James Aldrich (politician)
Encyclopedia
James Aldrich was a South Carolina circuit judge and state representative.
Aldrich was born on Barnwell, South Carolina
on July 25, 1850, the son of a prominent attorney, James T. Aldrich, and Isabel C. Pattison. He attended private school until the Civil War interrupted, and was then home schooled. He also worked on the family farm as a child. In the closing days of the war, he joined a local militia unit. The war left his family nearly destitute, and Aldrich supplemented the household income hauling goods. He attended Washington and Lee University
beginning in 1869, but was forced by circumstances to leave school in 1872. He read law, and in 1873 was admitted to the bar. He moved to Aiken, South Carolina
. On December 15, 1874, he married Fannie Lebby. In 1876, he served as a defense attorney in the Ellenton riots and the Hamburg Massacre
, both of which ended in mistrials.
He was held in high esteem by local Democrats after the trials, and was elected to the State House in 1878. He served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
till 1884. He returned to the House in 1886, and this time served until 1889, when he was elected to the circuit court. While a representative, he was a member of the Judiciary Committee, and chaired the Committee on Incorporation. In 1889 he was elected to serve the Second Circuit Court as a judge and served on the Bench for eighteen years. He died January 23, 1910
Aldrich was born on Barnwell, South Carolina
Barnwell, South Carolina
Barnwell is a city in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States, located along U.S. Route 278. The population was 5,035 at the 2000 census...
on July 25, 1850, the son of a prominent attorney, James T. Aldrich, and Isabel C. Pattison. He attended private school until the Civil War interrupted, and was then home schooled. He also worked on the family farm as a child. In the closing days of the war, he joined a local militia unit. The war left his family nearly destitute, and Aldrich supplemented the household income hauling goods. He attended Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
beginning in 1869, but was forced by circumstances to leave school in 1872. He read law, and in 1873 was admitted to the bar. He moved to Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
. On December 15, 1874, he married Fannie Lebby. In 1876, he served as a defense attorney in the Ellenton riots and the Hamburg Massacre
Hamburg Massacre
The Hamburg Massacre was a key event of South Carolina Reconstruction. Beginning with a dispute over free passage on a public road, this racially motivated incident concluded with the death of seven men...
, both of which ended in mistrials.
He was held in high esteem by local Democrats after the trials, and was elected to the State House in 1878. He served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
till 1884. He returned to the House in 1886, and this time served until 1889, when he was elected to the circuit court. While a representative, he was a member of the Judiciary Committee, and chaired the Committee on Incorporation. In 1889 he was elected to serve the Second Circuit Court as a judge and served on the Bench for eighteen years. He died January 23, 1910
Sources
- Garlington, J. C. Men of the Time. page3. 1902. Garlington Publishing Co. Google Books. Online. January 11, 2008.
- Brooks, Ulysses Robert. South Carolina Bench and Bar. pp 270 - 273. The State company. 1908. Online. Google Books. January 14, 2009.
- Snowden, Yates and Harry Gardner Cutler. History of South Carolina. pp 13 -14. Leis. 1920. Online. Google Books. January 14, 2009.
- State Historical Society of Iowa Iowa Journal of History. The State Historical Society of Iowa. 1910.