Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Desha, John R. January 22, 1887 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Orr jessicanorr@gmail.com June 2, 2011, 9:16 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

HON. JOHN R. DESHA, Lawyer and Jurist. Before his appointment to the Circuit 
Court bench, Judge John R. Desha, fourth judge of the first circuit, served in 
many responsible offices in the Territory of Hawaii.
  Judge Desha began his career as secretary to the late Prince Jonah Kuhio 
Kalanianaole, delegate to Congress, holding this office from 1912 to 1917. 
During that period, Judge Desha attended the George Washington University Law 
School and in 1915 conducted a Congressional party of 125 to Hawaii.
  Returning to Honolulu from Washington, he entered the law office of Thompson 
& Cathcart and was admitted to practice in all of the courts of the Territory 
in July, 1918. The following year he became deputy city and county attorney, 
holding this position from January to June, when he started a law practice in 
Hilo with his brother, Stephen L. Desha, Jr., under the firm name of Desha & 
Desha. On April 28, 1920, Judge Desha was appointed second district magistrate 
of South Hilo. He received his appointment to the Circuit Court on Dec. 20, 
1921, and took office Jan. 3, 1922, for a term of four years.
  Judge Desha was born at Napoopoo, Kona, Hawaii, Jan. 22, 1887, the son of 
Stephen Langhern and Mary Kaakopua (Kekumano) Desha. Judge Desha is a 
descendant of the Desha family of Kentucky and is a member of a pioneer family 
of Hawaii.
  He was graduated from the Kamehameha Manual Training School in 1903 and from 
Punahou Academy in 1906, and received his B. A. degree at Harvard University 
in 1912, later attending the George Washington Law School.
  At Harvard Judge Desha was prominent in athletics, being a member of the 
baseball team from 1911 to 1912.
  Judge Desha’s first wife was Agnes Monks Ready of Nashua, New Hampshire, by 
whom he had two children, Evelyn Cornwell and Jacqueline Langhern Desha. He 
married Miss Eleanor Holt in Honolulu, Dec. 31, 1923.
  Judge Desha is a member of the Harvard Varsity Club, Delta Upsilon 
Fraternity, Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity, Order of Kamehameha, Court Lunalilo, 
6600, A.O.F., Chiefs of Hawaii, Native Sons of Hawaii, Modern Order of 
Phoenix, Hawaii Bar Association, and is a Republican in politics.


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