James - Karl Czerney
The man with the interesting middle name 
By Karen Zach, Around the County
Thursday, May 27, 2021 4:00 AM
Photo provided.
Karl Czerney James, County Superintendent
Photo provided. Karl Czerney James, County Superintendent
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This fellow has interested me for many years. I call him the man with the interesting middle name, Czerney. Determined to discover from where his name derived, I flunked! Couldn’t find a family member Czerney nor a minister or neighbor with the odd name. If I ever find it, I’ll let ya’ know!
So, let’s meet Karl Czerney James, professionally known as Karl C, but to friends and relatives, he was plain ‘ol Casey! I first became interested in “Casey” when I saw his picture as county superintendent. He looked so young to be a superintendent. He was our fourth, following Ward Walkup, Earl Barnes and for the times, the long-term sup, Otis Hall. Karl served from 1914-1921, the same amount of time. Later, John Ward would have the job almost 30 years.
One of the totally amazing items in regard to this family (especially the men) was they were almost 100% long-livers, Karl himself in great shape up into his 90s. One of Casey’s sons, Ernest Karl, Bronze star recipient, having fought in both Korea and in WWII (Navy) was a dentist for 43 years and passed at age 95, having been married to his wife, Nell for 65 years. He was described in his service records almost exactly like his father, Karl. Both close to 6’; light complected; blue eyes and darker hair. Ernest and Nell had two grandchildren for Casey.
Casey’s son, Eston Branch James had almost the same description, only a couple of inches shorter and about 10# lighter. He was a pharmacist, having graduated from Wabash and the Indiana School of Pharmacy. For some time, he worked at the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan but he and his wife, Donna Easton, later moved to California. Just over his 90th birthday by a few days, he passed away on the first of November in 1999 and is buried with his wife in Berrien County, Michigan. They too had a boy and girl to add to Casey’s grandchildren.
Casey and wife, Ethel Branch, had one child who passed very young with pneumonia and their two daughters to mature were Mary Emma who attended the Jordan Conservatory of Music, played the organ for large churches and various organizations and gave music lessons. She had one child and was 80 when she passed in 1992 in California. The whole James family were musically inclined, as well as enjoying long lives.
Daughter, Joanne will likely be a feature in an upcoming MM. She graduated from CHS (as did the other James children) and attended Nursing School, moved with her sister and brother-in-law to Nevada where she married Bruce Douglas Roberts. He was a Reno lawyer for 50 years. They too had a son and daughter to tally up those seven James’ grandchildren.
My man with the interesting middle name was the son of George Washington and Henrietta Stepy (various spellings) James. His father was a grocer (with other mercantile) and he too lived into his 90s and is buried in Andrews (Huntington County, Indiana) where he went in 1901 with Casey’s brother Pearl (who passed at 88 – get that not 90 at all). They opened a grocery there, too. George took his family with other friends and family to Kansas, where a couple of he and “Hattie’s” children were born, but Casey was born in (or very near) Parkersburg, the day before Valentine’s Day in 1880. His brother, Claude Parker, lived to be just shy of 100. Brother Ivan 93. The longevity in this family is astounding. Even Casey’s grandfather James was 92 upon his death.
After 8th grade graduation, he went on to high school with three others. In 1897, Karl was one of the Scott Township graduates. At that time frame, they all gave speeches and were then judged. He didn’t win with his, “Economy of time!”
Wabash tallied his BS and he did graduate work at ISU, IU and PU. Then, the fun began as he is listed in 1901-03 as teaching at Fairview and living in Ladoga. In 1904, he was the only one teaching at the White School and by 1907-08 he was at his old stomping grounds, Parkersburg where he taught Grades 7-9 and also served as principal. Clear up to the other part of the county, he was at Darlington teaching History and English, also serving as principal. Also, he was the Franklin Township Superintendent, plus teaching an odd combination from 1912-14 – English and Botany.
Then from 1914-21 he was the county superintendent. During those years, there were a couple large controversies, but he did a good job of smoothing them out. One was to cease 8th grade graduations. Expense of the white dresses for the girls and the place to have the graduation as well as cost of the diplomas was the argument. The 11 township trustees plus Crawfordsville’s Sup Hines, met to vote. Unanimous! Also, Merle Coons, president of the county superintendents club called a meeting in regards to the school athletes so involved in smoking and drinking. It was also a unanimous vote that they would be barred to play AND imagine there was some flack as the group, along with Karl added if found drinking, the athletes would also not receive their diploma. This, too, was unanimously signed, sealed and delivered.
In 1917, Karl visited the schools in December. This may have been the normal time, but I did giggle, thinking tall, thin Karl may have visited during the parties and enjoyed the pulled taffy and such.
After his county superintendency, he taught History at CHS’s Jr-Sr HS and from 1928-46 served as the Jr. High principal. Quite active in the State Teachers’ and Principal organizations, he served in many capacities, always standing on the right side of education.
At age 25, Karl married Montgomery Countian, Ethel A. Branch, who was the daughter of Larkin and Emma Austin Branch. He had recently joined the (Trinity) Methodist Church and was married by Rev. JP Henson on July 19, 1905 at New Market. He and Ethel were married over 65 years when she passed away nearing the age of 90. They have a nice stone at Oak Hill Grant Avenue (photo by R&S Fine) with their baby Lorene’s data as well.
Retiring in 1951, he had spent five complete decades in the education field. He was not a large joiner but was a member of the Elks. Also, he enjoyed writing poetry. Katheryn W. said she used one of his poems in their 50th class reunion book.
So, the James family members enjoyed (not Karl so much - he mainly stayed put) going west and all around, and wherever they went, they had good, long lives! Karl was 94 walking across the street in downtown C’ville when a young driver hit him due to rain and wet pavement. Karl Czerney James passed later from injuries he received, mourned by so many Montgomery Countians!
Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, “Around the Coun- ty”, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County