James was the biological son of Anthony 'Tony' Leopold and Katherine 'Kate' Ludwig. James had one full sister, Antoinette 'Annette" Leopold Nash Everett. He also had 3 biological half-siblings by his father, Tony Leopold - but he never personally knew them.
There is no birth record for James. Kate likely gave birth to him at her home on Cabel Street in Louisville, perhaps with the help of her next-door neighbor, Susie Chambers - who may have already decided together what would happen with Kate's child once born.
After his birth, James was unofficially adopted by George W. Chambers of Kentucky (1872-1947, Find-a-grave memorial # 135115404) and his wife Artemissa 'Susie' Norris Chambers of Kentucky (1879-1956, Find-a-grave memorial # 135363375). George and Susie lived next door to Kate Ludwig from about 1903 to after 1910, so Kate did get to see her son grow up. George and Susie were wonderful adoptive parents and kept a friendly relationship with James' biological mother, Kate into the 1940's. George and Susie Chambers are buried at Eastern Cemetery.
The first documentation of James appears on the 1910 census in Louisville at 5 years old, living with his 'parents' George and Susie Chambers on Cabel Street. Curiously on the census for Susie, it shows that she has 0 (zero) children born and 0 (zero) children living. Living next door is the single Kate Ludwig (who was listed on the 1900 census as Kate Leopold). Between 2015-2018 through autosomal and Y-DNA analysis of James's son, it was 100% confirmed that the biological parents of James Chambers were Katherine 'Kate' Ludwig and Anthony 'Tony' Leopold.
In the mid 1920's James worked as a chauffeur and later as a trucker, frequently hauling goods from Louisville to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He also worked in the printing business in Louisville for Louisville Label Inc., which became his steady job for many years.
In March 1927, James married Sarah K Smith in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The marriage was short lived and they were divorced in 1928. There were no children from this marriage.
On July 7, 1928, in Jeffersonville, Indiana James married Ruthannetta Gelthaus of Louisville who was born in 1909. Together they had one son, James H. Chambers Jr, born in 1931. From all accounts, they had a wonderful marriage and there are many photos of the young couple very obviously in love. Ruthannetta passed away of cancer at the young age of 36 in 1945. Although she had been ill for a long time, James was heartbroken and inconsolable after Ruth died. She is buried at Eastern Cemetery in Louisville near James' adopted parents George and Susie Chambers.
In 1950, James married divorcee Ruth L. (nee Brown) Franklin of Louisville (1909 KY - 2002 KY). They did not have any children together but Ruth had a daughter, Lois Jean Franklin from her previous marriage.
James was a 50 year member of Moose Lodge # 5 and a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Louisville.
James passed away in Louisville in 1999 at the age of 94.
James was survived by his wife, the former Ruth Brown Franklin, his son James Chambers Jr., 2 grandsons, 3 great-grandchildren, his step-daughter Lois Franklin Osborne, one step-grandson and 3 step-great-grandchildren.
There is no birth record for James. Kate likely gave birth to him at her home on Cabel Street in Louisville, perhaps with the help of her next-door neighbor, Susie Chambers - who may have already decided together what would happen with Kate's child once born.
After his birth, James was unofficially adopted by George W. Chambers of Kentucky (1872-1947, Find-a-grave memorial # 135115404) and his wife Artemissa 'Susie' Norris Chambers of Kentucky (1879-1956, Find-a-grave memorial # 135363375). George and Susie lived next door to Kate Ludwig from about 1903 to after 1910, so Kate did get to see her son grow up. George and Susie were wonderful adoptive parents and kept a friendly relationship with James' biological mother, Kate into the 1940's. George and Susie Chambers are buried at Eastern Cemetery.
The first documentation of James appears on the 1910 census in Louisville at 5 years old, living with his 'parents' George and Susie Chambers on Cabel Street. Curiously on the census for Susie, it shows that she has 0 (zero) children born and 0 (zero) children living. Living next door is the single Kate Ludwig (who was listed on the 1900 census as Kate Leopold). Between 2015-2018 through autosomal and Y-DNA analysis of James's son, it was 100% confirmed that the biological parents of James Chambers were Katherine 'Kate' Ludwig and Anthony 'Tony' Leopold.
In the mid 1920's James worked as a chauffeur and later as a trucker, frequently hauling goods from Louisville to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He also worked in the printing business in Louisville for Louisville Label Inc., which became his steady job for many years.
In March 1927, James married Sarah K Smith in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The marriage was short lived and they were divorced in 1928. There were no children from this marriage.
On July 7, 1928, in Jeffersonville, Indiana James married Ruthannetta Gelthaus of Louisville who was born in 1909. Together they had one son, James H. Chambers Jr, born in 1931. From all accounts, they had a wonderful marriage and there are many photos of the young couple very obviously in love. Ruthannetta passed away of cancer at the young age of 36 in 1945. Although she had been ill for a long time, James was heartbroken and inconsolable after Ruth died. She is buried at Eastern Cemetery in Louisville near James' adopted parents George and Susie Chambers.
In 1950, James married divorcee Ruth L. (nee Brown) Franklin of Louisville (1909 KY - 2002 KY). They did not have any children together but Ruth had a daughter, Lois Jean Franklin from her previous marriage.
James was a 50 year member of Moose Lodge # 5 and a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Louisville.
James passed away in Louisville in 1999 at the age of 94.
James was survived by his wife, the former Ruth Brown Franklin, his son James Chambers Jr., 2 grandsons, 3 great-grandchildren, his step-daughter Lois Franklin Osborne, one step-grandson and 3 step-great-grandchildren.
