James (Jim) was
born in 1850 and was the 4th oldest child (3rd
oldest son) of James and Anne McMenamin. James
never married and did not communicate much. It
was said that James was a small man (the smallest
of James and Ann's sons) very independent, and a
great traveler. He was affectionately called the
"Australian".
James lived for some time in America but
according to his nephew (Jamie) returned to
Ireland in the 1870's after loosing all his money
in a bank swindle. Later, around 1882, James
would return to America and worked in Pittsburgh
for five years. However the urge within James to
wander would soon overtake him and he decided to
go to Australia.
Before leaving, James would visit his brothers
Patrick and Hugh who had settled in DeKalb County,
Illinois. We believe that this visit was in June
or July of 1887. James then traveled to New York
to visit his brothers Michael and Owen before
departing for Australia.
James would return to Ireland for the final time
and purchase his own farm in County Fernanagh.
However, soon after returning, Jim became ill and
his younger brother Henry (and is family) would
move from Edenreagh to take care his ailing
brother.
James died in 1918 at the age of 68 of rheumatic
fever and had suffered with a hernia. He would
often say that he regretted leaving Australia.
