james “jim” mosley
1890-1915
Life Story
Newton County, Mississippi
James “Jim” Mosley was born about 1890 in Newton County, Mississippi, into a large and well-rooted Altare-area family whose ties spanned the Mosley and Evans lineages—two foundational families within the Black farming communities of central Newton County. He was the son of Sherrod Mosley (1859–?) and Nancy Jane Evans (1868–?), both of whom were lifelong residents of the Newton County rural settlements shaped by kinship, farming, and mutual support.
Early Life and Family Background
Jim grew up among siblings and cousins in an era defined by agricultural labor and close community networks. Like many young Black men of his generation in early-20th-century Mississippi, he worked from a young age as a farm laborer, contributing to the family’s livelihood and the agricultural economy that sustained the region. His parents—Shedrick, a laborer and farmer, and Nancy Jane, a member of the extended Evans family—passed down a work ethic, community ties, and shared resilience forged from generations who lived, worked, and built families on Newton County’s soil.
Work and Daily Life
By the 1910s, Jim was known locally as a dependable and hardworking young man. Whether helping in the fields, tending livestock, or performing day-labor tasks on nearby farms, he earned a reputation for reliability and steady character. The newspaper described him as “exceptionally good” and “hard-working,” framing him as someone the local community knew and respected.
Tragic Death During a Thunderstorm (June 1915)
At approximately twenty-five years old, Jim Mosley’s life was cut short in a tragic and unusual accident that drew newspaper attention across Newton County.
According to the June 1915 news report, during a sudden rain and thunderstorm, Jim sought shelter in a small cabin near Richardson’s Pond on the property of R. H. Sharp, where he had been working. Inside the cabin were several women and children also seeking refuge from the storm.
While standing inside the house, a bolt of lightning struck him directly:
- The bolt hit him first on the head, tearing his hat apart.
- It then traveled down the left side of his body, splitting at the legs.
- The left side of his body was struck more severely, with the impact destroying his shoe and causing catastrophic injury.
Jim was instantly killed, while others in the cabin were knocked down but not seriously hurt. The newspaper described the incident in detail, emphasizing both the suddenness of his death and the shock it caused in the community.
Burial and Legacy
The exact location of Jim Mosley’s burial was not recorded. However, given the burial patterns of the Evans and Mosley families—and the proximity of his kin—it is reasonable to assume he may rest at the Evans Cemetery on Mt. Moriah Road, where many relatives and community members were laid to rest.
Though his life was brief, Jim’s story reflects the lived experiences of countless young Black men in rural Mississippi during the early 20th century—men who labored, supported their families, and were integral to the functioning of their communities but whose lives were often cut short or left sparsely documented.
Jim Mosley is remembered today through the fragments preserved in family lineage, community memory, and the tragic newspaper account that captured his final moments. His life remains a meaningful part of the broader history of the Mosley and Evans families and of Newton County’s African American heritage.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- The Newton Record, Jim Mosley Killed by Lightening, Thu, Jun 17, 1915 ·Page 2
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