Samuel Bell McKee | |
---|---|
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court | |
In office January 5, 1880 – January 3, 1887 | |
Appointed by | Direct election |
Preceded by | Elections under new constitution of 1879 |
Succeeded by | Van R. Paterson |
Personal details | |
Born | August 1822 Portaferry, County Down, Ireland |
Died | March 3, 1887 Oakland, California, U.S. | (aged 64)
Spouse(s) |
Martha Alston Davis
(
m. 1847; died 1855)Sarah Ann "Sally" Davis
(
m. 1859) |
Alma mater | Oglethorpe University |
Samuel Bell McKee (August 1822 – March 2, 1887) was an American attorney and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from January 5, 1880, to January 3, 1887. Including his time on the trial court, he sat on the bench for more than 30 years, making him one of the longest serving judges in California history.
McKee was born in August 1822 in Portaferry, County Down, Ireland, near Belfast to Anna Bell and Robert McKee. [1] At the age of 12, he emigrated with his parents to Charleston, South Carolina. [2] When he was 18 years of age, he moved to Georgia, where he attended Oglethorpe University near Atlanta. [3] He then read law in the offices of Judge Henry W. Collier of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, and later moved to Panola County, Mississippi, where he practiced law. [4] On February 17, 1843, he became a naturalized United States citizen. [5]
In 1852, he came to Stockton but by 1853 moved to Oakland, California, where his brother-in-law resided. McKee became involved in real estate litigation arising from Mexican land grants. [4] In 1856, Alameda County was divided from Contra Costa County, and McKee was elected a judge of Alameda County. [6] [7] In 1859, he became judge for the Third District Court in Oakland, California, for the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. [8] In 1863, he was reelected over Judge Francis E. Spencer and won election again in 1869 and 1875. [9] [10] [11] McKee held the position of District Judge until 1879, when he joined the Supreme Court. [12] [13]
McKee tried several times to win a seat on the Supreme Court. In June 1871, McKee was put forward by the Democrats to replace Augustus Rhodes, who planned to retire in December 1871. [4] But the party nominated Seldon S. Wright, who lost in the election. [14] In 1873, a Supreme Court seat became open due to the death of Royal Sprague. The Democratic Party nominated McKee to run against the Republican candidate Samuel H. Dwinelle of Oakland, and Elisha W. McKinstry of the Independent Party, who was ultimately elected. [15] [16] [17]
In 1879, when adoption of a new constitution required elections for all seats on the Supreme Court, McKee was nominated by both the Democratic and Workingmen's parties and was finally elected. [18] [19] [20] The justices drew lots to determine their length of term, and he and Milton H. Myrick both drew seven-year terms. [21] [22] [23] In October 1886, McKee sought another term on the court, but lost the Democratic nomination to Byron Waters, who in turn lost the election to Van R. Paterson. [24]
After retiring from the court, McKee briefly entered into private practice in Oakland with his son, Samuel Bell McKee, Jr. [5] McKee, Sr. contracted pneumonia on a trip to Mexico and on March 2, 1887, he died at his home in Oakland. [4] [5]
In 1868, McKee was appointed a Regent of the University of California. [25] [26] [27]
McKee married twice; his two wives were sisters. On January 28, 1847, he married Martha Alston Davis (January 12, 1825 – November 26, 1855), a daughter of North Carolina physician Edward Davis, in Panola County, Mississippi. [5] [4] They had three children. [2] After the death of his first wife, in 1859 he married her sister, Sarah Ann "Sally" Davis (March 16, 1839 – January 12, 1921), and had seven more children. [2] [5] His children include: daughters Annie Banks McKee Mhoon, Martha, and Alma, as well as Sallie Banks McKee, [28] plus Helen Adelaide Spence "Nellie" McKee, and Amy Marguerite McKee; [29] and sons James Cain McKee, a banker, [30] [31] and attorneys Samuel Bell McKee, Jr., [32] Robert Linington McKee, who practiced law in Portland, Oregon, and Edward Davis McKee, who was a clerk of the court of claims, also in Portland. [33]
Alameda County Officers, Judge, S. B. McKee (Dem.), maj. 657
On Monday, March 28th, the District Court of Santa Clara commenced; S. B. McKee, presiding.
