Civil War Soldier - Co A, 92 Illinois Infantry. James enlisted in 1862 and served until March of 1863, when he transferred to the Mississippi Marine Brigade Co I from which he was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864.

James was the son of Jeptha Prouty and Jane Wheeler. He married Irene S Henry on 26 Sep 1866 in Franklin Co,​ Indiana. They were the parents of Edith, Florence, and Helen Irene. James was a lawyer.

Jan 10, 1936 - Humboldt Republican - Items from 20 years ago this week - The death of James N. Prouty that occurred at his home in Humboldt December 28, marked the end of a life that had been spent mainly in this section of Iowa, and the death of a man who was indentified with practically all of the major moves of his vicinity.

March 2, 2000 - Humboldt Independent - James Nathaniel Prouty came to Humboldt, or Springvale as it was known then, in 1869. His wife, Irene, and infant daughter, Edith, were with him. The oldest of 12 children born to Illinois settlers from Pennsylvania, J.N. was a lawyer. His father was a farmer with limited means, but by hard labor and good management became one of the most prosperous farmers in that section of Illinois.

J.N. had seen duty in the Civil War, read law in the office of Bright & Brawley in Freeport, IL, and had been admitted to the bar as an attorney. He practiced law in Freeport for three years, then set out for the exciting opportunities awaiting him in north central Iowa. In 1869, Springvale was six years old, and growing steadily as settlers moved in ...

In 1871 J.N. Prouty was the first mayor of Humboldt. The Prouty family worked hard during the difficult years of the 1870's. Grasshoppers, the 1873 bank panic, and fire tested the town. During the 1876 grasshopper invasion, the Humboldt Kosmos newspaper reported "the hoppers took a march through Prouty's garden last week."

Mr. Prouty was helpful in bringing the railroads to our area, which insured the survival of Humboldt. He worked to establish the Unitarian Church in Humboldt and was a director of the People's Bank. Prouty was a director of the school board for a number of terms and became one of the founders of Humboldt College. J.N. Prouty had a large law practice and extensive real estate and abstract business....

His wife, Irene Sebastian (Henry) Prouty was active in church work and all social affairs. She helped form a society in the new Springvale community in pioneer days. There were three daughters in the family, Edith, Florence and Helen. In 1891 the family built a very fine home at 311 Second Avenue North, later known as the Henry Stone place. A large three-story building, it had a red tile roof. Mrs. Prouty died in 1896. Their lovely home was presided over by her three daughters, with Florence and Helen taking care of the domestic responsibilities.