James served as Justice of Peace, as Orderly Sergeant in Capt. Norwood's Company, Florida War, as Representative in the Alabama Legislature, and as delegate to the National Democratic Convention. He opposed secession "with all the energy and eloquence of his nature, only submitting after the convention of his party had passed the ordinance (of secession).”

He served again in the Constitutional Convention of 1865, then retired to private life and died at “Bowling Green” in February 1877.

James was born in 1807, son of Sherrod and Mary (Looney) Williams living then on Duck River in Maury County, Tennessee. Little did his parents dream they would be able to "raise" their two-pound baby, but he survived even the move three years 1ater to Franklin County, Tennessee where he grew to manhood. He and Kate were the parents of 18 cbi1dren, 12 sons and 6 daughters.