James was the biological son of Anthony 'Tony' Leopold and Katherine 'Kate' Ludwig. James had one full sister, Antoinette 'Annette" Leopold Nash Everett. He also had 3 biological half-siblings by his father, Tony Leopold - but he never personally knew them.
There is no birth record for James. Kate likely gave birth to him at her home on Cabel Street in Louisville, perhaps with the help of her next-door neighbor, Susie Chambers - who may have already decided together what would happen with Kate's child once born.
After his birth, James was unofficially adopted by George W. Chambers of Kentucky (1872-1947, Find-a-grave memorial # 135115404) and his wife Artemissa 'Susie' Norris Chambers of Kentucky (1879-1956, Find-a-grave memorial # 135363375). George and Susie lived next door to Kate Ludwig from about 1903 to after 1910, so Kate did get to see her son grow up. George and Susie were wonderful adoptive parents and kept a friendly relationship with James' biological mother, Kate into the 1940's. George and Susie Chambers are buried at Eastern Cemetery.
The first documentation of James appears on the 1910 census in Louisville at 5 years old, living with his 'parents' George and Susie Chambers on Cabel Street. Curiously on the census for Susie, it shows that she has 0 (zero) children born and 0 (zero) children living. Living next door is the single Kate Ludwig (who was listed on the 1900 census as Kate Leopold). Between 2015-2018 through autosomal and Y-DNA analysis of James's son, it was 100% confirmed that the biological parents of James Chambers were Katherine 'Kate' Ludwig and Anthony 'Tony' Leopold.
In the mid 1920's James worked as a chauffeur and later as a trucker, frequently hauling goods from Louisville to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He also worked in the printing business in Louisville for Louisville Label Inc., which became his steady job for many years.
In March 1927, James married Sarah K Smith in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The marriage was short lived and they were divorced in 1928. There were no children from this marriage.
On July 7, 1928, in Jeffersonville, Indiana James married Ruthannetta Gelthaus of Louisville who was born in 1909. Together they had one son, James H. Chambers Jr, born in 1931. From all accounts, they had a wonderful marriage and there are many photos of the young couple very obviously in love. Ruthannetta passed away of cancer at the young age of 36 in 1945. Although she had been ill for a long time, James was heartbroken and inconsolable after Ruth died. She is buried at Eastern Cemetery in Louisville near James' adopted parents George and Susie Chambers.
In 1950, James married divorcee Ruth L. (nee Brown) Franklin of Louisville (1909 KY - 2002 KY). They did not have any children together but Ruth had a daughter, Lois Jean Franklin from her previous marriage.
James was a 50 year member of Moose Lodge # 5 and a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Louisville.
James passed away in Louisville in 1999 at the age of 94.
James was survived by his wife, the former Ruth Brown Franklin, his son James Chambers Jr., 2 grandsons, 3 great-grandchildren, his step-daughter Lois Franklin Osborne, one step-grandson and 3 step-great-grandchildren.
There is no birth record for James. Kate likely gave birth to him at her home on Cabel Street in Louisville, perhaps with the help of her next-door neighbor, Susie Chambers - who may have already decided together what would happen with Kate's child once born.
After his birth, James was unofficially adopted by George W. Chambers of Kentucky (1872-1947, Find-a-grave memorial # 135115404) and his wife Artemissa 'Susie' Norris Chambers of Kentucky (1879-1956, Find-a-grave memorial # 135363375). George and Susie lived next door to Kate Ludwig from about 1903 to after 1910, so Kate did get to see her son grow up. George and Susie were wonderful adoptive parents and kept a friendly relationship with James' biological mother, Kate into the 1940's. George and Susie Chambers are buried at Eastern Cemetery.
The first documentation of James appears on the 1910 census in Louisville at 5 years old, living with his 'parents' George and Susie Chambers on Cabel Street. Curiously on the census for Susie, it shows that she has 0 (zero) children born and 0 (zero) children living. Living next door is the single Kate Ludwig (who was listed on the 1900 census as Kate Leopold). Between 2015-2018 through autosomal and Y-DNA analysis of James's son, it was 100% confirmed that the biological parents of James Chambers were Katherine 'Kate' Ludwig and Anthony 'Tony' Leopold.
In the mid 1920's James worked as a chauffeur and later as a trucker, frequently hauling goods from Louisville to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He also worked in the printing business in Louisville for Louisville Label Inc., which became his steady job for many years.
In March 1927, James married Sarah K Smith in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The marriage was short lived and they were divorced in 1928. There were no children from this marriage.
On July 7, 1928, in Jeffersonville, Indiana James married Ruthannetta Gelthaus of Louisville who was born in 1909. Together they had one son, James H. Chambers Jr, born in 1931. From all accounts, they had a wonderful marriage and there are many photos of the young couple very obviously in love. Ruthannetta passed away of cancer at the young age of 36 in 1945. Although she had been ill for a long time, James was heartbroken and inconsolable after Ruth died. She is buried at Eastern Cemetery in Louisville near James' adopted parents George and Susie Chambers.
In 1950, James married divorcee Ruth L. (nee Brown) Franklin of Louisville (1909 KY - 2002 KY). They did not have any children together but Ruth had a daughter, Lois Jean Franklin from her previous marriage.
James was a 50 year member of Moose Lodge # 5 and a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Louisville.
James passed away in Louisville in 1999 at the age of 94.
James was survived by his wife, the former Ruth Brown Franklin, his son James Chambers Jr., 2 grandsons, 3 great-grandchildren, his step-daughter Lois Franklin Osborne, one step-grandson and 3 step-great-grandchildren.
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