RossvilleKansasGenealogy
Genealogy for the Rossville, Kansas area, compiled by the Rossville Community Library.
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Asa A James

Male 1900 - 1910  (10 years)


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  • Name Asa A James 
    Born 1900 
    Gender Male 
    Died Nov 1910  Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Olive Branch Cemetery, Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I4177  Rossville
    Last Modified 24 Feb 2021 

    Father Robert D James,   b. 16 Feb 1867,   d. 1932  (Age 64 years) 
    Mother Sarah Alice Page James,   b. 22 Nov 1865, Iowa County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Dec 1917, Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 52 years) 
    Married 4 Apr 1886 
    Family ID F163  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Documents
    Obituary- James, Asa 1
    Obituary- James, Asa 1
    A Terrible Tragedy
    Peter Kovar Shoots Asa James
    Claims it was Accidental

    Rossville and vicinity was inexpressly [sic] shocked when the news was ‘phoned in Sunday evening from R.D. James’ farm that their nine year old son, Asa, had been shot and killed. The shooting took place about 6 o’clock, in the evening, shortly after the boy had left the house to pull alfalfa to feed the hogs.

    The report of the gun was heard by the family, followed by screams, and when the father reached the pasture he found the little fellow wrething [sic] in mortal agony. A physician was ‘phoned from Delia and the wounded boy carried to the house, where he died in a few minutes, without having made any statement as to who did the shooting.

    Coroner Keith and Sheriff Norton arrived in Rossville shortly after midnight on the west-bound flyer, and drove at once to the scene of the tragedy. Many wild rumors were circulated as to the manner of killing, but nothing definite was obtained until nearly noon Monday. Searching parties had been out all morning and tracks leading from the spot where the shooting took place were being followed. These were leading directly to John Kovar’s house, about a mile northeast of the James place. Mr. Kovar went to them and said they need look no further, as his boy, Peter, did the shooting. Peter Kovar is ten years old. According to his story, he and a neighbor boy, John Selik, fourteen years old, had gone to Will Kovar’s house, an uncle, who lives almost directly across the road from the James residence, to borrow a rifle to shoot crows with. The Selik boy carried a rifle. Peter said his uncle gave him the rifle loaded and cocked and told him to shoot crows. The two left the house and passed along the road north when they met young Asa James who was just over the fence pulling alfalfa. They stopped and asked what he was doing and a general boyish conversation took place, about the number of pigs each owned. When he lifted his rifle to go young Kovar says the trigger must have caught in his clothing for the gun when off and Asa fell to the ground. Then they both ran home.

    There are other versions of the affair to the effect that the Selik boy told Kovar to shoot James and that Kovar deliberately aimed the rifle and pulled the trigger. There are several who were in the vicinity of the killing who claim to have hear two shots fired close together. The bullet that killed the little boy entered the abdomen a little below the center. It severed the large artery, as well as many of the intestines, and lodged in the backbone. There was also a wound on the left hand consisting of a furrow across the fore finger and a bullet hole in the back of the thumb.

    The coroner’s inquest will be held this afternoon in the city building at Rossville, conducted by Coroner Keith and County Attorney Schenck. A thorough probing into the facts will be made and the blame placed where it belongs.
    Obituary- James, Asa 2
    Obituary- James, Asa 2
    The affair is one of the most distressing that ever happened in this vicinity. There was never any enmity existing between the James and Kovar families so far as known and both families are heart broken over the tragedy.

    The funeral of Asa James was held Tuesday afternoon from the U.B. Church north of town. Rev. Wykert delivered a touching sermon that aroused the tenderest sympathy for the bereaved family. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and the yard was well filled with sorrowing friends and neighbors. The interment took place in the U.B. cemetery.

    Sheriff Norton took the Kovar and Selik boys to Topeka Monday evening and they were arraigned in the Juvenile court the next morning. After hearing their testimony and that of the officials, they were admitted to bail in the sume of $500 each, which was furnished by the father of young Kovar, who had accompanied the young boys to Topeka. They came home Tuesday noon to await the inquest this (Friday) afternoon.