James was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Festus R. Metcalf. Festus was a wealthy dry goods merchant. James graduated from Adrian College in 1897 and worked as manager of job printing for the Adrian Times. He also worked in Chicago. In 1899 he married Carrie E. Wilson. They moved to Mont., where James worked as editor of the Picket (Red Lodge, Mont.) and the Daily Record (Helena, Mont.) in 1901. He was promoted to telegraph operator of the Daily Record in 1902. James moved to Thermopolis (Wy.) in 1905 and started his own paper, the Western Homeseeker. In 1906 he took over the Dawson Co. Review (Glendive, Mont.). In 1914 he was the editor of both the American Press (N.Y.) and the News Courier (Fargo, N.D.). The Metcalfs were active in the Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star. James also served as Mont. State Sec., 1903, and President, 1904-1905, of the Epworth League. Together, the Metcalfs had a daughter, Mardelle (Feb. 1905-May 1906). In 1914, the Metcalfs divorced. (Information from the scrapbook.).
From the description of Book of clippings, 1898-1914. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 50239888
