James (Jr.) was born in Lexington, KY, the son of an ex-slave (James Emory) who took care of horses. His father won his own freedom around the time of the Civil War. James's mother is not known.
James Jr. and his father most likely came to Baltimore around 1874, and it is thought that his father might have worked at the Marburg Estate, located on Reisterstown Rd. (taking care of the horses and/or the grounds). In 1875, my grandfather, James Henry ("Harry") Riefle, and his parents moved from their home on North Ave. to Reisterstown Road, nearby the vicinity of the Marburg Estate. My grandfather and James were playmates.
James was a humble man. He had only enough education to roughly read and write, but he knew how to take care of farm animals, grow crops, tend to landscaping for the neighborhood, and modestly survive. Being friends with my grandfather from their childhood together, James later became a caretaker of my grandfather's property at 4228 Reisterstown Road (bulldozed in 1965). At that address, James lived in a tiny 2-room apartment in the back of the house, at ground level. It is remembered that James had a kitchen area and an area for a rocking chair and a poster bed which had a big picture of Abe Lincoln hanging above the headboard. The rooms had dirt floors, which James kept tidied. James had style - he always wore a modest suit when working.
For a little while before and after WWII, my parents lived in that same home on the floor above James. During the war, my father, Leonard Marion Bahr, was stationed in FL and my two siblings would write to James because they missed him, and James would write them back. I was not born yet then, but later, at a young age, I'd visit my dad in his later 4228 studio address, and then, having better things to do, would go visit James.
In circa 1936, my father painted James's portrait [see photo reproduction] in his previous studio on Park Heights Ave. It was one of the most touching portraits my father ever painted and resides in the Maryland Historical Soc'y. Leonard's last wish before he died was to have his artistic legacy remembered and I vowed to keep his name & art in a public venue if I could. So I was thrilled when the MHSoc'y wanted it and to exhibit it. ( I have to report an update The Md. Historical Soc'y rescinded the painting based on lies & manipulations of my sister about my rights of last ownership and to the detriment of my character. And so, instead of informing me, the Md.Historical Soc'y broke our mutual contract and gave the painting to the lawyer of the previous owner (my cousin, who had given it to me but later rescinded her testimony), which lawyer, also without informing me, sent it to my niece & her husband in N.O. I've never received word from anyone as to why they did this behind my back. So now, the painting is without public legacy, without a future, without proper maintenance, and even now silenced as to the subject of James Emory's history in Maryland.]
My grandfather Riefle taught James how to save his money in a bank because James never cashed his checks -- he just pinned them to his walls. At the interest of my father, James taught my father how to cut grass with a scythe and grow tomatoes. He had a wonderful laugh. My father filmed home movies showing James, always dressed like a gentleman, shoveling snow. All my first cousins met James and some of them are pictured with him [see photo].
James had a common-law wife in Pimlico who called him "Emory." On his death certificate, James is listed as "separated." James was the father of one or more children, who are otherwise unknown at this time - except the informant on his death certificate: Robert G. Emory of 3437 Paton Ave., Baltimore City, who was most likely his son.
Before his death, James was living at No. 15, 4240 Reisterstown Road and was a janitor for an apartment house.
At 9:30 a.m. at Maryland General Hospital, James died at age 90 of bronchial pneumonia aggravated by pulmonary emphysema. After surgery, a staff physician signed the death certificate. James rested at the Holland[?] Funeral Home located at 1631 Druid Hill Ave. Though St. Thomas Cemetery is hidden from Liberty Rd., it is located behind Union Bethel AME Church. After much searching down wrong streets and neighborhoods, something or someone steered by car up a dead end driveway where I had no intention of going . Needless to say I think James wanted to be found.
He was one of those people in life whom it was truly a privilege to meet. He will not be forgotten.
James Jr. and his father most likely came to Baltimore around 1874, and it is thought that his father might have worked at the Marburg Estate, located on Reisterstown Rd. (taking care of the horses and/or the grounds). In 1875, my grandfather, James Henry ("Harry") Riefle, and his parents moved from their home on North Ave. to Reisterstown Road, nearby the vicinity of the Marburg Estate. My grandfather and James were playmates.
James was a humble man. He had only enough education to roughly read and write, but he knew how to take care of farm animals, grow crops, tend to landscaping for the neighborhood, and modestly survive. Being friends with my grandfather from their childhood together, James later became a caretaker of my grandfather's property at 4228 Reisterstown Road (bulldozed in 1965). At that address, James lived in a tiny 2-room apartment in the back of the house, at ground level. It is remembered that James had a kitchen area and an area for a rocking chair and a poster bed which had a big picture of Abe Lincoln hanging above the headboard. The rooms had dirt floors, which James kept tidied. James had style - he always wore a modest suit when working.
