James K. Bondurant son of Joseph and Sarah Bondurant was born in Marshall County, Ky. in 1839. His parents both of whom were native Virginians, came to Marshall County from middle Tennessee about 1835, where the mother is now living at an advanced age and where the father died in 1851. Jmaes K. is the fourth child of a family of eight born to these parents of whom but three are now living. He was reared in his native county to manhood, attended school there and in Murray, Calloway  County , and in early life began merchantile labor forst as a clerk in his father's store. In 1861 he espoused the cause of the Union, and enlisted in the Fifteenth Kentucky Cavalry. He was captured in 1862 at the battle of Spring Creek, taken to Belle Isle and there held as a prisoner of war for several months, after which he was exchanged, when by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment, he returned home. In 1864 he engaged in merchantile trade in Paducah, and until 1870 was employed in merchandising and in farming. At the latter date he engaged in the wholesale grocery trade, associated with J.R. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Bondurant, which partnership continued successfully for nine years, when Mr. Bondurant became the sole proprietor. He is now located at No. 113 Broadway. Mr. Bondurant is a member of the Masonic order, K. of  H., A.O.U.W. and in politics is a Republican. He married in Marshall County, Ky., in 1861 to Miss Mary J. Brewer, which union is blessed with two living children, Joseph S. and Ida May Bondurant.