James McPherson (novelist)
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James Campbell McPherson (February 12, 1894 - April 13, 1978) was a Scotch-Irish born writer who wrote about 35 books. McPherson wrote books like '50 Tyrannus Dictators' or '50 Oldest People' and wrote many other books like that and wrote one fiction book which was 'The Well'. McPherson also wrote a book on diseases like ringworm or things that cause you to die like AIDS, cancers like liver or bladder etc. That book was called 'Diseases & Deaths'.
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[edit] Early life
James Campbell McPherson was born in Dublin, Ireland in a small village that had some farmland which was destroyed in the future. McPherson was born on February 12, 1894 to Scotch-Irish parents. He was born to Jacob McPherson the murderer and Margaret Campbell and had two younger sisters named Lucy (born 1897) and Pearl (born 1901). McPherson was born with Eggsama a rare skin condition and he had the condition his whole life. Never attended school however, had an interest for history such as rulers or wars and was a brilliant artist who first drew on paper with a quill. McPherson had a depressing childhood for his father never loved him and his mother never showed she loved him. McPherson also was under stress from studying however, never wanted to quit. McPherson may have studied much but he played with some of his friends close by. Other than that he had his life hard. His father beat him and swore a lot at him. Jacob McPherson also said to his son "You are a casualty in my life." Those words crushed him and for the rest of his life thought of his father an evil man. Even when he took a beating by his father his mother didn't do a thing about it. Eventually in August 1902 about a year after his little sister Pearl was born he abandoned his family and shortly after committed suicide. McPherson did not have much sorrow for his father hated him and never loved him. McPherson continued his history studies however, felt he should not stay here anymore.
[edit] Early life in America
In 1907, McPherson ran away from home at age 13 and escaped to the United States. When he went arrived in the United States he lived in New York City for about a year and applied to many oddjobs. By 1909, he moved to Sampson County, North Carolina and was a farmer and a planter. That same year in 1909, McPherson committed a murder and killed a homosexual man trying to rape him. McPherson shot him three times and killed him. McPherson also murdered another man for trying to kill him. After that McPherson was sent to prison. While in prison McPherson murdered another man who was a prisoner. McPherson was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas a maximum security prison. McPherson was sentenced 14 years there at Fort Leavenworth. McPherson murdered another man a prisoner for trying to kill him. While in prison, McPherson wrote novels and studied some more history. McPherson wrote two books in prison, the books were 'The Well' and '50 Tyrannus Dictators'. McPherson also wrote a book called 'Sins of the Bible' a book about things in the bible that are myths or don't make sense. In 1916, McPherson was released from prison for good behavior. McPherson confessed his sins to god and asked for forgiveness and that was good enough for the warden to let him out of prison after serving seven years.
[edit] Religion
McPherson was born a catholic and believed in god however, did not believe in somethings that the bible says. He did not like to go to church and stopped going to church when he was age 11. That book 'Sins of the Bible' was written while he was in prison in 1915. The book was over 300 pages and hardcover however, he finished the book fast and completed the book in 27 months and the book was published on December 10, 1915. Even when McPherson got married it was not in a church it was on a hill top. Eventually he went back to church when he was in his late 60s.
[edit] Master of stillness
Ever since McPherson was the age of 12 he had been practicing stillness and kept practicing it. McPherson was taught the the greatest power is stillness and McPherson used his power. In 1931, McPherson traveled to India and got a certificate for his stillness and in the first Guinness Book of World Records in 1952, McPherson was mentioned in the book as he did not move a muscle for over thirty three hours and twenty nine minutes.
[edit] War service
On April 2, 1917, McPherson enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 23 and was trained at Fort Dix, New Jersey. McPherson's army physical told him that his height was 6,3 and he was 237 lbs however, the military was not so sure to take him because of his eggsamam but he was accepted anyway. McPherson served as an army engineer and his weaponry was a Colt1911 pistol and a M1903 Springfield rife. McPherson stayed at Fort Dix for ten months until he was sent to France in February 1918. When McPherson was sent to France he was the rank of private. During the wra, McPherson served against the Germans and served at the battles like the Battle of Cantigny, Third Battle of the Aisne, Hundred Days Offensive, Spring Offensive, Second Battle of Marne, Battle of Soissons, Battle of Amiens, Battle of Chateau-Thierry, Battle of Saint-Mihiel, Battle of the Hindenburg Line, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. McPherson served for the American Exepeditionary Force also known as the AEF. He served in the 105th Battalion in Company B during the war. At the battle of the Saint Mihiel, McPherson was hit by mustard gas and on the battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive he was shot in the kidney twice. When the war ended, McPherson ahd killed about 214 German soldiers and captured 286 German soldiers. For his duty he was awarded the Medal of Honor, Legion d'honneur US Distinguished Service Cross, Croix de Guerre+ Palm, two Purple Hearts, Silver Star and a World War I Victory Cross. McPherson was honorably discharged from service in July 1919 for medical reasons after serving over two years at the rank of private first class.
[edit] Later life
After the war, McPherson returned to North Carolina as a planter. But in 1920 he started to court a woman he knew since she was 8 years old. Her name was Maybelle Herring and they got married after dating for six months on April 7, 1921 the 27 year old James McPherson married the 20 year old Maybelle Herring. They had four children together one son and three daughters. There first child James McPherson II was born on December 26, 1921. There second child Rose was born on September 29, 1924. There third child Adelaide was born on January 2, 1928 and there fourth child Pearl was born on June 10, 1936. McPherson was a strict father, he loved his wife and children very much but he would when his son did something bad he beat him with a leather belt. If his daughters got in trouble his wife would hit them in thy with a wooden spoon. In 1943, McPherson joined the Home Front and helped aide the allies at war, McPherson wife Maybelle was a nurse for the Red Cross. His son James McPherson II joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and served against the Germans in Europe and was eventually captured in late 1943. When World War II ended, McPherson went back to farming and worked in the tobbaco until he was 81 years old. McPherson's wife Maybelle died of a heart failure on September 7, 1974 at age 73. A year later in 1975, McPherson wrote and autobiography called 'My Life:James McPherson'.
[edit] Death
James McPherson died in his home in Sampson County, North Carolina of a cardiovascular arrest on April 13, 1978 at the age of 84. Before McPherson died he had tried two suicide attempts, one was in 1907 shortly before he left Ireland. Another time in 1913 because he was in prison and was suffering of great depression. McPherson also once had a nervous breakdown in 1909 shortly after his arrest. McPherson confessed his sins to god in 1916 and asked for forgiveness and shortly before he died he asked for forgiveness. McPherson was not afraid of death ever since the ending of the war and did not mind death when he was an old man. McPherson is buried in McPhail Cemetery, Sampson County, North Carolina.
