James, John Walter
public official, railroad president, was born Jan. 31, 1836, in Washington county, Tenn. During the civil war he served in the United States army, and was present at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. During 1864-70 he was master in chancery at Chattanooga, Tenn.; was twice alderman of that city, and took an active part in its educational and public affairs. He was mayor of Chattanooga in 1874-75; was a delegate to the convention of the national greenback labor party in 1880; was a candidate for congress; and subsequently received the nomination for governor of Tennessee.
Since its organization in 1891 he has been a member of the national committee of the people's party. He has been active in railroad building; was president and general manager of the Chattanooga Southern railway, and is still a member of numerous local corporate and company organizations. He died Feb. 21, 1898, in Alton Park, Tenn.