James McNenny Family Papers

James Patrick McNenny was a prominent lawyer who resided in Sturgis, South Dakota. He also served as a circuit court judge. His jurisdiction included, Lawrence, Butte, and Meade Counties. He was born December 6, 1874 in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were James McNenny, Sr. and Julia (Harrington) McNenny. After James, Sr.'s death, Julia moved to Meade County, South Dakota with her four children and set up a farm in 1894. James McNenny attended country school in Meade County and later for two years in Rapid City. He began reading law with Mike McMahon. He later studies Law at Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa. He worked his way through school as a stenographer in law offices. He graduated in 1901 and was admitted to the bar in both Iowa and South Dakota.

In 1902 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 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.

He was also involved in many civic activities. For a number of years he served as clerk of the board of education of Sturgis. He joined the South Dakota National Guard as a private, and advanced to the rank of major in command of 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.

He married Miss Kate Halbert on February 11, 1908. Miss Halbert was the daughter of James B. and Margaret (Moore) Halbert and a niece of the late Judge Joseph B. Moore, of Lead, South Dakota. They had five children, Kate, Harold, Marion, Mabel and Wilbur. James McNenny died January 25, 1944 of Influenza. He is buried in Bear Butte Cemetery, in Sturgis, South Dakota.