For a little while before and after WWII, my parents lived in that same home on the floor above James. During the war, my father, Leonard Marion Bahr, was stationed in FL and my two siblings would write to James because they missed him, and James would write them back. I was not born yet then, but later, at a young age, I'd visit my dad in his later 4228 studio address, and then, having better things to do, would go visit James.
In circa 1936, my father painted James's portrait [see photo reproduction] in his previous studio on Park Heights Ave. It was one of the most touching portraits my father ever painted and resides in the Maryland Historical Soc'y. Leonard's last wish before he died was to have his artistic legacy remembered and I vowed to keep his name & art in a public venue if I could. So I was thrilled when the MHSoc'y wanted it and to exhibit it. ( I have to report an update The Md. Historical Soc'y rescinded the painting based on lies & manipulations of my sister about my rights of last ownership and to the detriment of my character. And so, instead of informing me, the Md.Historical Soc'y broke our mutual contract and gave the painting to the lawyer of the previous owner (my cousin, who had given it to me but later rescinded her testimony), which lawyer, also without informing me, sent it to my niece & her husband in N.O. I've never received word from anyone as to why they did this behind my back. So now, the painting is without public legacy, without a future, without proper maintenance, and even now silenced as to the subject of James Emory's history in Maryland.]
My grandfather Riefle taught James how to save his money in a bank because James never cashed his checks -- he just pinned them to his walls. At the interest of my father, James taught my father how to cut grass with a scythe and grow tomatoes. He had a wonderful laugh. My father filmed home movies showing James, always dressed like a gentleman, shoveling snow. All my first cousins met James and some of them are pictured with him [see photo].
James had a common-law wife in Pimlico who called him "Emory." On his death certificate, James is listed as "separated." James was the father of one or more children, who are otherwise unknown at this time - except the informant on his death certificate: Robert G. Emory of 3437 Paton Ave., Baltimore City, who was most likely his son.
Before his death, James was living at No. 15, 4240 Reisterstown Road and was a janitor for an apartment house.
At 9:30 a.m. at Maryland General Hospital, James died at age 90 of bronchial pneumonia aggravated by pulmonary emphysema. After surgery, a staff physician signed the death certificate. James rested at the Holland[?] Funeral Home located at 1631 Druid Hill Ave. Though St. Thomas Cemetery is hidden from Liberty Rd., it is located behind Union Bethel AME Church. After much searching down wrong streets and neighborhoods, something or someone steered by car up a dead end driveway where I had no intention of going . Needless to say I think James wanted to be found.
He was one of those people in life whom it was truly a privilege to meet. He will not be forgotten.
James (Jr.) was born in Lexington, KY, the son of an ex-slave (James Emory) who took care of horses. His father won his own freedom around the time of the Civil War. James's mother is not known.
James Jr. and his father most likely came to Baltimore around 1874, and it is thought that his father might have worked at the Marburg Estate, located on Reisterstown Rd. (taking care of the horses and/or the grounds). In 1875, my grandfather, James Henry ("Harry") Riefle, and his parents moved from their home on North Ave. to Reisterstown Road, nearby the vicinity of the Marburg Estate. My grandfather and James were playmates.
James was a humble man. He had only enough education to roughly read and write, but he knew how to take care of farm animals, grow crops, tend to landscaping for the neighborhood, and modestly survive. Being friends with my grandfather from their childhood together, James later became a caretaker of my grandfather's property at 4228 Reisterstown Road (bulldozed in 1965). At that address, James lived in a tiny 2-room apartment in the back of the house, at ground level. It is remembered that James had a kitchen area and an area for a rocking chair and a poster bed which had a big picture of Abe Lincoln hanging above the headboard. The rooms had dirt floors, which James kept tidied. James had style - he always wore a modest suit when working.
For a little while before and after WWII, my parents lived in that same home on the floor above James. During the war, my father, Leonard Marion Bahr, was stationed in FL and my two siblings would write to James because they missed him, and James would write them back. I was not born yet then, but later, at a young age, I'd visit my dad in his later 4228 studio address, and then, having better things to do, would go visit James.
In circa 1936, my father painted James's portrait [see photo reproduction] in his previous studio on Park Heights Ave. It was one of the most touching portraits my father ever painted and resides in the Maryland Historical Soc'y. Leonard's last wish before he died was to have his artistic legacy remembered and I vowed to keep his name & art in a public venue if I could. So I was thrilled when the MHSoc'y wanted it and to exhibit it. ( I have to report an update The Md. Historical Soc'y rescinded the painting based on lies & manipulations of my sister about my rights of last ownership and to the detriment of my character. And so, instead of informing me, the Md.Historical Soc'y broke our mutual contract and gave the painting to the lawyer of the previous owner (my cousin, who had given it to me but later rescinded her testimony), which lawyer, also without informing me, sent it to my niece & her husband in N.O. I've never received word from anyone as to why they did this behind my back. So now, the painting is without public legacy, without a future, without proper maintenance, and even now silenced as to the subject of James Emory's history in Maryland.]
