Early Life and Legal Career
James Doty was born in Salem, New York in 1799, where he attended school and went on to study law. His son was Charles Doty, who served as his father's secretary, and his cousin was Morgan Lewis Martin.
In 1818 he moved to Detroit, Michigan and was admitted to the bar as a lawyer in 1819. He started practicing law, and shortly later he was made the clerk of court of Michigan Territory.
In 1820 Doty was chosen by Lewis Cass, governor of Michigan Territory, to serve as secretary to his expedition to the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
In 1823, a new federal judicial district was created for northern and western Michigan Territory, covering what is now the state of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Doty was appointed as the federal judge for the district by President James Monroe, and, because he was required to live within his district, Doty moved from Detroit to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin in 1823. Doty regularly held court at Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island, Michigan. He also served as postmaster at Prairie du Chien from 1823 to 1824. In 1824, Doty moved to Green Bay, where he lived until 1841. Doty remained the district judge until he was replaced by David Irvin in 1832.
Read more about this topic: James Duane Doty
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