Background
James was born on May 1, 1841, in Ogdensburg, New York, the son of Amaziah Bailey and Lucia Williams (Ripley) James. Dr. Thomas James, his ancestor in the eighth generation, was one of the twelve original companions of Roger Williams. On his mother's side his ancestors included Samuel Huntington, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the elder and younger William Bradford, early governors of Plymouth Colony. His grandfather and his great-grandfather were lawyers of established reputations and his father was for twenty-three years a justice of the supreme court of New York.
Education
James's early education began at common schools. Later he studied at the academy at Ogdensburg and at Dr. Reed's Walnut Hill School at Geneva, New York. He engaged in the study of law and at the age of twenty was preparing himself for admission to the bar when the Civil War began.
Career
Abandoning his law studies, James promptly enlisted, being appointed adjutant of the 50th New York Volunteers. He was rapidly promoted. He became assistant adjutant-general and aide-de-camp to General Woodbury, major of the 60th New York Infantry, lieutenant-colonel of the 106th New York Infantry, and later colonel, serving in the West Virginia campaign. Although scarcely twenty-two years of age, upon several occasions he was in command of a brigade. Owing to physical disability incurred in the service, he was compelled to retire from the field in the spring of 1863. Resuming his law studies upon his return to Ogdensburg, he was admitted to the bar in October 1863 and began to practise at Ogdensburg. In 1864 James formed a partnership with Stillman Foote, surrogate of St. Lawrence County. After a successful practice for ten years, he engaged in practice alone for seven years. His success before courts and juries was winning him a growing reputation and a large practice of local important cases. In 1881 he again formed a partnership, associating himself with A. R. Herriman, later a surrogate of St. Lawrence County. Feeling that his talents demanded a wider field, he left Herriman in charge of his Ogdensburg practice and in January 1882 went to New York, practically unknown. For some years James practised alone but in 1896 he formed the firm of James, Schell & Elkus, of which he remained a member until his death. His energy, natural talents, and ability speedily won him recognition, and his practice embraced cases of every kind. His skill in cross-examination was especially noteworthy. Of all the cases which he tried possibly that of Laidlaw vs. Sage attracted the most attention. The action arose out of the explosion of a bomb in the office of Russell Sage. Laidlaw, the plaintiff, represented by Joseph Hodges Choate, had shielded Russell Sage from possible danger, thereby incurring painful injuries. Popular sentiment plus Choate's brilliancy won for Laidlaw a favorable verdict and large damages in the lower court. This decision was sustained by the judges of the appellate division. Undeterred, James, representing Russell Sage, the defendant, carried the case to the court of appeals. The ultimate verdict, a complete reversal by the court of appeals, was practically a personal triumph for James. In People vs. McLaughlin, a criminal action, he fought the case through two trials and finally successfully obtained for his client, the police commissioner of New York, a reversal of conviction. In several damage suits he won large verdicts. In an action to recover broker's commission upon the sale of a ferry, he won a verdict of $112, 500. Again in an action for libel against a newspaper he won a verdict of $40, 000 which later was reduced to $25, 000. His last notable case involved the construction of the will of Jay Gould. James died on March 24, 1901.
