James McNenny Biography


	This biography appears on pages 823-824 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES McNENNY. 

	James McNenny, judge of the circuit court, with jurisdiction over 
Lawrence, Butte and Meade counties, his home being at Sturgis, has long 
enjoyed statewide reputation as an able lawyer and jurist. He was born 
in Chicago, Illinois, December 6, 1874. His paternal grandfather was 
one of the pioneers of that state, settling in early days upon a 
homestead near Elgin, where he continued to reside until his life's 
labors were ended. He was a native of New York and was of Scotch-Irish 
descent. His son, James McNenny, Sr., lived in Chicago until his death 
and was engaged in the dairy business. He married Julia Harrington, a 
native of Ireland but now a resident of Meade county, South Dakota. 

	Judge McNenny attended the Chicago public schools until nine 
years of age, when in 1884 his mother with her four children came to 
South Dakota, settling upon a farm in Meade county. The entire cash 
capital of the family at that time was less than one hundred dollars. 
James McNenny attended the only district school available, walking 
three miles across the prairies in order to receive the instruction 
therein given. He later had the benefit of two years' study in the 
schools of Rapid City and in 1899 he began reading law in the offices 
of Mike McMahon. He afterward entered the Highland Park College at Des 
Moines, Iowa, where he pursued the study of law and special courses, 
including oratory. He had previously learned stenography and he made 
his way through college by doing stenographic work for lawyers in the 
evenings and on Saturdays. He was graduated with the class of 1901 and 
then took the Iowa state examination, which won him admission to the 
bar with the remarkable percentage of ninety-nine and one-half. In July 
of the same year he was admitted to the South Dakota bar and located 
for practice at Sturgis. The following year he joined Charles C. Polk, 
under the firm name of Polk & McNenny, which association was continued 
until 1908. He was elected states attorney of Meade county in 1903 and 
continued in that office until 1907. In February of the latter year he 
was appointed county judge by Governor Crawford and was reelected to 
the office at the following election, continuing upon the bench until 
January 1, 1911. He made an excellent record in that position and "won 
golden opinions from all sorts of people" by reason of the fairness and 
impartiality of his decisions. He acted as city attorney for Sturgis 
for a period of six years and in January, 1914, he was appointed to the 
circuit bench by Governor Byrne, so that he is now serving as judge of 
the circuit which embraces the three counties of Lawrence, Butte and 
Meade. He has the happy faculty of losing personal prejudices and any 
peculiarities of disposition in the impartiality of the office to which 
life, liberty and property must look for protection. 

	Throughout the period of his residence in South Dakota, James 
McNenny has been an important factor in public life, contributing in 
large measure to those movements which have worked for the benefit and 
upbuilding of city, county and state For some years he served as clerk 
of the board of education of Sturgis. He has been for years much 
interested in state military affairs. Joining the South Dakota National 
Guard as a private, he has advanced through successive promotions to 
the rank of major and is now commanding the Third Battalion of the 
South Dakota National Guard. He was in 1908 a member of the first rifle 
team sent to the national encampment at Camp Perry. For one year he 
served as quartermaster and for a time was judge advocate general of 
the military organization of the state. 

	On the 11th of February, 1902, Mr. McNenny was united in marriage 
to Miss Kate Halbert, a daughter of James B. and Margaret (Moore) 
Halbert and a niece of the late Judge Joseph B. Moore, of Lead, South 
Dakota. James B. Halbert was a prominent railway builder residing in 
Apopka, Florida, and both he and, his wife came of old southern 
colonial families. To Mr. and Mrs. McNenny have been born five 
children, namely: Kate, Harold, Marion, Mabel and Wilbur. 

	Judge McNenny is a republican in his political views and does all 
in his power to further the interests of the party and secure the 
adoption of the principles which he believes are best adapted to good 
government. He is a Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and his wife has membership with the Daughters of the American 
Revolution. They occupy an enviable position in the social circles of 
city and state and Judge McNenny is recognized as an exceptionally able 
lawyer, with a splendid record as a jurist since his elevation to the 
bench.