William H. James

William Hartford James (1831 - 1920) was a Republican Nebraska politician best known as the second Governor of Nebraska. He was also a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Board of Regents during his tenure as Governor.

Early life in Iowa

William Hartford James was born on October 15, 1831 at Marion, Ohio. He attended the public school and worked on the family farm. He began studying law on his own, and in 1853, James moved to Des Moines, Iowa and joined a law firm. He was admitted to the Iowa Bar Association in 1855 and moved to Sergeant Bluff to start his own legal practice.

Political career in Nebraska

In 1857 James moved to Nebraska and staked a homestead claim in Dakota County. He soon became active in local politics, serving as Justice of the Peace and County Attorney for Dakota County. In 1864 President Abraham Lincoln appointed James as register of the Dakota County Land Office. After serving as register of the Dakota County Land Office for five years, James then ran on the Republican ticket and was elected Secretary of State in 1870. In 1871, with the impeachment of Governor David Butler, James became Acting Governor of Nebraska.

Later years

After serving out his term as acting Governor, James returned to his legal practice. In 1877 he was appointed register of the Colfax, Washington Land Office. He held that position until his death on February 1, 1920.

References

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# [http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/public/state_governors/james.pdf William H. James papers] at the Nebraska State Historical Society