Son of Absalom March and Elizabeth Brandenburg. Married Emily Ann Roberts 26 NOV 1840 in Boone County, Missouri; Officiant is Wilhite Fielding."∼James March, an old and much respected citizen of Benton Township, Knox County, Mo., was born in Clark County, Ky., March 9, 1816 and is the son of Absalom and Elizabeth (Brandenburgh) March. The father of our subject was of Swiss ancestors. He was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born January 6, 1788, and his father, Jacob March was from North Carolina, and came to Kentucky when the Indians were very numerous and very hostile, and the pioneers were obliged to build block houses as a means of protection. The father of our subject was a resident of Clark County, Ky., until 1828, when he came to Boone County, Mo., and there resided until his death, which occurred March 6, 1870. He was a farmer all his life. About 1850 he joined the Christian Church, but later, with his wife, became a Baptist. The mother of our subject was of Irish ancestors, and was born in Clark County, Ky., December 22, 1796, and died in Boone County, Mo., June 12, 1852. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and her husband was a member of the Christian Church. To their marriage were born twelve children, seven now living, our subject being the eldest. He received a liberal education in Howard County, and then engaged in teaching school for the next three years, when not farming. November 26, 1840, he married Emily Ann Roberts, who was born in Madison County, Ky., April 18, 1821. Her parents, Lawrence and Elizabeth (Flemming) Roberts, moved to Howard County, Mo., when she was quite young. She afterward moved with her parents to Boone County, where she was married to our subject. To this union were born twelve children, seven living, viz: Elizabeth F., David L., Martha J. Emily Ann, Amanda E., James A. and Lucy A. Those deceased are Mary E., Susan A. Sarah L. Willis F. and Ida C. In 1841 our subject moved to Knox County, Mo., and purchased part of the land that he now owns. In 1850 he was elected surveyor of Knox County, and held this office for nine years, being a very efficient officer. Our subject before the war was a Whig, but since that event he has been a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church for some time, but afterward joined the Christian Church, of which they have been members since 1850, and of which he has been an elder ever since he joined."

History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties Missouri, V.2 Biographical Appendix. Goodspeed Publishing, 1887, p. 1071, 1072