James was born in Missouri. He married Nellie "Ardella" Burke on Dec. 17, 1919 in Napa, CA. in Napa County. Together they had 3 children: James E. "Jimmy", Ardella Melissa, & Jackson Rodgers "J.R.". His wife Nellie "Ardella", my Grandmother, told me he enjoyed training wild horses for riding. Since James died very young at age 40, we don't know as much about him. My father, Jackson, was only 5 years old when his father, James Rodgers Portwood, died of a bad heart. Grandma said a few days before her husband died, a man from the Salvation Army led my Grandfather to the Lord. Grandma said as James died, he told her to not be afraid. That she would be able to raise their 3 children. He told her "You can do it." James Rodgers Portwood died in Fullerton, CA. (Orange County) and is buried in Fullerton. My Grandmother never remarried and never had any other children. By Kathleen Ellen (Portwood) Andrews (Granddaughter of James Rodgers Portwood)
Kathleen Ellen (Portwood) Andrews (James' Granddaughter)
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
James is 29 degrees from Herbert Adair, 26 degrees from Richard Adams, 21 degrees from Mel Blanc, 30 degrees from Dick Bruna, 22 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 35 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 21 degrees from Sam Edwards, 20 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 22 degrees from Marty Krofft, 18 degrees from Junius Matthews, 17 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 19 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.