James Wickersham (August 24, 1857 – October 24, 1939) was a district judge for Alaska, appointed by U.S. President William McKinley to the Third Judicial District in 1900. He resigned his post in 1908 and was subsequently elected as Alaska's delegate to Congress, serving until 1917 and then being re-elected in 1930. He was instrumental in the passage of the Organic Act of 1912, which granting Alaska territorial status. He also introduced the Alaska Railroad Bill, legislation to establish McKinley Park, and the first Alaska Statehood Bill in 1916. He was among those responsible for the creation of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, which later became the University of Alaska. A residence hall on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus is named in his honor.
Wickersham was born near Patoka, Illinois in August 1857. Many years later, in 1883, he and his wife Deborah moved to Tacoma, Washington Territory, where he became a judge. While in Tacoma he helped lead a mob which forced the city's Chinese population out of town, and was later arrested as one of the "Tacoma Twenty-Seven," though he was never convicted. He was a member of the Tacoma Academy of Science and was President of that organization in 1893. He presented a paper to the Academy on Feb. 6, 1893, entitled, "Is it Mount Tacoma, or Rainier?" During the presentation the following prominent Indians representing the Puyallup, Nesqually and Klickitat tribes were seated on the platform: George Leschi, son of Quiemuth, a leader in the Indian war of 1855; Jack Simmons; John Hiaton, one of the patriarchs of the reservation, 80 years of age, and a signer of the treaty of 1854; Mrs. John Hiaton and John Powers". The presentation has been reproduced by a digital file created at the Library of Congress.
Arrival in Alaska
When Wickersham set off for Alaska he was allegedly dodging a government posting in Japan, and he told anyone who asked that he preferred the Eagle post, saying he "yearned for the Yukon, not Yokohama". With the introduction of federal oversight Wickersham was one of three federally appointed judges. ( The other two were Arthur H. Noyes in Nome and the previously established Melville C. Brown in Juneau. This post made him one of the three most powerful people in Alaska, with no one within 3,000 miles to overrule his decisions or stand in his way. (editorializing) Wickersham was tasked with "cleaning up" the legal system after the Nome Gold Conspiracy which involved prominent Republican National Committee member Alexander McKenzie, and Judge Noyes. His start into Alaskan official law involved litigation of that reflected the Alaskan frontier spirit. "Chief Charley, head of the Charley River band of the Tena Indians, was the first litigant to appeal to the new court officials for justice." According to court records, someone from upriver had stolen his dog, considered a very serious offense at the time. After being given the run around, Chief Charley reached Wickersham and consulted the highest court in the land. Wickersham appointed a deputy to retrieve the stolen animal and waited with the chief for his return, chatting about everyday problems. This incident helped frame Wickersham's reputation as a "man of action." (reference needed)
As the most powerful personage of Federal oversight for the vast majority of the interior of Alaska, Wickersham was an important man to have on your side. (remove, editorializing) His relationship with the development of Fairbanks helped shape not only the future of the Interior's steadily expanding city, but also the entire state. Wickersham's working relationship with Captain E.T. Barnette led to the initially small settlement developing into a city that became a gateway to the Arctic. Through Barnette and Wickersham's efforts, Fairbanks became incorporated.
Though they worked well together for the betterment of Alaska, and particularly the interior, they did not always have the best personal relationship. When presiding over one of Barnette's many gold claim cases, he concluded that if the case went in his favor, Wickersham could benefit from the decision himself after his term was over. "It was an outright bribe" quoted one historian. Personal opinions and ever changing allegiances aside, as far as the future of Fairbanks went, Barnette could always count on Wickersham to have his back as what Barnette wanted usually was what was best for Fairbanks. ( remove, editorializing) After Wickersham concluded his service as judge, he moved on to represent Alaska's interests in Washington.