James C. Needham

James Needham

James Carson Needham (September 17, 1864 – July 11, 1942) was a U.S. Representative from California.

Born in a covered wagon at Carson City, Nevada, James Needham arrived as a babe in arms with his parents at Mayfield, Santa Clara, California, October 1, 1864. He attended the Santa Clara County public schools. He was graduated from the California Wesleyan College at San Jose in 1886 and from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1889. He served as clerk in The Adjutant General's Office of the War Department in Washington, D.C., from September 1, 1887, until September 1, 1888, when he resigned to complete his law course. He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and commenced practice in Modesto, California. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the State senate in 1890.

Needham was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-sixth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1899-March 3, 1913). He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1912 for reelection to the Sixty-third Congress. He resumed the practice of law in San Diego, California from 1913 to 1916, when he returned to Modesto, California, and continued his profession. He was appointed judge of the superior court of California January 1, 1919.

Needham was elected to the same office in 1920 to fill an unexpired term. He was reelected in 1922 and again in 1926, and served until January 1, 1935. He died in Modesto, California on July 11, 1942. He was interred in the Masonic Cemetery.

References

• James C. Needham at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Curtis H. Castle	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 7th congressional district 1899–1903	Succeeded by James McLachlan
Preceded by James McLachlan	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 6th congressional district 1903–1913	Succeeded by Joseph R. Knowland

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.