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JAMES W. TROTTER, farmer, P. O. Enterprise, was born in Bedford Township, this county, April 28, 1830, a son of Elisha B. and Amelia (Watkins) Trotter, both of whom were natives of Kentucky.  The father was born in 1801, and was by occupation a tiller of the soil.  He had two brothers who served in the Black Hawk war, and one, Shirley, now living in this county, who was in both the Mexican and civil wars.  Elisha B. Trotter came to Wayne county at a very early date (about 1827), and his father, William, came about the same time.  The later served in the war of 1812.  Our subject's parents had nine children and there are seven now living -- Nancy, James W., Sarah, Martha, Samuel W., Mary and S. Jasper.  Out subject has resided in Wayne County all his life.  He possesses farm property to the extent of 410 acres, and for many years past has raised and dealt in stock on a large scale.  He married Polly McCormick, a daughter of William McCormick, one of Wayne County's first settlers, who assisted in the original surveying of it.  Mr. and Mrs. Trotter are the parents of thirteen children, of which nine survive -- Lucinda A., Martha A., Elisha W., Francis M., James A., Sarah J., Ollie A., Margaret E. ad Sophronia A.  Politically, Mr. Trotter is a Democrat.