James Helmick Beatty

James H. Beatty
Judge of the U.S. District Court for Idaho
In office February 4, 1892 – March 1, 1907
Appointed by	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	none
Succeeded by	Frank Dietrich
Chief Justice of the Idaho Territorial Court
In office May 1889 – July 3, 1890
Preceded by	H.W. Weir
Succeeded by	none
Personal details
Born	May 8, 1836 Lancaster, Ohio
Died	October 21, 1927 (aged 91) Hollywood, California
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood, California
Nationality	United States
Spouse(s)	Mary Caldwell Beatty (1848–1939)
Alma mater	Ohio Wesleyan University A.B. 1858,   (read law)
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	1863–1865
Rank	First lieutenant
Unit	Fourth Iowa Battery
Battles/wars	Civil War

James Helmick Beatty (May 8, 1836 – October 21, 1927) was a United States federal judge in Idaho.

Born in Lancaster, Ohio, Beatty received an A.B. from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1858 and read law to enter the bar in 1862. He was superintendent of Jackson Public Schools in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1858 to 1861, and was in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, serving as first lieutenant of the Fourth Iowa Battery from 1863 to 1865.

Following the war, Beatty was in private practice in Missouri at Lexington from 1865 to 1872, also serving as a register in bankruptcy during that time. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, from 1872 to 1882. Beatty returned to private practice in Idaho Territory in 1882 at Hailey, and was a senator in the territorial legislature from 1886 to 1888. In May 1889, Beatty was appointed chief justice of the territorial court until it was dissolved when Idaho was admitted to the Union in July 1890.^[1]

On March 7, 1891, Beatty received a recess appointment from President Benjamin Harrison to the first seat on the U.S. States District Court for the new District of Idaho, created by 26 Stat. 215. His appointment was originally held up by Idaho's two U.S. Senators, William J. McConnell and George L. Shoup.^[2]

Formally nominated on December 10, 1891, Beatty was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 4, 1892, and received his commission the same day. He served in that capacity for fifteen years, until his retirement, on March 1, 1907.

Beatty lived another twenty years and died at age 91 in Hollywood, California, and is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (formerly Hollywood Memorial Cemetery).

References

1. James H. Beatty-biography
2. "James P. (H.) Beatty confirmed". Spokane Daily Chronicle (Washington). February 4, 1892. p. 1.

Sources

• James Helmick Beatty at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• James Helmick Beatty at Find a Grave