James William Cutts was born May 27, 1843, Americus, Sumter Co., GA and died October 23, 1929, Brewton, Escambia Co., AL. He was the son of Elijah Cutts and Rebecca Parker.

In November 1861, James joined the service of the Confederacy at Americus, Sumter Co., GA in Company I, 9th AL Regiment, State troops and continued for six months. While in this regiment he served as a Private under Captain W.T. Adams and Colonel Harrison. He was discharged at Savannah, GA and returned to Americus, Sumter Co., GA. He then re-enlisted on May 15, 1862 in Americus, Sumter Co., GA as a privated where he served under Captain G.N. Petersen and Colonel A.S Cutts (Allen Sherod Cutts) in Cutt's Battalion. While in service, James took part in in the following battles: 2nd Juenarsus, South Irwunter, MD, Sharp's Barg, MD and was also a member General Clanton's U.V.C.Camp Pollard in Pollard, Escambia Co., AL. James continued until the close of the War and was parolled at Appamattox, VA on

April 12, 1865. On January 18, 1912 at a special ceremony at the Brewton Collegiate Institute in Brewton, Escambia Co., AL, He received the Cross of Honor along with twelve other veterans.

In approximately 1866, James married Minerva Annie Parker. Her maiden name may have been Laws according to the death certificate of his son William Allen Cutts, but her maiden name is listed as Parker on the death certificate of their son, Dearhal Daniel Cutts. At any rate, she had been married before and her daughter, Lou McDonald is enumerated with James and Minerva on the 1880 AL Census Records in Braggs, Lowndes Co., AL. This is the only time I find Lou listed with the family.

In 1875, James moved his family from Sumter Co., GA to Braggs, Lowndes Co., AL and by 1900 they are located in Brewton, Escambia Co., AL. I believe him to have moved to this area along the same time as the Holladay and Hawkins families since they were neighbors in Lowndes Co., AL. James appears in the Vol. 1, Book 1 of Registered Voters in Escambia County in Beat 3, District 6. He registered in 1902 at age 58. Descendants of his son, Dearhal Daniel Cutts and his daughter Alice Cutts still live in this area today. Other children, with the exception of Barney Cutts and step-daughter, Lou McDonald(of which nothing is known) and Sallie Cutts (who died as a young wife and mother), moved on to the Mobile, AL area (this would include Annie Laura "Lillie" Cutts who married Henry Brewton and William Allen Cutts who married Maggie Garrett) and settled there.