James Oliver Runyon was born on March 5, 1855 in ___________ County, New Jersey, the son of Enoch M. Runyon and Margaret D. (Shotwell) Runyon. James is believed to have been born in or near Sand Prairie Township in Tazewell County, Illinois. The 1860 census has the family in the Township Of Malone, Tazewell County, Illinois and tells us that all of the children up to Howard Runyon, who was born on March 11, 1859, were born in New Jersey;
Enoch Runyon M 36 N Jersey
Margaret Runyon F 33 N Jersey
Alfred Runyon M 13 N Jersey
Sarah Runyon F 11 N Jersey
Benj W Runyon M 9 N Jersey
Jacob S Runyon M 7 N Jersey
James Runyon M 5 N Jersey
Juliett Runyon F 3 N Jersey
Howard Runyon M 1 Illinois



Married 1878-03-19 in Tazewell Co., IL

BIO OF HIS FATHER:
Enoch Runyon is a native of Plainfield, Essex county, N. J., where he was born in 1824. His parents were Benjamin and Joan B. (Hariott) Runyon. The Runyons, Hariotts, and Blackfords were very early settlers of New Jersey, dating back from the Revolution. Enoch R., the sul^ject of this sketch, received a liberal education in his native State. He came to this county May 10, 1853. He follows the occupation of a farmer, but formerly worked at the hatter's trade, in New Jersey. He resides on sec. 33 ; owns 180 acres of laud ; post-office. Green Valley. Has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church for the past thirty-six years ; has been Assessor and School Director; was married in December, 1845, to Margaret D. Shotwell, daughter of Jacob and Dorcas (Drake) Shotwell, who were descendants of very early settlers of New Jersey. Enoch Runyon, the subject of this sketch, is the
father of twelve children — Alfred H., Benjamin N., Sarah Z., Jacob S., James O, Julia E., Howard, Andrew S., Walter, Arabella, Jeanna, Ralph S. Mrs. Runyon is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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The parents of Enoch Runyon have FindaGraves memorials:
Father Benjamin 34875940
Mother Joanna 34878230

Joanna's name is not correct, her name was Joanna Blackford Harriot. It appears she died during childbirth or a short time after Enoch's brother Alfred was born.

The Runyon History entitled THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF ENOCH M. RUNYON states that James "died under mysterious circumstances on the night of 4 July 1893 in Mason City, Ill., age 38. He is buried in the Green Valley, Ill. cemetery."
It further states that "On the evening of 4 July 1893, James O, Runyon left his family at Green Valley to visit relatives after they had spent the day at Mackinaw Falls. He went on to Delavan and took the train to Mason City, which was a rather wide open town, to enjoy the 4th of July celebration which included fireworks. Several people saw him during the evening and later at the depot. Two trains arrived and departed in opposite directions. It is believed that James O. boarded the wrong train, and upon learning of his mistake, he jumped from the moving train. It was early the next morning before the body was discovered at the junction of the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois Central railroads, about 1000 yards from the depot. The body lay between the rails, face up, with arms extended and the lower back part of the head smashed in. His purse was empty, his watch gone. His railroad ticket lay some distance away. A coroner's jury was called and returned a verdict of 'death through causes unknown.' The truth about the incident was never learned. He left his wife and five children with a sixth child to be born 6 1/2 months after his death."