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 byGrover Cleveland
Preceded byJohn T. Morgan
Succeeded byHugh W. Weir
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Dodge 2nd district
In office
January 7, 1867 – January 6, 1868
Preceded byAndrew Willard
Succeeded byLewis M. Benson
Personal details
Born(1838-09-10)September 10, 1838
Crawford County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMay 31, 1888(1888-05-31) (aged 49)
Boise, Idaho Territory, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Paul's Episcopal Cemetery, Ashippun, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Permelia Elizabeth Hubbard
(m. 1863⁠–⁠1888)
Children3, including S. H. Hays
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin
ProfessionLawyer, judge
Signature

Early life and education

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Born 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

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In 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

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Hays 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

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  1. ^ "A dispatch". The Wisconsin State Register. Portage, WI. June 2, 1888. p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRLZ-SQ5 : 30 January 2020), James B. Hays, 1863.
  3. ^ Serving the State: Wisconsin Legislators, 1848–2019
  4. ^ "Washington News". Portland Press Herald. July 2, 1885.
  5. ^ Congressional Record. December 17, 1885. p. 257.
  6. ^ Congressional Record. August 4, 1886. p. 7975.
  7. ^ Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin, vol. 3, Wisconsin State Bar Association: 1901, Biographical Sketch of James B. Hays.
  8. ^ Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, vol. 7, James Grant Wilson, John Fiske, D. Appleton: 1901, Biographical Sketch of James Buchanan Hays, p. 136.
  9. ^ "Death record". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. June 1, 1888. p. 2. Retrieved March 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Secretary of State of Wisconsin
1877
Succeeded by
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
Andrew Willard
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dodge 2nd district
January 7, 1867 – January 6, 1868
Succeeded by
Lewis M. Benson
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Idaho Territory
July 1, 1885 – May 31, 1888
Succeeded by