James Monroe Tomlinson was the son of Humphrey Wiley and Amanda Melvina Thomas Tomlinson. He married Louisa Vickery Bingham on 10-7-1857 in Burnet, Burnet Co, Texas. James and Louisa had 3 daughters: Sarah, Eveline and Amanda. They were known as Sallie, Allie and Sue.

James came to Texas sometime around 1855 to 1857. It is possible he was here earlier since there is a James Tomlinson who received a land grant in Lamar County in 1839. After the death of his wife, he moved to Salado, Bell Co, TX to be nearer his mother. Then in 1870 he moved to Belton, Bell Co, Texas. In the 1860 census, he's in Burnet County and living next door to Jane Sugg and Columbus Bingham. By 1870, he's in Belton, Bell Co, TX, and back in Burnet Cty on the 1880 census. In 1900, he is living with his daughter, Sarah Ann and her husband, William Hanna Erwin in Burnet.

I have letters James Monroe wrote to his daughters that they should count on the Bingham's while he is away on business. His daughters were 8, 5 and 3 when their mother died and when their father left town on business, they ran the farm with the help of their Bingham grandparents.

During the Civil War, James served as a "home ranger", protecting the city and county from Indian attacks. He is found listed as Pvt. J. M. Tomlinson in the Burnet Guards, Cav. Co., 27th Brig., enlisting 8/1861. Then a muster record and payment as 1st Lieut. James M. Tomlinson CSA, Burnet Guards from Ja 28, 1864 to Je 1, 1864.

James Tomlinson was a high official in the Masons. Aunt Lou and Jennybelle were Eastern Star. My mother wrote a letter to Judge Ferguson in Burnet Texas and received a letter from Lucille Smith Craddock, Rt 2, Box 313, Burnet, TX 78611. Judge Ferguson said: "James Tomlinson went into Lodge on 4/9/1881 and was 'Worshipful Master' in 1883 and 1885. He says there was another James Tomlinson in the Lodge in 1856, but does not know if it was James Monroe."