He was trained as a joiner in Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1852.
There is an old family story that he was attacked almost immediately after disembarking from the ship that carried him to the US, and that as a result he was blinded in one eye.
In 1880, he is living on Croghan Street in Detroit and he works in a "car shop". In 1870, Pullman bought a rival company that operated on Croghan Street - and Pullman made its first "Pullman" rail cars at this location.
James was likely one of the first wood carvers to work on Pullman cars, which were known for their intricate wood carvings.
The Detroit shop closed in 1893, and he moved to Chicago, perhaps to follow Pullman which had a larger operation there.
He was single and in his later years he lived with his sister, Christina, and her family.
He is buried in a section of "single" graves - without a headstone.
There is an old family story that he was attacked almost immediately after disembarking from the ship that carried him to the US, and that as a result he was blinded in one eye.
In 1880, he is living on Croghan Street in Detroit and he works in a "car shop". In 1870, Pullman bought a rival company that operated on Croghan Street - and Pullman made its first "Pullman" rail cars at this location.
James was likely one of the first wood carvers to work on Pullman cars, which were known for their intricate wood carvings.
The Detroit shop closed in 1893, and he moved to Chicago, perhaps to follow Pullman which had a larger operation there.
He was single and in his later years he lived with his sister, Christina, and her family.
He is buried in a section of "single" graves - without a headstone.
He was trained as a joiner in Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1852.
There is an old family story that he was attacked almost immediately after disembarking from the ship that carried him to the US, and that as a result he was blinded in one eye.
In 1880, he is living on Croghan Street in Detroit and he works in a "car shop". In 1870, Pullman bought a rival company that operated on Croghan Street - and Pullman made its first "Pullman" rail cars at this location.
James was likely one of the first wood carvers to work on Pullman cars, which were known for their intricate wood carvings.
The Detroit shop closed in 1893, and he moved to Chicago, perhaps to follow Pullman which had a larger operation there.
He was single and in his later years he lived with his sister, Christina, and her family.
He is buried in a section of "single" graves - without a headstone.
There is an old family story that he was attacked almost immediately after disembarking from the ship that carried him to the US, and that as a result he was blinded in one eye.
In 1880, he is living on Croghan Street in Detroit and he works in a "car shop". In 1870, Pullman bought a rival company that operated on Croghan Street - and Pullman made its first "Pullman" rail cars at this location.
James was likely one of the first wood carvers to work on Pullman cars, which were known for their intricate wood carvings.
The Detroit shop closed in 1893, and he moved to Chicago, perhaps to follow Pullman which had a larger operation there.
He was single and in his later years he lived with his sister, Christina, and her family.
He is buried in a section of "single" graves - without a headstone.
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