James (Jim) Williamson Vaden was born March 17, 1842 in Smith County, Tennessee. He died April 24, 1918 at his daughter
Edna V. Rea's in Kingston, Oklahoma.  He is buried in West Hill Cemetery, Sherman, Texas on the Fitch lot.
James married Mary (Mollie) Elizabeth Fitch on April 26, 1872 in Sherman at her parents home located on the corner of Vaden St. and Cherry.  The family story is that there were approximately 500 guests at their wedding supper.
Mary Elizabeth Fitch Vaden is the daughter of John A. (1824 - 1880) and Mary J. Fitch (1828 - 1895).  She was born in 1850 and died July 5, 1906 at Roff, Indian Territory. She was the first girl baby born in Sherman.  She was know for her wit and apt remarks.
James was a member of the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A.  He served east of the Mississippi River in the Confederate Army.  The 11th Texas was "about the fightingest regiment" from Texas.  Of the 1200 who first volunteered, only about 100 were still living at the close of the War.
He bought the old homestead from his brothers and sisters after their parents' death, paying Henry, at least, in cattle.  He and his wife lived there sometime, then they sold the place to the county to become the county farm for indigents.  A 1/4 acre, on which was the family cemetery, was reserved.
He moved to Clay County to ranch, but Mollie always hated it out there and her father agreed with her in that it was no place for a white woman.  She remarked to her brother-in-law, Henry Vaden, that the residents of Clay County shouldn't mind dying and going to hell because they couldn't even detect any change!
Once when Jim was coming back to Sherman on business, he left Mollie and the children on the ranch.  Soon after he had gone, she became so lonesome she couldn't bear it, so had the negro harness the mules to the wagon.  She and the children got in and nearly beat Jim to Sherman.  They never returned to the ranch after that.

In 1900 they moved to Roff, Oklahoma, where they lived until Mollie's death in about 1906.  After the loss of his wife, Jim spent his time with his children. Noteworthy positions he held were as a member of the Oklahoma Legislature; as a representative from Pontotoc County from November 1916 to November 1918, the 6th Session. He also visited his brothers, Frank and Henry, and his cousins in Tennessee.  He was alway a welcome visitor at our house when he came several times a year because of his news of all the family and his interesting stories.
Jim was Sheriff of Grayson County about 1874 and again in 1896.  His brothers, Frank and Henry, served as deputies under him.
He never molested the James brothers, who frequently took refuge in Grayson County, and stayed with their sister who lived northeast of town.  He said that they had served a common cause in the recent war and that he had no grudge against them.  The James brothers were made outlaws by the Yankees in Missouri.
 

	BERT VADEN b. 12 August 1872 Sherman, TX d. 22 November 1910	Tall, Slender, Brunett Never married Killed accidentally
	EULA VADEN b. 7 June 1877 Sherman, TX d. 18 August 1948 m. 24 July 1901	Buried at Carthage, TN Married Luther Bigelow Flippen (1861 - 1927) at her cousin, Will Vaden's home in Elmwood, TN Children: Vaden, Mary, Virginia