View online death certificate.

The rumor heard from various descendants, myself included, is that James William changed his last name to Earven to disassociate himself with Jesse James. One cousin states she was told that the name was changed after he came to AZ from Missouri. Death certificate indicates James William was born in Mississippi but, perhaps the abbreviation of Miss. was meant to refer to Missouri. The rumor entailed that Earven may have been his first or middle name and he just changed his name around so it would no longer be linked to the outlaw however, we have now found out through DNA testing of 3 male Earven grandsons that James William may not have been a "James" at all but, likely was a "Todd" - with research indicating a Todd affiliation to the Jesse James gang (a Confederate guerrilla leader during the American Civil War). We may never know the actual truth but, we just may be getting closer.

James and Beulah's first born child was born in 1896 in Globe, AZ. Beulah would have been 16 at the time. It hasn't been confirmed, that I'm aware of, whether they met in TX (where Beulah was born) or whether they met and married in AZ or, NM (where her family moved to).

Prior to AZ, James William may have lived in NM. Although James William may have been trying to keep clear of the stigma with Jesse James, descendants have heard stories that James Williams, himself, was an outlaw.

One story: Two of his sons overheard him talking to Mr. Shores (2 of his children married a "Shore") about robbing a bank in the East, escaped by hiding in a river (in the cattails) until clear. Moved to Mexico, lived there for 7 yrs before moving to AZ & marrying Beulah. Possibly during 1889, at age 24.

Another story told to me by my grandma: He killed a sheriff's deputy in Texas and was hiding in the Moggollons (mountains in NM/AZ). Unclear when/how old, if pre- or post-marriage?

Most of his childrens' birth certificates indicate he was born in Mississippi/Miss.


*Grandson, Ray Earven, made the gravestone for his grandparents and other family members in this cemetery.

>If you know of any other facts or stories the family would be more than happy to hear them and, if you are descended, we have a Facebook group we have created and welcome you to join..please email me, link on my profile page.