James Samuel Lancaster, Jr. -- City Clerk and Treasurer

 

James Samuel Lancaster, Jr.

James Samuel Lancaster, Jr. was born on October 20, 1944 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  He was the third child of James Samuel “Sammie” Lancaster and Sarah Louise Light.  He had seven siblings, five sisters, Sarah Grace Lancaster Britt, Lucy Elizabeth Lancaster Lancaster, Mary Louise Lancaster Calhoun, Rose Nell Lancaster Reinitz and Betty Jean Lancaster Fuller; and two brothers, William Monroe Lancaster and Thomas Eugene Lancaster.  His father was a self-employed building contractor who was born in Trigg County, Kentucky and his mother was a homemaker who was also born in Trigg County.

James grew up in Cadiz and attended Cadiz Graded School and graduated from Trigg County High School in 1963. Growing up in Cadiz, James was known by his first two initial, J. S. and later as an adult he went by the name Jim. In high school, Jim was a shy guy and was selected by his classmates for the senior superlative for “Most Bashful” in the senior class.

On September 10, 1967, Jim entered the U.S. Army and was sent to basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Following basic training, he was sent to advance infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. At this time the United States was at its peak in the war in Vietnam.  In 1968 Jim was sent to Vietnam where he fought as a member of the 1st Air Calvary Division.  After his tour of duty of one year was over, Jim was sent back to the United States where he was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.  He was honorably discharged from the Army on July 26, 1969 as a Sergeant, E-5.

Following his military service, Jim returned to Trigg County and worked in several jobs before enrolling and graduating from Murray State University. Jim became an avid tennis player and played in several tournaments in the Trigg County area. He played the sport throughout the later years of his life.

On Wednesday, December 22, 1976 the City Council of the City of Cadiz met in a special called meeting to take a final vote on the selection of a new City Clerk and Treasurer for the city to replace the previous clerk, Willard Hendricks, another Thomas-Bridges family member.  Jim had interviewed for the position with several members of the city council and at the meeting he was selected as the new City Clerk as well as serving as the service manager for the city water department.  Jim was 32 years old at the time.  His appointment was on a trial basis, but the council subsequently reviewed his performance and he was hired on a permanent basis.  Jim served for 27 years as the City Clerk before he retired.

Jim never married and continued to live in Trigg County after his retirement. He died on May 27, 2017, at the age of 72 at his home in Cadiz.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.

 Tombstone of Jim Lancaster

LINEAGE: (James Samuel Lancaster, Jr. was the son of James Samuel and Sarah Louise Light Lancaster, the grandson of James Monroe and Eunice Verna Lawrence Lancaster and James Samuel and Nettie Grace Cameron Light and the great-grandson of James and Lucy Thomas Lawrence and John J. and Emeline Catherine Thomas Light. Lucy and Emeline were both daughters of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Mary was the seventh child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges. )