Portrait & Biological Album of Whiteside County, 1885

p. 786

James Jemison, farmer, section 21, Ustick Township, is the son of Samuel and Mary (Dummond) Jemison, who are natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland.  Their seven children were named Jane, Martha, Matthew, Samuel, Jeannette, James and David, and he lived on his native soil until he was 20 years of age, when he emigrated to the United States; and, after spending five years in the city of Philadelphia, he went to Lancaster Co., Pa.  A year later he came to Whiteside County, and lived for a time on its western limits, but finally located in Ustick Township.  He is the owner of 120 acres of land, most of which is in tillage.  In political relations he is a Republican, and has served his township as School Director and as Overseer of Highways.

            Mr. Jemison was married Dec. 6, 1854, in Lancaster Co., Pa., to Jane, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (McCrumb) McKee.  She was born Aug. 16, 1833, in Ireland, which was the native country of her parents.  Mr. and Mrs. Jemison have had 14 children, but only seven of them are living.  They are named Martha, Samuel, Margaret J., William, Charles, Mary E. and Eli.  Thomas, Mary J., James (1^st), Alexander, Margaret I. and James (2d) died in childhood.  James D. (3d) died in infancy.  The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church.