In the last few weeks, family history communications paid some dividends.  I found the first quality photos of my Great, Great Grandfather James Thomas Ross also known as James R Meredith.

I previously wrote about James’ life story here on 8 January 2012.  I also posted pictures of our visit as a family to James’ grave at Belmont Memorial Cemetery in Fresno, Fresno, California at this post.

This past week, in conversations with Darlene Neault, a granddaughter of Martha Elnora Cackler, she let me know she had some photos of Jim and Martha.  I was very interested in obtaining a copy.  She was kind enough to mail them to me!  Very trusting.  I scanned them and already mailed them back to her.  These photos are uploaded to FamilySearch and I will also share them here.

Martha and James Meredith, photo has 1946 written on the back. 

As a refresher, James was born 22 September 1869 in Snowville, Pulaski, Virginia.  He married Damey Catherine Graham 9 August 1887 in Hiwassie, Pulaski, Virginia.  Four children were born, Robert, John “Jack”, Fanny, and James.  Damie passed away 3 February 1933 in Marysville, Yuba, California.  James remarried Henrietta Fountain 8 June 1936 in Sacramento, Sacramento, California.  She passed away 21 February 1946 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona.

That brings us to his marriage to Martha Elnora Cackler, widow of Daniel Gordon Brewer, 14 July 1947 in Fresno, Fresno, California.  Daniel and Martha had 7 children together.  Martha’s granddaughter, Darlene, had these photos in her possession.

I have a younger picture of James, but it is pixelated and not any good to really zoom in to see any facial features.  I hope some day to get a better scan of this photo.

James & Damey Ross

But until then, I now have photos of Jim later in his life.  James passed away 13 April 1951 in Fresno.  Martha passed away 31 July 1974 in Fresno.  James was buried in the larger Brewer family plot of Martha’s family.

I understand these two next photos are on their wedding day.

Jim and Martha on the happy marriage date

Jim & Martha with wedding cake

These next three pictures are also of James and Martha.  I am still trying to figure out who exactly the others are, but I understand Darlene is in two of the photos.  As I get the information, I will update the post.

Unknown four girls, I believe second from left is Darlene, then Martha and Jim

Unknown couple, James, Martha

James, Martha, Unknown, Darlene

I hope there are more photos out there to discover.  These were pretty exciting!