went to California before 1893 with his brother, John William who later moved to Oregon
between 1900 and 1920, a woodsman living in Eureka City, Humboldt Co.,California
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Humboldt Times, Volume LXXV, Number 102, 17 August 1920
WOODSMAN IS KILLED WHEN HUNTING BY ROLLING LOG
Samuel James Meets Death in Unusual Way When Camp Fire Undermines Log Which Rolls Over Him
SON ESCAPES DEATH
Boy Mysteriously Awakened Just in Time to Roll Out of Way of Log Which Crushes Father

Samuel James, well known woods man of the old school, met his death Saturday night in an unusual way and his son, Percy, narrowly escaped being crushed to death when they built a camp fire beside a huge redwood log on the side of a hill and went to sleep beside it, the fire burning out the brush and other obstacles under the log that had held it in place, allowing it to roll down the hill, passing over James and killing him instantly.
His young son was awakened in some mysterious way just in time to roll out of the way in time to save himself. According to the son. he and his father left Hammond Camp ?4 Saturday afternoon and went into the woods for deer. Intending to camp over night and start the hunt early Sunday morning. The big log offered them shelter and when the fire was made they rolled up in their blankets and went to sleep on the lower side of the log. The boy did not know how long they had slept when he was awakened with a start, feeling that something was wrong. One end of the log dropped down into the hole burned beneath it and the hoy managed to roll out of the way just as the log toppled over and rolled down the hill, crushing his father beneath it.
James was a native of Virginia, about 58 years of age, and was one the best known woodsmen in Humboldt county, having worked in practically all of the large camps. He resided in Eureka, 2002 D street, with his wife and his two young sons, Percy and Harold. He is also survived by a daughter. Mrs. J. O. Black, of this city, two sons, Ernest, who is in the army serving in the Philippine Islands, and Louis of San Francisco. He was a member of the Hydesville lodge of Odd Fellows and the Rohnerville lodge of Masons.
The funeral will be held from the Pierce funeral parlors Wednesday afternoon under the auspices of the Masonic lodge. Interment will be in Myrtle Grove cemetery.
~~ Courtesy of Find a Grave contributor: Karen Hendricks (47322391)
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Information below courtesy of Larry Allen
-Buried in the Myrtle Grove Cemetery in Eureka, Humboldt, California.
Died when a log crushed him at logging camp 23, near Trinidad