James W. Bishop photograph collection, approximately 1907-1939

James William Bishop was born on March 9, 1886 in Spring Lake, Michigan. His parents, Thomas Charles and Angeline Bishop immigrated to the United States from England in 1884. James Bishop had two older siblings, Thomas George Bishop and Sarah Bishop, both born in England, and a younger sister Lily Tabatha Bishop, born in 1889. James’ parents and older siblings became naturalized U.S. citizens in 1889. While growing up in Michigan, James’ father Thomas was a day laborer, Angeline worked in a laundry, and his brother Thomas was a fireman. The family owned their own house and lived with Angeline's widowed father, George, who died in 1901. James "Jimmy" Bishop and his family lived in a neighborhood of immigrants from the Netherlands, England, and Sweden.

Around 1910, James Bishop moved to the Seattle area in Washington. At this time, he met Edna "Peggy" Brown and her sisters Katherine Mitchell and Edith Brown, and her brother Benjamin Brown. James and Edna corresponded regularly. James also tried to keep up with his sisters back in Michigan. Sarah married Amasa C. Farnsworth of Maine and had two sons: James S. Farnsworth in 1905 and Thomas G. Farnsworth in 1906. Lily married and had one son, Jack Muriel Jacob Kieft, in 1920.

James Bishop served in France during World War I, the only member of his family to do so. He held the rank of private and served in the 6th Company, 20th Engineers of the American Expeditionary Forces.

James Bishop and Edna "Peggy" Brown married in September 1920 and had two daughters: Helen Ruth in 1922 and Roberta Ann in 1924. Bishop worked as a logger in the Bloedel-Donovan Lumber Mills and his wife Edna, having completed three years of college, was a housewife. The family lived with Edna’s brother Benjamin, who also worked at Bloedel-Donovan as a general laborer. James Bishop enjoyed the outdoors, and hunting, and would take trips with his family to explore Washington trails, typically around the area of Index, WA. In 1928 the family moved to Skykomish. In June 1930, James was elected as a councilman in the town, serving in that capacity until 1940 when he was elected mayor. In 1946 he left the post of mayor, but returned in June 1952 and again in 1956. He retired in 1957. James Bishop died on January 24, 1970.