I have received, with sincere pleasure, your letter of approbation of the position which I have taken, as a candidate for reelection to the Judgeship of this District.
The contest for the Judgeship in the Third Judicial District lies between Francis E. Spencer and S. B. McKee. The district is composed of the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Judge S. B. McKee is elected to the Third District by about one hundred majority. He ran as an independent Union candidate.
The August term of the Third District Court was opened by Judge Samuel Bell McKee, today
Mr. McKee has been Judge of the Third Judicial District for about twelve years.
The business of the convention was concluded by the nomination of Judge Samuel Bell McKee of Alameda over Judge W. C. Wallace of Napa as the candidate for Supreme Judge to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Sprague.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES. Mr. Foote nominated S. B. McKee, of Alameda. He said he had been nominated by the Workingmen. The Judge had written a letter explaining that he accepted the nomination free and untrammeled and remained a good Democrat.
Associate Justice, S. B. McKee, 75,879
Judge Samuel B. McKee, present incumbent, is a candidate for renomination.
The Board of Regents of the State University effected an organization to-day, by the election of eight honorary members and the classification of the' appointed. The honorary members appointed are as follows:...S. B. McKee.
Deceased was the son of the late Sam Bell McKee, at one time a justice of the State Supreme Court. His mother, Mrs. Sarah McKee, is still living. Five brothers and sisters also survive him, namely, Sam Bell McKee of Oakland, Edward McKee of Portland, Mrs. O. Pierce of Oakland, Mrs. Norman Long of Portland and Miss Amy McKee of Oakland.
The body of James McKee, the son of the late Sam Bell McKee, who was drowned at Mazatlan, Mexico.
The appointee is a prominent lawyer. He is the son of the late Judge Sam Bell McKee.
Samuel Bell McKee | |
---|---|
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court | |
In office January 5, 1880 – January 3, 1887 | |
Appointed by | Direct election |
Preceded by | Elections under new constitution of 1879 |
Succeeded by | Van R. Paterson |
Personal details | |
Born | August 1822 Portaferry, County Down, Ireland |
Died | March 3, 1887 Oakland, California, U.S. | (aged 64)
Spouse(s) |
Martha Alston Davis
(
m. 1847; died 1855)Sarah Ann "Sally" Davis
(
m. 1859) |
Alma mater | Oglethorpe University |
Samuel Bell McKee (August 1822 – March 2, 1887) was an American attorney and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from January 5, 1880, to January 3, 1887. Including his time on the trial court, he sat on the bench for more than 30 years, making him one of the longest serving judges in California history.
