Red Brick School Class of 1898

(Jan. 20, 1880 — Dec. 15, 1942)

James was a stockholder and director in the Olathe Electric Light and Power Company. After serving as Olathe treasurer (1908-1912) and Board of Education secretary, James was elected as the 24th mayor of Olathe in 1913. (His father was Olathe’s first mayor in 1870.) During his three-year term, Olathe dedicated the Carnegie Public Library Building, the South water works plant was built, the city purchased its first motorized fire truck, and the Olathe Merchant’s Delivery was established. At the outbreak of World War I, James served as a major in the 7th Battalion (National Guard), headquartered in Olathe. They furnished military guard escorts for government aircraft that would land in the area, as well as funeral escorts for some of the men killed in combat.