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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     JAMES J. ENGLISH, a farmer residing four and one-half miles north of Ritzville, was born in Ontario, Canada, April 6, 1878, the son of Coleman and Catherine (Johnston) English, naives, respectively, of Canada and Ireland.  Besides the subject of our sketch, Mr. and Mrs. English were parents of two children, Bessie and Roy; besides whom, our subject has two half brothers and one half sister, Edward, Lowry and Jennie Hanna.
     James J. English received his early school training in his native country, and, his half-sister bringing him to Ritzville when a lad of thirteen, he continued his studies in the grammar school of this city, and at the age of nineteen he was graduated from the ninth grade of school.  He then left school and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and engaged in farming that and a half-section of leased school land.
     Soon after he came to Ritzville Mr. English's mother came and made her home with him and his half-sister.  His father died in Canada when the subject was six years of age.
     Mr. English has his land all fenced and well improved.  He has a large barn, a modern eight-room house and a fine orchard.
     On June 18, 1902, occurred the marriage of J. J. English to Myrtle Starr, daughter of Ransom and Jessie (Driver) Starr.  Her mother was the daughter of Rev. Dr. I. D. Driver, a well-known Oregon Methodist minister.  Both of Mrs. English's parents are living in Washington.  They have been parents of seven children, as follows, Paul D., Myrtle N., Lottie Lee, Merle R., Horace L., Frank J., and Robert E. T.
     Mr. and Mrs. English are members of the Methodist Episcopal church; and Mr. English is actively affiliated with the Republican party.  Mr. and Mrs. English have one child, Paul C., born September 30, 1904.
 
 

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