James come from William the immigrant who had three sons, George, William and Charles.

George settled in SC, William settled in NC and Charles settled in Washington Co TN and died there.

George migrated to Indiana

His son James migrated to Washington State after born in Indiana.

They had lived on the Shawnee Prairie in Fountain County, IN when they decided to cross the plains for Oregon Country. March 6 1853 James, his 2nd wife, Virinda Taylor and James 2 kids from lst wife Susannah [1821-1847],

Elcaine and David, and James and Virinda first 2 kids,

John, and Tibatha left Fountain County, IN and traveled to St. Joseph, MO by boat. In St. Joseph they bought 2 wagons, teams of oxen, carriage and other supplies for the journey. They met John Lane, Asher Sargeant and his family and a few other people that joined their party. Their final start for Puget Sound was May 10 1853. John Lane left the party over a dispute of the death of his prized mare. After they crossed the mountains, they met up with a group of about 100 persons including: Tyrus Himes, Mrs. W.H. Ruddell, Mrs. Nathan Eaton and Mrs. John Dodge. Most of the named pioneers settled east of Olympia, WA to Mima Prairie, WA. Their party was the first party to attempt and succeed a crossing of the Columbia River north of The Dalles through the Naches Pass over the Cascade Mountain Range. They arrived about Oct. 8 1853. The Hudson's Bay Company had told the pioneers they couldn't settle north of the Nisqually River. So, Mr. Longmire crossed the Nisqually River and went south of the River to Yelm Prairie. He and his family settled there and had numerous descendants who live there to this day. Longmire's sons followed in James footsteps as guides and explorers on Mount Rainier, and named many of the features around the mountain.

Yelm, Washington Nickname(s): Pride of the Prairie

James Longmire, one of the first American settlers had this to say upon arriving in Yelm. "Having received due notice from the Hudson Bay ... company not to settle on any lands north of the Nisqually River we crossed the river and went to Yelm prairie, a beautiful spot. I thought as it lay before us covered with tall waving grass, a pretty stream bordered with shrubs and tall trees, flowing through it, and the majestic mountain standing guard over all, in its snowy coat, it was a scene fit for an artist. Herds of deer wandered at leisure through the tall grass."

Longmires homesteaded a claim with a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier on the Yelm Prairie. Because of his close familiarity with the area and mountain, he became a sought-after guide and provider of pack animals. 1870 he played a key role setting up the first ascent of the mountain and he made the third ascent of the mountain in 1883. He discovered the "Longmire Medical Springs" on this climb and developed a business enterprise in the area. They built a cabin by the springs for visitors, his son became a guide and his wife grew famous for her huckleberry pies.

1883 James Longmire built a trail from Succotash Valley in Ashford 13 miles (21 km) to the hot springs where he built cabins in the area which now bears his name.

John Muir described staying there on the way to his ascent of Mount Rainier in 1888. The oldest surviving structure in the National Park is a cabin built by Longmire's son Elcaine Longmire at the springs in 1888.It is located north of the road in the area now called Longmire Meadows.

From 1899 to 1904 approximately 500 people a year visited Longmire Springs in the summer months. They reached the area by train to Ashford and then on Longmire's wagon trail. They enjoyed the mineral springs and the view of Mount Rainier. They could also hike to Paradise or Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds, both about 6 miles (10 km) from Longmire Springs on trails built by the Longmire family.

1890, Longmire built a 5 room hotel, which was later expanded. By 1906, the Longmire's hotel with assorted tents and cabins totaled 30 rooms. In that year, the Tacoma and Eastern Railroad built the original National Park Inn at Longmire, a three-story building with accommodation for 60 guests. Having a competitor establish in the Longmire area soured relations between the National Park and the Longmire family. There followed some legal disputes between the Longmires and park officials including the opening of a saloon by Robert Longmire (James' son) and its subsequent closure by Acting Superintendent Grenville F. Allen who thought it a "public nuisance."

The Longmires wearied of park pressures to improve their facilities, and after Elcaine's death in 1915, they leased their property to the newly-formed Longmire Springs Hotel Company in 1916. The new operators promptly built an additional hotel structure along with 16 wood frame cabins. Although the property was cleaned up and improved, operating as "The New Longmire Springs Hotel," it still did not meet the quality level of the National Park Inn across the road.

Book-James Longmire : his life, his family Author: Marie Bauer Rice Publisher: [Tacoma, Wash.] : M.B. Rice : Longmire Family of Washington 2004.