McKee was born in August 1822 in Portaferry, County Down, Ireland, near Belfast to Anna Bell and Robert McKee. [1] At the age of 12, he emigrated with his parents to Charleston, South Carolina. [2] When he was 18 years of age, he moved to Georgia, where he attended Oglethorpe University near Atlanta. [3] He then read law in the offices of Judge Henry W. Collier of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, and later moved to Panola County, Mississippi, where he practiced law. [4] On February 17, 1843, he became a naturalized United States citizen. [5]
In 1852, he came to Stockton but by 1853 moved to Oakland, California, where his brother-in-law resided. McKee became involved in real estate litigation arising from Mexican land grants. [4] In 1856, Alameda County was divided from Contra Costa County, and McKee was elected a judge of Alameda County. [6] [7] In 1859, he became judge for the Third District Court in Oakland, California, for the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. [8] In 1863, he was reelected over Judge Francis E. Spencer and won election again in 1869 and 1875. [9] [10] [11] McKee held the position of District Judge until 1879, when he joined the Supreme Court. [12] [13]
McKee tried several times to win a seat on the Supreme Court. In June 1871, McKee was put forward by the Democrats to replace Augustus Rhodes, who planned to retire in December 1871. [4] But the party nominated Seldon S. Wright, who lost in the election. [14] In 1873, a Supreme Court seat became open due to the death of Royal Sprague. The Democratic Party nominated McKee to run against the Republican candidate Samuel H. Dwinelle of Oakland, and Elisha W. McKinstry of the Independent Party, who was ultimately elected. [15] [16] [17]
In 1879, when adoption of a new constitution required elections for all seats on the Supreme Court, McKee was nominated by both the Democratic and Workingmen's parties and was finally elected. [18] [19] [20] The justices drew lots to determine their length of term, and he and Milton H. Myrick both drew seven-year terms. [21] [22] [23] In October 1886, McKee sought another term on the court, but lost the Democratic nomination to Byron Waters, who in turn lost the election to Van R. Paterson. [24]
After retiring from the court, McKee briefly entered into private practice in Oakland with his son, Samuel Bell McKee, Jr. [5] McKee, Sr. contracted pneumonia on a trip to Mexico and on March 2, 1887, he died at his home in Oakland. [4] [5]
In 1868, McKee was appointed a Regent of the University of California. [25] [26] [27]
McKee married twice; his two wives were sisters. On January 28, 1847, he married Martha Alston Davis (January 12, 1825 – November 26, 1855), a daughter of North Carolina physician Edward Davis, in Panola County, Mississippi. [5] [4] They had three children. [2] After the death of his first wife, in 1859 he married her sister, Sarah Ann "Sally" Davis (March 16, 1839 – January 12, 1921), and had seven more children. [2] [5] His children include: daughters Annie Banks McKee Mhoon, Martha, and Alma, as well as Sallie Banks McKee, [28] plus Helen Adelaide Spence "Nellie" McKee, and Amy Marguerite McKee; [29] and sons James Cain McKee, a banker, [30] [31] and attorneys Samuel Bell McKee, Jr., [32] Robert Linington McKee, who practiced law in Portland, Oregon, and Edward Davis McKee, who was a clerk of the court of claims, also in Portland. [33]
Alameda County Officers, Judge, S. B. McKee (Dem.), maj. 657
On Monday, March 28th, the District Court of Santa Clara commenced; S. B. McKee, presiding.
I have received, with sincere pleasure, your letter of approbation of the position which I have taken, as a candidate for reelection to the Judgeship of this District.
The contest for the Judgeship in the Third Judicial District lies between Francis E. Spencer and S. B. McKee. The district is composed of the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Judge S. B. McKee is elected to the Third District by about one hundred majority. He ran as an independent Union candidate.
The August term of the Third District Court was opened by Judge Samuel Bell McKee, today
Mr. McKee has been Judge of the Third Judicial District for about twelve years.
The business of the convention was concluded by the nomination of Judge Samuel Bell McKee of Alameda over Judge W. C. Wallace of Napa as the candidate for Supreme Judge to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Sprague.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES. Mr. Foote nominated S. B. McKee, of Alameda. He said he had been nominated by the Workingmen. The Judge had written a letter explaining that he accepted the nomination free and untrammeled and remained a good Democrat.
Associate Justice, S. B. McKee, 75,879
Judge Samuel B. McKee, present incumbent, is a candidate for renomination.
The Board of Regents of the State University effected an organization to-day, by the election of eight honorary members and the classification of the' appointed. The honorary members appointed are as follows:...S. B. McKee.
Deceased was the son of the late Sam Bell McKee, at one time a justice of the State Supreme Court. His mother, Mrs. Sarah McKee, is still living. Five brothers and sisters also survive him, namely, Sam Bell McKee of Oakland, Edward McKee of Portland, Mrs. O. Pierce of Oakland, Mrs. Norman Long of Portland and Miss Amy McKee of Oakland.
The body of James McKee, the son of the late Sam Bell McKee, who was drowned at Mazatlan, Mexico.
The appointee is a prominent lawyer. He is the son of the late Judge Sam Bell McKee.