Thomas James, the son of Joseph and Margaret (White) James, was born in Ohio, on the 9th day of April, 1819.  He remained in Pickaway county until 10 years of age, when he removed to Fayette county, Ohio, and was in that vicinity, reared to manhood, and his parents there remained until the time of their death.  Thomas was engaged in farming in that location, until 1846, when he came to McDonough county, and located in what is now Tennessee township, and has lived in that neighborhood ever since.  He has now in his possession, 500 acres of highly cultivated land, and divides his attention between farming and stock raising.  Mr. James was united in marriage in May, 1848, with Emily Bean, a native of Tennessee, but was reared in this county.  Her parents, Robert and Margaret (Crouch) Bean, came to this county in 1832, and settled in Tennessee township. Mrs. James died in July, 1882, leaving nine children to mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother. Their names are, Robert, married Arabella Moon, living in Hire township; Edmund, keeping an Indian trading post in Alaska; George, Douglas, Allen, Henry, married Margaret Summons [sic], living in this township; Marion, Emma and Addie.

Emily Bean was born August 22, 1828, in the state of Tennessee.  She and Thomas were married on May 4, 1848.  Marriage License

For the next 34 years they farmed and raised their children in Tennessee Township, McDonough County.  Emily died on July 18, 1882, and was buried at Bean Cemetery, northeast of Colchester, McDonough County.

Thomas and Emily's children were:

i.	William Robert James, born February 19, 1849.
ii.	Edmund James, born about 1853.
iii.	George W. James, born in 1856, died November 25, 1931, burial at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Colchester, McDonough County.
iv.	Douglas James, born April 25, 1858.  He died October 23, 1920, burial at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
v.	Allen James, born about 1860.
vi.	Henry Thomas James, born in 1863.  He died June 16, 1939, in Hancock County, Illinois, and was buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.  Henry married Margaret E. Sammons (1864-1947).
vii.	Francis Marion James, born in 1865, died in 1944.  Interment at Mt. Auburn cemetery.
viii.	Mary Emma James, born in 1867.  She died in 1955, burial at Friendship Cemetery, McDonough County.
ix.	Addie James, born about 1870.

 
Thomas married, second, the former Mary Jane Siepel, on November 25, 1886, in McDonough County.  She was the daughter of Philip Ira Siepel and Eliza A. Fawver.

Thomas and Mary Jane had one daughter, Pearl Eli James (1887-1970).

Follow the link to Mary Jane for additional information and documentation.

Thomas and Mary Jane were farming in McPherson County, Kansas, when Thomas died on October 9 or 10, 1896.  His body was returned to Illinois to be buried next to Emily in the Bean Cemetery.

Thomas James, 29, male, farmer, value of real estate 800, born OH
Emely, 21, female, born TN
William H, 2, male, born IL

Thomas Jame, 40, male, farmer, value of real estate 3200, value of personal estate 1000,
born OH
Emily, 29, female, born TN
Robert, 12, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Edmund, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
George, 5, male, born IL
Thomas, 2, male, born IL
Anadia Hocker, 15, female, born KY
James Boyd, 24, male, born OH

James, Thomas, 52, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 9000, value of personal estate 200, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Emily B, 41, female, white, keeps house, born TN
Edmund, 17, male, white, works on farm, born IL, attended school within the year
George W, 13, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Douglas, 12, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Allen, 9, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Henry, 7, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Marion, 5, male, white, born IL
Mary, 3, female, white, born IL
Ida, 6/12, female, white, born IL, born Dec
Wm R, 21, male, white, works on farm, born IL

James, Thomas, white, male, 62, married, farming, could not read or write, born OH, father born PA, mother born OH
Emily, white, female, 50, wife, married, keeping house, born TN, both parents born TN
George, white, male, 24, son, single, farming, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Douglas, white, male, 22, son, single, farming, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Allen, white, male, 20, son, single, farming, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Henry, white, male, 15, son, single, farming, attended school within the year, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Marion, white, male, 14, son, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Emma, white, female, 12, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Addie, white, female, 10, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
Mossey, Hanna B, white, female, 20, servant, single, house keeper; Is the person (on the day of the enumerator's visit) sick, or temporarily disabled, so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties? If so, what is the sickness or disability? - chills; could read but not write, born IL, father born Ireland, mother born PA