James Richard Chambers 1860-1899

This entry is from the J.J. Watts collection. John J. Watts hailed from Warren, Maine and moved to the northern Ozarks of Missouri sometime after the Civil War. He was a circuit-riding Baptist Minister and his territory covered Phelps, Pulaski, and Texas Counties and parts of Maries and Dent Counties. He established a cemetery, Watt’s Lawn, which is located 1 mile West of J Highway, near the Pulaski County-Phelps County line. This collection covers 1878-1912.

James Richard Chambers, was born in Texas County, Missouri (near Blooming Rose in Phelps Co.) June 5, 1860. His father, Jackson Gideon Chambers was born near Bellefonte in Jackson County, Alabama, March 19, 1834 and died near Blooming Rose Post Office June 16, 1872, aged 38 ys, 2 ms, and 27 ds. His mother ___ Elizabeth Ferrell was born near Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26, 1836 and died near Blooming Rose Post Office Oct. 6, 1877, aged 41 ys, 5 ms and 10ds. They had 10 children, 5 of whom survive namely: William L., Lee H., Mrs. Lean V., wife of James S. Ousley, Florence and Andrew J. Our lamented brother was the oldest of the family and was left fatherless at the age of 12 years to care for his widowed mother and his bros. and sisters. The mother died 5 years later and they were left orphans to be cared for by others and to battle with life’s great cares and burdens, March 20, 1881. Bro. Chambers was united in marriage with sister Catherine, daughter of Mr. Crawford Ousley, who survives him. 7 children were born unto them, 6 of whom survive, July 2, 1892 Bro. Chambers was baptized and joined the Baptist Church at Pleasant Hill, near Moab Post Office in Pulaski county, Missouri. He has ever stowed to the world and all around him his love for the cause of Christ, loved by all in life, and mourned by all in his death. Faithful to his companion and children, faithful to his Christian duties, faithful to the brotherhood of the mystic nil where he ever loved to meet on the level, and may we who survive him imitate his Christian virtues and as death calls us one by one, may we be reunited in the celestial lodge above where the Supreme architect presides. Brother Chambers died 2 miles from Spring Creek Post Office in Pulaski county, Missouri, March 12, 1899 at 11 a.m., aged 38 ys, 9 ms and 7 ds., buried March 14, by the Free Masons at the Crawford Ousley Cemetery, Waynesville Lodge. J. J. Watts