James, William.—­A Warwickshire engineer, born at Henley-in-Arden, June, 13, 1771.  Mr. James has been called the first projector of railways, as there was none started previous to his laying out a line from here to Wolverhampton, which was given up in favour of the Canal Companies.  The wharves in Newhall Street were constructed on the site of his proposed railway station.  He afterwards projected and surveyed many other lines including Birmingham to Manchester through Derbyshire, the Birmingham and London, etc.  West Bromwich owes no little of its prosperity to this gentleman, who opened many collieries in its neighbourhood.  At one time Mr. James was said to have been worth L150,000, besides L10,000 a year coming in from his profession, but he lost nearly all before his death.

Jeffery.—­George Edward Jeffery, who died Dec. 29th, 1877, aged 33, was a local writer who promised to make a name had he lived longer.

Johnstone, Dr. John, a distinguished local physician, was born at Worcester in 1768.  Though he acquired a high reputation for his treatment of diseases, it was noticeable that he made a very sparing use of medicines.  Died in 1836.

Johnstone, John, whose death was the result of being knocked down by a cab in Broad Street in Oct. 1875, was one of those all-round inventive characters who have done so much for the trades of this town.  He was born in Dumfriesshire in 1801, and was apprenticed to a builder, coming to this town in 1823.  He was soon noticed as the first architectural draughtsman of his day, but his genius was not confined to any one line.  He was the first to introduce photographic vignettes, he invented the peculiar lamp used in railway carriages, he improved several agricultural implements, he could lay out plans for public buildings or a machine for making hooks and eyes, and many well-to-do families owe their rise in the world to acting on the ideas put before them by Mr. Johnstone.  In the latter portion of his life he was engaged at the Cambridge Street Works as consulter in general.

Kempson, James—­In one of those gossiping accounts of the “Old Taverns” of Birmingham which “S.D.R.” has written, mention is made of a little old man, dear to the musicians under the name of “Daddy Kempson,” who appears to have been the originator of our Triennial Musical Festivals in 1768, and who conducted a performance at St. Paul’s as late as the year 1821, he being then 80 years of age.

Kuechler, C.H.—­A medalist, for many years in the employ of Boulton, for whom he sunk the dies for part of the copper coinage of 1797, &c.  The 2d. piece is by him.  He was buried in Handsworth Churchyard.