Pickens, West Virginia

James married Mary A. (Hamilton) Hefner daughter of Osborne and Catherine Hamilton.  Jim purchased all land from heirs when his father died in 1862, and later accumulated several thousand acres in the Pickens area.  He became a notary public and led the formation of Helvetia, Florence and Pickens.  In 1873, he brought the first steam sawmill into the Randolph County, and assisted Senator J.N. Camden in establishing the Pickens Lumber Co. and extending the B&O Railroad into Pickens.  Jim was an excellent surveyor; he rode beautiful horses, impressed citizens with his authoritative manner.