Wayne County Press
Fairfield Illinois

After a lingering illness James Edward Whitson passed away at his home in Healdsburg on Sunday night, July 9th.  While in charge of the ’49 mining camp at the midwinter fair at San Francisco he was run over and painfully injured by a runaway team.  Since that time he has gradually failed as a result of the injuries sustained.  The past year has been full of suffering, but the end came peacefully and painlessly.  “Uncle Jimmy” Whitson, as he was familiarly called, was one of the best-known pioneers in the state, having crossed the plains in ’51 with seven companies, four of whom were killed by Shoshone Indians on the Salt Lake road.  He escaped with a bullet wound in the hip.  On his arrival in California he engaged in mining, which he followed for several years, afterward engaging in other honorable occupations in various sections of the state.  He was known throughout a great portion of California and had many friends who loved him for his generosity and his genial spirit.  For the past 26 years he has resided in Sonoma county.  He was a native of Monroe county, Kentucky, and was aged 79 years and one month.

On March 19, 1845, he married Miss Nancy M. Barnhill, at Barnhill, Illinois.  Beside a widow, six adult children survive him – Mrs. A. J. Murphy, of Gold Hill, Ore.; R. H. Whitson, of Dunsmuir; Frank, Edward and George Whitson, of Healdsburg, and J. S. Whitson, of Petaluma.  About a year ago he was converted to the faith of Christ, and has since lived gospel.  The funeral took place from the home on Tuesday afternoon.  Rev. P. F. Page, of the M. E. church, who had been his friend and spiritual counselor in life, delivered a touching address, and many friends followed the body to its last resting place in Oak Mound cemetery.  Loving hands brought a profusion of flowers to brighten the lowly mound where he sleeps, to waken to  the newness of the life beyond.

Some few of our oldest settlers, notably Dr. R. L. Boggs, Judge Edwin Beecher, Mrs. Patience Smith, E. Bonham and others, have distinct recollections concerning the subject of the above sketch.  Many other pioneer settlers will also probably remember him.  We are informed that James E. Whitson was son of Jonathan Whitson, who came here from Tennessee or Kentucky in the early days.  James E. Whitson was a brother of the late Mrs. T. J. Turney, of Barnhill, and Mrs. Nelson Borah, of near Sims, who survives him.  Along about the year 1850 he was a stage driver for Jack McClain between Fairfield and Carmi, and Fairfield and Salem.  Dr. Boggs thinks that his wife, Miss Nancy M. Barnhill was a sister of Slow Barnhill.  R. H. Whitson, above mentioned, a son of the deceased, is the editor of the Dunsmuir News, Slakiyou County, California.

Note from Bob Jones:
James W. Whitson had 12 children by his first marriage to Margaret Marinda Denton and 2 more in his second marriage to Margaret Kelso.