?, Bill and Adam and sisters Jane and Radie.

I don’t know if I really remember Helen. I do remember that some of her kids or grandkids would come to Grandma’s for one of her big lunches at times I was also there. But I can’t remember their names.

Her birth and death dates and middle initial comes from Meiser's guide to Riverview Cemetery.