Marlene,
I read this several times over the last few months and it finally clicked. When I was doing research in Nodaway County, Missouri, I came across a marriage record for James Massengale to Harriett Burnett--11 Jan 1857. I think this is your "James". The family name has several different spelling and many Jameses. The Massengale families tended to migrate in groups which sometimes complicates the issue. Your James was the son of Issac Massingale, I believe.
Go to familysearch.org and search the 1880 census in Missouri under James Massingale. You will find James and Harriet with nine of their children listed (including Freddie). You may want to seach the World Connect Family trees at rootsweb.com for your James as other researchers are working on this family.
Hope this helps.
K