The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-07-26
JUDGE JAMES D. WATERS.
An Able and Conscientious Jurist Who
is Nearing the Age Limit.
Belair Times.

OetUW lWteS.
Hon. James D. Waters Associate Judge of
the Third Judicial Circuit comprising Har-
ford and Baltimore counties, will have served
on the bench thirty-one years next Novem-
Der, when his term expires. 1t is almost GER
tain that Governor Smith will reappoint him
to serve until the general election in 1903. The
career of Judge Waters is full of interest. He
was born on Thomas Run, six or seven miles
from Belair, January II, 1884. His father was
Henry G. Waters, prominent farmer OF his
section. and who was County Commissioner
and well known throughout the county as an
accurate surveyor. Mr.. Waters was also re-
liable practitioner of the healing art, although
he had never taken degree. A well known
citizen of Thomas Run, recently deceased,
said he had heard DR.. Robert H. Archer, who
died about 1858 and who had practiced in that
neigh borhood the greater part of his life, say
to his patients "If you are sick send for Mr..
Waters; in any ordinary case he is as good as
l am if he can't help you he will send for
me-" 1t is known that this generous conduct
on the part of the father aided the son when
he came to be nominated for the judgeshlp.
He died in 1865.
Judge Waters was one of four children.
His early life was spent upon the farm. HIS
education was obtained at the Belair Academy
and at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. He
graduated in 1856 with the degree OF A. b.
For one year thereafter he was tutor in Latin
and Greek in Brockets School, at Alexandria.
Va, and afterwards for one year taught small
private school in Chester county, Pa. In 1858
he went to st. Louis and entered the law office
af Krum & Harding In January, 1861, he
was admitted to the bar. He later returned to
Hartford county and in the late summer OF
early fall of 1862 Joined the First Virginia Con-
federate Regiment, but afterwards became q
member of the Maryland Cavalry under Col
onel Ridgely Brown.
he returned to Hartford county and commenced
the practice of law, being for some time in the
Office ofthe late H. d. Farnandis. In 1868 he
in connection with the late William Bouldin
established the Hartford Democrat, which be
| edited until 1871, when be was elected Associ
ate Judge Of the Circuit Court, succeeding
| Hon. George Y. Maynadier, who had been APP
| pointed by Gov. Bowie to fill vacancy caused
| by the resignation of the late Judge Alfred W
Bateman. In 1858 he married Miss Fannie
| H., daughter of the late John A. Munnikhuy'
sen, of this county. They have one daughter
| Anna M. Waters.
Judge Waters has been an eminently fail
and impartial Judge. While staunch Demo
crat, he has not allowed partisan bias to in
| huence his decisions and it has often been re-
marked by members of the opposition party
| that they have the fullest confidence in re-
| ceiving just treatment in semi-potitical cases
| brought before him.
During the Judges long service on the bench
he has tried many important cases, involving
| human life and vast personal and property
interests. 1t would be too much to say thai
his decisions have always satisfied everyone
but it can be safely said that he possessed in 9
rare degree the judicial mind and that abso
lutte honesty of purpose characterized his ad
ministration of justice and that he has
achieved notable reputation as a fair, able
and impartial magistrate. His retirement
from the judgeship will be sincerely regretted
| by host of friends and admirers.