My Genealogy Hound

RALSTON, HON. JAMES H. was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1807. Soon after attaining his majority he removed to Quincy, Ills., and entered upon the practice of law. He served in the Black Hawk war. Subsequently he represented his district in the State House of Representatives at a time when Lincoln, Douglas, Hardin, Shields, and Col. Baker were members of the legislature. In 1837 he was-elected Circuit Judge, resigning, however, after two years’ service. In 1841 he was elected to the State Senate. Judge Ralston took an active interest in politics until the Mexican war, when he was commissioned as Captain and put in command of the Alamo at San Antonia, Texas. From this place all supplies and munitions of war were forwarded to the American army operating in Northern Mexico. Soon after the close of the Mexican war he removed to California, and was a member of its first State Senate. In 1856 he was a candidate for the Chief Justiceship of California, but defeated. In 1860 he removed to Nevada, and occupied a prominent position in that state until 1864, when he died, near Austin, Nevada.

In 1833 he married the daughter of Col. Alexander, a well-known citizen of Adams county. This lady died prior to Mr. Ralston’s removal to California. In 1853 he married Harriet Jackson, daughter of Rev. Aaron Jackson, formerly the Baptist clergyman of Quincy. One son by this marriage is living, Mr. J. H. Ralston, now practicing law in Quincy.