Richard C. James (b. 1879), a prominent attorney in Falls City, Nebraska, served as county attorney for Richardson County and was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. Born in Maretburg, Kentucky, he was orphaned at age three and raised by his uncle in Nebraska. After working his way through school, James graduated from the University of Nebraska with a law degree in 1904. He first practiced law in Humboldt before being elected county attorney and relocating to Falls City. A dedicated Democrat, James was known for his strict law enforcement, particularly against liquor law violations. He married Leona Garrett Lyon in 1917.
Richard C. James, one of the best-known attorneys-at-law at Falls City, county attorney for Richardson County and a veteran of the Spanish-American War, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of this state since he was a child. He was born at Maretburg, in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, October 14, 1879, son of Lafayette and Margaret dewis) James, natives of that same state and the former of whom was a schoolteacher. Mrs. James died in 1881, and Mr. James died in the following year.
Thus left an orphan when he was three years of age, Richard C. James was taken in charge by his maternal uncle, John Lewis, who then was living in Illinois and who later entered a claim to a tract of land in Holt County, this state, and there established his home. On that homestead farm of his uncle Richard C. James lived until he was fourteen years of age, when he began to make his own way in the world. As a means of completing his schooling he secured the position of janitor of the high school building at Dunbar, going to school there during the winters and working on farms during the summers, and was graduated from the high school in 1895. During the winter of 1895-96, he then being but seventeen years of age, he taught school and in the following spring entered the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and was pursuing his studies there when the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898. He enlisted for service as a private in Company D. First Regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, and with that command was sent to the Philippine Islands, taking part in the campaign about Manila and in the defeat of Aguinaldo’s army. At the battle of Quingua in 1899 Mr. James were severely wounded and was later sent back to the United States in a hospital ship, afterward being mustered out with his regiment at San Francisco.
Upon being mustered out of the service Mr. James returned to Nebraska and resumed his studies in the State University, from the classical department of which he was graduated in 1902, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the law department of the university and was graduated from the same in 1904, in which year he came to this county and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Humboldt. In the fall of that year, he was elected county attorney and moved his office to Falls City, the county seat. So satisfactory did his services in that important official capacity prove that he was re-elected in 1906 and continued to serve as county attorney until January 1, 1909. In the spring of that year Mr. James moved to Omaha and was there engaged in the practice of his profession for a year, at the end of which time he returned to Falls City and resumed his practice in that city, which ever since has been his place of residence and where he has done very well, being now one of the best-known lawyers in this part of the state. In 1916 Mr. James was again elected to the office of county attorney and is now serving his third term in that capacity. He is a firm advocate of law enforcement and his v190rous prosecution of violations of the liquor law made him many friends throughout the county. Mr. James is an ardent Democrat and is regarded as one of the leaders of that party in Richardson County. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.
Mr. James were married on April 28, 1917, at Falls City, to Mrs. Leona (Garrett) Lyon, a widow, and daughter of James H. Garrett, county superintendent of schools of Hooker County, Nebraska, a position which he has held for a number of years.
Source
Edwards, Lewis C., History of Richardson County, Nebraska : Its People, Industries and Institutions, Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen, 1917.