At the time he married Ruth, James was a widower with 6 children, part of
whom were grown and the youngest was about 3 years old.
His first wife died in June of 1864 and he remarried to Ruth in October that year.
While young, James moved with his parents to Sangamon County,
Illinois where he was raised as a farmer. He continued farming in
Illinois until 1855 when he came to Adams Township of Keokuk County.
He had 140 acres in Section 28 of Adams Township in 1880.
He was also a member of the Christian Church at White Pigeon.
Information about James ancestors and Alkire relatives can be found
on the WWW at %
Http://www.alkire.org/ %
(as of 1998). According to that information,
James was the oldest son of William Nave Alkire and Elizabeth Denton.
