Stanley James, known as Jim was born at Payneham on 20 July, 1891. He attended the Wellington Street School and the Argent Street Methodist Sunday School. As young children the 4 younger children of Albert William were often under the ‘eagle eye’ of their older brother Bob. One day Bob caught Jim smoking with several school chums behind one of their father’s sheds. The thrashing which ensued was enough to prevent Jim from becoming a smoker for life! He left school at 14 and when about 16 or 17 joined his brother Percy in Balaklava in his fruit and vegetable shop. The two bachelors enjoyed their independence and took part in the sporting life of the town. Jim played football for Balaklava and according to Percy, was always at football practice when the shop was busiest!

About 1912 Jim went to Broken Hill and opened his own fruit, vegetable and florist business with his brother Hurtle as partner. Like his brother, Jim eventually married one of his employees. Annie Letcher became Jim’s wife when they married at the Church of Christ, Wolfran Street, Broken Hill, on 4 April, 1917. Annie was 19 years of age. Jim and Ann (as she was known) had four daughters. The eldest, Judith, can remember the picture shows held outside on summer Friday nights, when she used to climb onto a shed roof at the rear of their shop and watch the ‘flicks’ for nothing through a hole in the iron wall!

Jim became an S.P. bookie and owned a couple of racehorses. (There were large race meetings in Broken Hill at the time.) In 1941 J6 June, 1947im and Ann acquired the lease of the Gasworks Hotel at Railway Town, Broken Hill. After his wife died on 6 June, 1947, Jim carried on the hotel by himself for a while, helped by his daughter Judith after 1952. A few years later the hotel was sold and Jim lived with all his daughters in turn. He died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on 2 January, 1967, aged in his 76th year.