Joseph Ijames (pr. imes) was one of six children born to Revolutionary War veteran and Maryland native Vachell Ijams (1759-1833) and his second wife Martha Cunningham (d. 1838). Joseph's known siblings (by Martha, Vachell's second wife) were:

1. Burgess Ijams (1801-1881)

2. Nancy Ijams

3. Margaret "Peggy" Ijams

4. Elizabeth Ijams

5. Ann Ijams

For some reason, Joseph seems to have added a silent "e" to the end of his surname, as whenever he signed it it appears as "Ijames," while the rest of the AL family left it off.

On February 5, 1820 Joseph Ijames married Elizabeth Baxter (ca. 1800-1867) in Rowan County, NC. They would have the following known children:

1. Elvira (1822-)

2. Martha Ann (1824-)

3. John D. (1824-). Martha Ann and John D. were deaf-mute twins.

4. Amanda Ijams (1828-)

5. George W. (1830-)

6. Basil Gaither (1834-)

I can't prove that Amanda Ijams listed above is Joseph's daughter but I believe she was.

Joseph Ijames lived off of what is now Cloverdale Road on Co. Rd. 6 in S5T2SR11W. Ijams Branch (named after the family) runs through the old homeplace.

In 1850 Joseph Ijames ran the county poor house, which until 1897 was contracted out. Poor house directors housed the inmates in their own homes.

From at least 1842 Joseph Ijames served as a justice of the peace; in 1871 he ran unsuccessfully for county treasurer and in 1880 took the oath of office for probate judge.

Elizabeth Ijames died at her home on July 16, 1867 and had been a member of the Christian Church (now known as the Church of Christ) for thirty years.

Joseph Ijames died on August 23, 1882. He was buried in the Simmons Cemetery off of what is Now Cloverdale Road with wife Elizabeth and other Ijams, Simmons, Wesson and Freeman relatives.