James Buchanan Hays (September 10, 1838 – May 31, 1888) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist. He served 3 years as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Idaho Territory (1885–1888), and earlier in his career served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1867).
The Honorable James Hays | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Idaho Territory | |
| In office July 1, 1885 – May 31, 1888 | |
| Appointed by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | John T. Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Hugh W. Weir |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dodge 2nd district | |
| In office January 7, 1867 – January 6, 1868 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Willard |
| Succeeded by | Lewis M. Benson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 10, 1838 Crawford County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 31, 1888 (aged 49) Boise, Idaho Territory, U.S. |
| Resting place | Saint Paul's Episcopal Cemetery, Ashippun, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Permelia Elizabeth Hubbard
(m. 1863–1888) |
| Children | 3, including S. H. Hays |
| Education | University of Wisconsin |
| Profession | Lawyer, judge |
| Signature |  |
Early life and education
editBorn in Crawford County, Pennsylvania,[1] Hays moved with his family to Ashippun, Wisconsin Territory, in 1847. He attended the University of Wisconsin and studied law in Horicon, Wisconsin. He married Permelia Elizabeth Hubbard (1844–1928) in 1863.[2]
Career
editIn Wisconsin, Hays served as Clerk of the Wisconsin circuit court in Dodge County, and was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1865. While living in Juneau, Wisconsin, Hays served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1867.[3] He then served as the district attorney of Dodge County in 1874. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Secretary of State of Wisconsin in 1877.
On July 1, 1885, Hays received a recess appointment as Chief Justice of the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court from President Grover Cleveland.[4] He was formally nominated by Cleveland on December 14, 1885, and confirmed by the senate on October 2, 1886.[5][6]
Personal life
editHays died in Boise, Idaho Territory, while still in office[7][8] and was buried in Wisconsin.[9] Hays' eldest son, Samuel H. Hays, was a politician and attorney who served as the mayor of Boise, Idaho, and 29th Idaho Attorney General.
References
edit- ^ "A dispatch". The Wisconsin State Register. Portage, WI. June 2, 1888. p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRLZ-SQ5 : 30 January 2020), James B. Hays, 1863.
- ^ Serving the State: Wisconsin Legislators, 1848–2019
- ^ "Washington News". Portland Press Herald. July 2, 1885.
- ^ Congressional Record. December 17, 1885. p. 257.
- ^ Congressional Record. August 4, 1886. p. 7975.
- ^ Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin, vol. 3, Wisconsin State Bar Association: 1901, Biographical Sketch of James B. Hays.
- ^ Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, vol. 7, James Grant Wilson, John Fiske, D. Appleton: 1901, Biographical Sketch of James Buchanan Hays, p. 136.
- ^ "Death record". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. June 1, 1888. p. 2. Retrieved March 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
