James Monroe West passed away yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. H. Mee, in D street, after an illness extending over a number of months.
He had attained the ripe old age of nearly 80 years.

He had been a resident of this valley for nearly half a century, living until three years ago on his ranch three miles east of the city. He was one of the sturdy pioneers of the southland and a man who held the deep respect of all men who knew him.

Mr. West was a native of Alabama, being born in Dallas county, October 23, 1825, and was the second son of Simon and Nancy West. He spent his early boyhood days in Alabama but went to Itawamba county, Mississippi, with his parents in 1839, his father dying there in 1884, and his mother a few years later.

He was married December 30, 1847, to Miss Adaline Weeks, who was born and reared in Marion county, Alabama, and who died about six years ago in San Bernardino.

Long Overland Journey

On February 21 of 1856 Mr. West and his family, together with four other families, including Mrs. West's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeptha Weeks, started on the long overland trip from their Mississippi home to Salt Lake, where they arrived July 19 of the same year.

Before reaching Salt Lake city Mr. West's oldest son, a lad of seven years, fell from the wagon and was run over by another wagon in the train and seriously injured. A member of the party found a large blue bead beside the road, and tying it on the end of a string, gave it to the injured boy to amuse him. A few days later be became ill with the smallpox, which he is supposed to have contracted from the bead. All the members of the party had the disease in a light form except Jeptha Weeks, whose case was violent and who died from the disease.

On September 8 of the same year, 1856, they set out from Salt Lake for Southern California, reaching San Bernardino November 8. They were delayed 10 days on the road by a man who misdirected them because he had heard the party was afflicted with smallpox. On his arrival here Mr. West, in partnership with G. W. Sparks, purchased the ranch which was his home up to three years ago, east of the city.

Politically Mr. West was a Democrat, and while he had never sought political recognition, he had always been active in the interests of his party, and at one time was its nominee for County Superintendent of Schools. He had also been active in the work of the Pioneer Society, in which he was greatly interested.

Mr. West was a man of strong physique and held his age remarkably well. Few took him to be a man of his years, and he had been active in spite of his gradual breaking down. he had been able to be about most of the time, sitting at the table for his dinner Wednesday evening with the family. Yesterday he complained of illness and in the afternoon went into a sinking spell from which he never rallied.

He was a man of strength of character, who impressed himself in many ways upon the community, during the active years of his life, and his loyalty to one principle was manifested almost of his latest breath. He had been noted as a temperate man, even in times when to follow that rule made him almost an exception. Yesterday afternoon as the life current was flagging, the physician gave him a small spoonful of liquor, to stimulate the weakened heart. "Doctor," said he, "it is 59 years since I have tasted whiskey." And a few moments later when another was brought for him he whispered, "not any more," and these were his latest words. Even in the shadow, he was loyal to what had been almost a life principle with him.

Nine Children.

A family of nine children has been reared by the pioneer and his wife, eight of whom are living, the one dead being a daughter, Martha Ellen, who died at the age of 17 years. Those living are Samuel M., Simon J., James M., Jr., and Thomas J., all of San Bernardino; and George W. of Los Angeles, who arrived last night; and Mrs. C. A. More, Mrs. W. H. Mee, and Mrs. Betty Yager of this city.

Also, there are 19 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren living, so that in all, 40 direct descendants are mourning the death of father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Five sisters and one brother survive Mr. West, as follows: Mrs. James Jetton, Mrs. John Spence, Mrs. Frank Hutson, and Andrew West, living in Mississippi, and Mrs. James Arnold and Mrs. Charles Hutson, living in Alabama.