Background
James, William Roderick was born on June 6, 1892 in near Great Falls, Montana, United States. Son of William James.
James, William Roderick was born on June 6, 1892 in near Great Falls, Montana, United States. Son of William James.
No school education; left an orphan, adopted by fur trapper, and taught by him to write.
Went to work with cow and horse outfits at 13. Continued on western and Canadian ranges, also engaged in capture of wild horses in Nevada and took part in rodeos. Member Mounted Scouts, United States Army, Camp Kearney, California, World War.
Owner of 12,000 acre ranch.
Author: Cowboys, North and South, 1924. The Drifting Cowboy, 1925. Smoky, 1926
Cow Country, 1927.
Sand, 1929
Lone Cowboy, 1930. Sun-Up (short stories), 1931. Big-Enough, 1931
All in The Day’s Riding (short stories), 1932.
The Three Mustangeers, 1933. In the Saddle with Uncle Bill, 1935. Home Ranch, 1935
Uncle Bill, 1934.
Young Cowboy, 1935
Scorpion (major book) 1936. Cowboy in the Making, 1937. Look-See, with Uncle Bill, 1938.
Flint-Spears, 1938
The Dark Horse, 1939. Horses I’ve Known, 1939. My First Horse, 1939.
Contributor short stories and articles to leading periodicals since 1926. Lone Cowboy was filmed, 1933, Smoky, 1934. Illustrates his own books.
Lone Cowboy was adopted by Book-of-the-Month Club, 1930, Smoky by Texas State Textbook Commission, 1935. Awarded Newberry medal for Smoky.
Member Mounted Scouts, United States Army, Camp Kearney, Calif.