Spouse:
Eldora "Ella" Masterman (married on September 20, 1866; she died on September 10, 1902)
Children:
Seven children: Arthur (died before he took office), Carrie Evelyn, Georgella, James Edwin, Alice Catherine (died before he took office), Margaret Jane (born after he left office), and Annabelle "Nannie" (born after he left office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Wellington C. Masterman
- Second Cousin-in-Law
He came to Minnesota in May 1845, with his parents and resided in Washington County. He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1882.
"At that early age politics interested him and he became a staunch member of the Democratic party." (Middleton Moody, Carrie. The Story of James and Ella. Somerset Press, 1954, p. 23.)
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 1878 election.
He was appointed President of the Board of Directors of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company in 1877. He was also a Road Supervisor, and a Board Member at German American Bank. He was involved in real estate and loans after he left office and was a member of the Middleton and Dougan firm.
He was a member of the Free Masons of Cottage Grove, Minnesota.
His wife, Ella Masterman, and Wellington C. Masterman were second cousins; their fathers were cousins.
He died of uremic poisoning (kidney failure), in St. Paul, Minnesota and was buried at the Cottage Grove Cemetery.
Birth date, birth county, birth place (uncertain), family data, other government service, other occupations, death date, death location, and burial location provided by a relative.
He attended the 1st Congregational Church in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.
Religion provided by a relative.