Judge W. A. Henry

 

Judge W. A. Henry.---Conspicuous among the local magistrates in the Capital City is W. A. Henry, whose office at 608 I street, opposite the Court House, is in itself peculiar, as indeed is the Judge in his personal characteristics. Born at Lexington, Kentucky, December 16, 1832, he crossed the plains in 1854, and settled in Placer County. His father, John Henry, was a prominent politician, an old-time Whig, and later on a Douglas Democrat. He removed from Kentucky to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he was a member of the Legislature, and when Colonel E. D. Baker, Congressman of his district, resigned his position to participate in the Mexican war, Henry was selected to fill his place. Grandfather Henry was a Virginian by birth, and a Christian minister, a devoted disciple of Alexander Campbell. The Judge’s mother, Isabella Wilson, a native of Edinburg, Scotland, came with her father, Robert Wilson, to Lexington, Kentucky, where the family became well know. When our subject was a child the family moved to Jacksonville, Illinois, and there he grew to manhood, and learned the trade of coppersmith at St. Louis. When he reached his majority he crossed the plains to California with a party of young men. Going into the mines for a short time, he soon became convinced that mining was not to his liking, so began teaching school, and being interested in matters political became a candidate for the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Later on he made San Francisco his home for several years. In 1864 he went to Woodland, Yolo County, and for two years was the editor of the Yolo County Democrat, and for two years justice of the peace. For four years he was under-sheriff and county tax collector. In 1875 he came to Sacramento, at the instance of Jefferson Wilcoxson, well-known capitalist, and remained with him some time. He was then made Patent Clerk and Examiner of Titles in the office of the State Surveyor-General, which position he filled for four years.  He was then elected as Police Judge. During the seven years he served in that capacity he was admitted to practice before the Superior Courts, and upon the expiration of his term as Police Judge he went into general practice. In May of this year (1889) he was appointed as justice of the peace, which office he now holds. In former years he was prominent in the different fraternal organizations, holding the office of Master Workman in the A. O. U. W.; of Sachem of the Red Men, and Noble Arch and Noble Grand Arch in the Ancient Order of Druids. The Judge was married in 1876, to Mrs. S. H. Carroll, nee Noble, a sister of William Noble, of Bear Valley. The Judge, who is now fifty-six years of age, would pass for several years younger. He is widely known and highly respected by all his friends and acquaintances.