Sacramento County

Biographies

 

 

ARTHUR H. MCCURDY

 

Judge McCurdy, as they familiarly call him, is one of the younger men among the successful lawyers practicing in Sacramento.  He was born in Selkirk, Manitoba, July 21, 1879, his father, James McCurdy, being an American and a bridge builder, and at that time engaged by the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company.  His death took place in 1893.  The mother of Arthur McCurdy was Helen Prescott, who is still living in Sacramento.  She is a descendant of Colonel Prescott, who was in command of the Americans in at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and she is also a direct descendant of Martha Winslow, one of the famous Mayflower passengers.  Mrs. McCurdy possesses some priceless mementos of those long ago people and days, heirlooms from her famous ancestors, in silver spoons and other articles in that metal.  She is of a line that possesses some of the most noted names into English history.

 

The three children of this family are Arthur H., the subject of this sketch, who was educated in the city schools.  Leaving the Sacramento high school in 1901, he then entered the law office of J. Frank Brown, and shortly after continued his law studies in the office of Judge J. B. DeVine and Frank D. Ryan.  On May 16, 1905, he was admitted to the bar of the state and November 11, 1906, was admitted to the United States District Court, and he has practiced law since his admission.  Taking great interest in politics he naturally attended state and county Republican conventions.  He was elected to justice of the peace of Sutter township in November, 1902, by a large majority, being the youngest justice of the peace elected in the county.  During his term on the bench of the justice's court only three of his decisions have failed of confirmation by the higher courts.  After the expiration of his term as justice of the peace he was not a candidate for re-election, but since then has given all to his attention to his practice and has met with unwonted success, having now a large clientele throughout the county.  Walter J. N. is an attorney-at-law in Sacramento.  Clara Maude, the sole daughter of the family, resides with her mother.

 

In fraternity Mr. McCurdy is a past Chief Ranger of the Foresters of in America, Past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

 

Transcribed by Nancy Pratt Melton.

 

Source: Willis, William M., History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 468-469. Historic Record Company. 1913.

© 2005 Nancy Pratt Melton.