James was the son of William Burden and Ann Holloway. He later wrote his mother was "affectionate," but his father "was rather severe." He was sent away at age eleven for schooling, and later trained with his father and others to become a carpenter. Eventually, he lived with the family of John Day, a Methodist minister and agriculturalist, with whom he emigrated to the United States. He sailed from Bristol, England on the ship "Cosmo," arriving in New York City on 15 May 1846.
James settled in Wisconsin, but eventually found the winters too severe, and moved to Osage County, Missouri in June 1857. He married Emily Driver there later that year. They had at least one child, John William. James received 320 acres of land in Osage County on 1 August 1859 under the terms of Federal homestead laws.
A Unionist, he faced repeated threats from secessionist neighbors there, and moved to Illinois (at least temporarily) in 1864. From his diary entry of 13 November 1864: "We have had anxious times during these four years our lives have been in danger every day...it is a mercy that we have not fallen with the slain.... [S]in has slain its Thousands, Yea its Millions and especially since the Wicked Rebellion broke out."
He is believed to have died in 1869, based on information in his wife's published obituary. It is known that (1) he made his last diary entry in March 1865 and (2) he does not appear in the 1870 Census with Emily. His burial place is unknown.
James settled in Wisconsin, but eventually found the winters too severe, and moved to Osage County, Missouri in June 1857. He married Emily Driver there later that year. They had at least one child, John William. James received 320 acres of land in Osage County on 1 August 1859 under the terms of Federal homestead laws.
A Unionist, he faced repeated threats from secessionist neighbors there, and moved to Illinois (at least temporarily) in 1864. From his diary entry of 13 November 1864: "We have had anxious times during these four years our lives have been in danger every day...it is a mercy that we have not fallen with the slain.... [S]in has slain its Thousands, Yea its Millions and especially since the Wicked Rebellion broke out."
He is believed to have died in 1869, based on information in his wife's published obituary. It is known that (1) he made his last diary entry in March 1865 and (2) he does not appear in the 1870 Census with Emily. His burial place is unknown.
James was the son of William Burden and Ann Holloway. He later wrote his mother was "affectionate," but his father "was rather severe." He was sent away at age eleven for schooling, and later trained with his father and others to become a carpenter. Eventually, he lived with the family of John Day, a Methodist minister and agriculturalist, with whom he emigrated to the United States. He sailed from Bristol, England on the ship "Cosmo," arriving in New York City on 15 May 1846.
James settled in Wisconsin, but eventually found the winters too severe, and moved to Osage County, Missouri in June 1857. He married Emily Driver there later that year. They had at least one child, John William. James received 320 acres of land in Osage County on 1 August 1859 under the terms of Federal homestead laws.
A Unionist, he faced repeated threats from secessionist neighbors there, and moved to Illinois (at least temporarily) in 1864. From his diary entry of 13 November 1864: "We have had anxious times during these four years our lives have been in danger every day...it is a mercy that we have not fallen with the slain.... [S]in has slain its Thousands, Yea its Millions and especially since the Wicked Rebellion broke out."
He is believed to have died in 1869, based on information in his wife's published obituary. It is known that (1) he made his last diary entry in March 1865 and (2) he does not appear in the 1870 Census with Emily. His burial place is unknown.
James settled in Wisconsin, but eventually found the winters too severe, and moved to Osage County, Missouri in June 1857. He married Emily Driver there later that year. They had at least one child, John William. James received 320 acres of land in Osage County on 1 August 1859 under the terms of Federal homestead laws.
A Unionist, he faced repeated threats from secessionist neighbors there, and moved to Illinois (at least temporarily) in 1864. From his diary entry of 13 November 1864: "We have had anxious times during these four years our lives have been in danger every day...it is a mercy that we have not fallen with the slain.... [S]in has slain its Thousands, Yea its Millions and especially since the Wicked Rebellion broke out."
He is believed to have died in 1869, based on information in his wife's published obituary. It is known that (1) he made his last diary entry in March 1865 and (2) he does not appear in the 1870 Census with Emily. His burial place is unknown.
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