Person:James Meadors (2)

It has been said that James and his brother Reuben were investors in the Spindle Top Oil Company.^[11] However, James died well before he Spindletop oilwell came into production, so he could not possibly have invested in it. It also appears that his "brother" Reuben many never have existed. More likely, both James and Reuben, (and apparently their father) were names used in claims for a share of the profits of Spindletop as part of the on-going Spindletop Oil scam.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Jellico Creek Cemetery index.
2. ↑ District 1, in Whitley, Kentucky, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule: Seventh Census of the United States, NARA Microfilm Publication M432. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration)
   pg 339b, HH 55, Fam 55; Image 8 of 106, Ancestry.com.

   Meadors, James, age 35, farmer, RE = $400, b. KY
   , Frankey age 31, b. KY
   , Jane age 11, b. KY
   , John age 6, b. KY
   , Polly age 1, b. KY
   , James age 3/12

3. ↑ Marsh Creek, in Whitley, Kentucky, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule: Eighth Census of the United States, NARA Microfilm Publication M693. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration)
   HH 12, Fam 12, visited 28 July 1870; Image 2 of 42, Ancestry.com.

   James Meadors, 54, farmer, $2000 real estate, $1000 personal property, born in Kentucky
   , Franky, 51, keeping house, born in Kentucky, cannot read or write
   , James, 18, farm hand, born in Kentucky, attended school within year
   Franky, 14, (female), born in Kentucky, attended school within year, cannot write
   Martha, 12, born in Kentucky, attended school within year, cannot write
   Joseph, 8, born in Kentucky, attended school within year

4. ↑ Marsh Creek, in Whitley, Kentucky, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   E.D. 112, p. 40, HH 344, Fam 344; Image 40 of 50, Ancestry.com.

   Meadows, James, age 64, born KY, farmer, father NC, mother KY
   Franka, age 61, born KY, parents born VA
   Martha, dau, age 22, born KY
   Joseph, son, age 18, born KY

5. ↑ Will Book 3; FHL #0532093, in Kentucky. County Court (Whitley County). Will books, 1818-1968. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968, 1989)
   p. 227.

   16 April 1867
   Settlement of Estate of Reuben Meadors dec’d, James Meadors Administrator
   . . .
   To James Meaders & heirs beginning 2 Jan 1864 - $343.55

6. ↑ Schmidt, Cynthia V, and Janice Worley. Kinfolk indeed: clues of family relationships and migrations from the land deeds, Whitley County, Kentucky, 1818-1858, deed books one thru four. (Cordova, Maryland: C.V. Schmidt, c2004)
   pp. 41, 43.

   p. 41 – Deed Book 3 Page 419
   8 May 1851, Ruben Meadors and Jane his wife to James Meadors in consideration of $1.00 and the love and affection we have for him convey a tract of land on Gellico River. Signed Ruben Meadors, Jenny Meadors.
   p. 43 – Deed Book 3 Page 473
   20 Oct 1851, Rhuben Meaders and Jane Meaders his wife of Whitley County to James Meaders in consideration of $1.00 a tract of land on the waters of Gellico River

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 United Baptist Church (Jellico, Kentucky); Charley M. (Charley Maynard) Cornelius; Kentucky) First Baptist Church (Barbourville; and Kentucky) Jellico Creek Baptist Church (Jellico. Jellico Creek Baptist Church, Whitley County, Kentucky 1846-1908. (s.n., 197-?)
   p. 14.

   James Meador, very active between 1868 and Oct 1891 as clerk, moderator, delegate to convention(s), on various committees. Ordained Deacon May 1868, elected Trustee for one year Jan 1885, d. 18 May 1892

8. ↑ Whitley County, Administrator & Executor bonds, 1886-1894, in Kentucky, United States. Kentucky, United States. Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990: Database with images. (Utah, United States: FamilySearch.org, 14 June 2016)
   p. 115 Image 157 of 508, FamilySearch.org.

   John Meadors appointed Administrator of James Meadors, deceased, intestate
   with J. H. Meadors and Luke Meadors as surety
   18 July 1892

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Squire James "Jim" Meadors, Memorial# 29674386,8 September 2008, in Find A Grave
   accessed 3 Aug 2017.

   Squire James "Jim" Meadors
   Birth: Mar. 24, 1816, Whitley County, Kentucky, USA
   Death: May 18, 1892, Whitley County, Kentucky, USA
   Burial: Jellico Creek Cemetery, Williamsburg, Whitley County, Kentucky, USA
   Plot: Oldest Section
   [Has photograph of gravestone, style consistent with time of death. Birth and death dates are part of inscription.]
   
   Parents: Reuben Meadors (1793 - 1861), Jane Campbell Meadors (1798 - 1854)
   Spouse: Francis Frankey Creekmore Meadors (1819 - 1895)
   Children: John Meadors (1844 - 1914), James M Meadors (1846 - 1900), Martha Meadors Caddell (1858 - 1919)
   Siblings: John Meadors (1818 - 1878), Joseph Meadors (1820 - 1880)

10. ↑ Spring Rock District, in Whitley, Kentucky, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule: Eighth Census of the United States, NARA Microfilm Publication M693. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration)
    HH 619, Fam 577.

    Meadors, Jas, 44, farmer, RE = $600, PE = $1700, b. KY
    , Francis (f), 42, b. KY
    , John, 16, b. KY
    , James, 8, b. KY
    , Francis (f), 4, b. KY
    Martha, 2, b. KY

11. ↑ James and his brother Reuben were investors in the Spindle Top Oil Co. Bettykay