My grandfather Riefle taught James how to save his money in a bank because James never cashed his checks -- he just pinned them to his walls. At the interest of my father, James taught my father how to cut grass with a scythe and grow tomatoes. He had a wonderful laugh. My father filmed home movies showing James, always dressed like a gentleman, shoveling snow. All my first cousins met James and some of them are pictured with him [see photo].
James had a common-law wife in Pimlico who called him "Emory." On his death certificate, James is listed as "separated." James was the father of one or more children, who are otherwise unknown at this time - except the informant on his death certificate: Robert G. Emory of 3437 Paton Ave., Baltimore City, who was most likely his son.
Before his death, James was living at No. 15, 4240 Reisterstown Road and was a janitor for an apartment house.
At 9:30 a.m. at Maryland General Hospital, James died at age 90 of bronchial pneumonia aggravated by pulmonary emphysema. After surgery, a staff physician signed the death certificate. James rested at the Holland[?] Funeral Home located at 1631 Druid Hill Ave. Though St. Thomas Cemetery is hidden from Liberty Rd., it is located behind Union Bethel AME Church. After much searching down wrong streets and neighborhoods, something or someone steered by car up a dead end driveway where I had no intention of going . Needless to say I think James wanted to be found.
He was one of those people in life whom it was truly a privilege to meet. He will not be forgotten.
James Jr. and his father most likely came to Baltimore around 1874, and it is thought that his father might have worked at the Marburg Estate, located on Reisterstown Rd. (taking care of the horses and/or the grounds). In 1875, my grandfather, James Henry ("Harry") Riefle, and his parents moved from their home on North Ave. to Reisterstown Road, nearby the vicinity of the Marburg Estate. My grandfather and James were playmates.
James was a humble man. He had only enough education to roughly read and write, but he knew how to take care of farm animals, grow crops, tend to landscaping for the neighborhood, and modestly survive. Being friends with my grandfather from their childhood together, James later became a caretaker of my grandfather's property at 4228 Reisterstown Road (bulldozed in 1965). At that address, James lived in a tiny 2-room apartment in the back of the house, at ground level. It is remembered that James had a kitchen area and an area for a rocking chair and a poster bed which had a big picture of Abe Lincoln hanging above the headboard. The rooms had dirt floors, which James kept tidied. James had style - he always wore a modest suit when working.
For a little while before and after WWII, my parents lived in that same home on the floor above James. During the war, my father, Leonard Marion Bahr, was stationed in FL and my two siblings would write to James because they missed him, and James would write them back. I was not born yet then, but later, at a young age, I'd visit my dad in his later 4228 studio address, and then, having better things to do, would go visit James.
In circa 1936, my father painted James's portrait [see photo reproduction] in his previous studio on Park Heights Ave. It was one of the most touching portraits my father ever painted and resides in the Maryland Historical Soc'y. Leonard's last wish before he died was to have his artistic legacy remembered and I vowed to keep his name & art in a public venue if I could. So I was thrilled when the MHSoc'y wanted it and to exhibit it. ( I have to report an update The Md. Historical Soc'y rescinded the painting based on lies & manipulations of my sister about my rights of last ownership and to the detriment of my character. And so, instead of informing me, the Md.Historical Soc'y broke our mutual contract and gave the painting to the lawyer of the previous owner (my cousin, who had given it to me but later rescinded her testimony), which lawyer, also without informing me, sent it to my niece & her husband in N.O. I've never received word from anyone as to why they did this behind my back. So now, the painting is without public legacy, without a future, without proper maintenance, and even now silenced as to the subject of James Emory's history in Maryland.]
My grandfather Riefle taught James how to save his money in a bank because James never cashed his checks -- he just pinned them to his walls. At the interest of my father, James taught my father how to cut grass with a scythe and grow tomatoes. He had a wonderful laugh. My father filmed home movies showing James, always dressed like a gentleman, shoveling snow. All my first cousins met James and some of them are pictured with him [see photo].
James had a common-law wife in Pimlico who called him "Emory." On his death certificate, James is listed as "separated." James was the father of one or more children, who are otherwise unknown at this time - except the informant on his death certificate: Robert G. Emory of 3437 Paton Ave., Baltimore City, who was most likely his son.
Before his death, James was living at No. 15, 4240 Reisterstown Road and was a janitor for an apartment house.
At 9:30 a.m. at Maryland General Hospital, James died at age 90 of bronchial pneumonia aggravated by pulmonary emphysema. After surgery, a staff physician signed the death certificate. James rested at the Holland[?] Funeral Home located at 1631 Druid Hill Ave. Though St. Thomas Cemetery is hidden from Liberty Rd., it is located behind Union Bethel AME Church. After much searching down wrong streets and neighborhoods, something or someone steered by car up a dead end driveway where I had no intention of going . Needless to say I think James wanted to be found.
He was one of those people in life whom it was truly a privilege to meet. He will not be forgotten.
