James S[truthers] AVENELL, on of the most active and enterprising farmers of Tingley Township, living on section 6, is a native of Illinois, born near Monmouth, in Warren County, October 21, 1848. His father, Thomas AVENELL, was born in England, coming to America when a young man of seventeen years. He married Jane BROWN, at Monmouth, Illinois, she being a native of Virginia, and they reared three children - a son and a daughter still living in Warren County, Illinois, and our subject. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Warren County where they lived many years, the mother dying on the old homestead in 1883

James S. AVENELL passed his youth on the home farm, receiving his primary education in the district schools, and later spent one year at the Monmouth Academy where he took a commercial course.

He was married in 1875 to Miss Rebecca J. ASKREN, a native of Ohio, but at the time of her marriage living in Warren County, Illinois. They are the parents of four children - Madge, L. J. Leroy, Bessie and Maud.

Mr. AVENELL left Warren County in the fall of 1879, and came with his family to Ringgold County, Iowa, when (sic) he settled on his present farm in Tingley Township, where he has 400 acres of choice land under good cultivation. He brought with him a good grade of cattle from Illinois, and is still engaged in raising and dealing in fine cattle, and also devotes considerable attention to raising fine Percheron horses, in which he is meeting with success. He is a member of the Tingley percheron Horse Association, which was organized for the purpose of introducing these celebrated horses. Besides the farm on which he resides, Mr. AVENELL owns another farm in Tingley Township containing 200 acres. Mr. and Mrs. AVENELL are members of the United Presbyterian church at Tingley, and are among the respected citizens of the township

NOTE: James' father Thomas AVENELL was born December 31, 1829, Wiltshire, England, and died January 25, 1894, Monmouth Twp. of Warren County, Illinois. He married James' mother Jane STRUTHERS on January 18, 1844, Sugar Tree Grove Church, Warren County, Illinois. Jane (STRUTHERS) AVENELL was born June 10, 1818, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and died February 10, 1884, Monmouth Twp. of Warren County, Illinois. Thomas and Jane were interred at Monmouth Cemetery, Monmouth Twp. of Warren County, Illinois. Jane's parents William STRUTHERS (ca. 1760 - 1834, OH) and Jane (LINDSAY) STRUTHERS (1762- 1821, OH) were born in Lanarkshire, Scotland. William owned and operated an inn in Stratgaven, Glasgow, Scotland. The family immigrated to America circa 1795, landing in Norfolk, Virginia. They settled near Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia. Upon discovering that they would not receive recognition in Virginia unless they were slaveholders, William's conscience pressed the family on to Xenia, Greene County, Ohio.

James S. AVENELL died December 16, 1940, Fresno County, California. Rebecca Jane (ASKREN) AVENELL was born October 25, 1851, Xenia, Greene COunty, Ohio, and died May 12, 1921, Fresno County, California. James and Rebecca were the parents of six children:

1) Madge L. AVENELL
    born 08 Feb 1877, Monmouth Twp., Warren Co. IL; died 24 Aug 1966, Alameda Co. CA
2) James Leroy AVENELL
    born 29 May 1879, Spring Grove Twp., Warren Co. IL; died 22 Jan 1955, Fowler, Fresno Co. CA
3) Bessie Jean AVENELL
    born 03 Nov 1881, Tingley Twp., Ringgold Co. IA; died 30 Nov 1936, E. Moline, Rock Island Co. IL
4) Maude L. AVENELL
    born 22 Jun 1885, Tingley Twp., Ringgold Co. IA; died 09 Apr 1987, San Francisco CA
5) William Thomas AVENELL
    born 12 Apr 1890, Tingley Twp., Ringgold Co. IA; died 11 Sep 1983, Bakersfield, Kern Co. CA
6) Gladene R. AVENELL
    born 25 Apr 1894, Tingley Twp., Ringgold Co. IA; died 11 Dec 1968, Fresno Co. CA

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 281-82, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z