James I. Crutcher

James I. Crutcher
United States Marshal for the District of Idaho
In office August 8, 1894 – September 10, 1898
Preceded by	Joseph Pinkham
Succeeded by	Frank C. Ramsey
Delegate to the Idaho Constitutional Convention
In office July 4, 1889 – August 6, 1889
Constituency	Owyhee County
Member of the Idaho Territorial Council
In office 1886–1887
Constituency	Owyhee and Washington Counties
Sheriff of Boise County, Idaho Territory
In office 1865–1869
Personal details
Born	(1835-12-31)December 31, 1835 Shelby County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	March 2, 1915(1915-03-02) (aged 79) Berkeley, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Adelma C. Belknap ​ (m. 1865)​
Children	4
Profession	miner and politician
Signature

James Isaac Crutcher (December 31, 1835 – March 2, 1915) was an American politician and marshal who was a pioneer of the Idaho Territory.

Biography

Crutcher was born on December 31, 1835, in Shelby County, Kentucky, the son of Thomas M. and Mary Ann (née Edwards) Crutcher. Crutcher was educated in Frankfort, Kentucky, before moving West to mine, first to Colorado in 1860, then to Elk City, Idaho Territory in 1862. The following year, he moved to Boise County, and was elected sheriff there in 1865. That same year, Crutcher married Adelma C. Belknap in Idaho City. They would have four children, but all four had died by 1899. After his term, Crutcher resumed mining in Silver City.[1][2]

In 1886, Crutcher was elected as a Democrat to the Idaho Territorial Council, representing Owyhee and Washington Counties. In 1889, he was elected by Owyhee County as a delegate to the Idaho Constitutional Convention.[1]

On July 30, 1894, President Grover Cleveland nominated Crutcher as United States Marshal for the District of Idaho, and he was confirmed by the senate on August 8, 1894. He served until his successor, former state controller Frank C. Ramsey, received a recess appointment to the position on September 10, 1898.[3][4]

Crutcher had a poor financial situation in his last years, which he spent living with his brother in Livingston, and then Berkeley, California. He died in Berkeley on March 2, 1915.[5][6][7]

References

1. Curtis, George H.; Wells, Merle (1944). "The Political Founders of Idaho". Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report of the Secretary of State of Idaho. pp. 59–77.
2. An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho. The Lewis Publishing Company. 1899.
3. Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate. Vol. 29, part 1. 1909. pp. 751, 769.
4. "List of US Marshals - Idaho" (PDF). U.S. Marshals Service.
5. "Idaho Pioneer Passes". The Idaho Statesman. March 8, 1915.
6. "California, U.S., Death Index, 1905-1939". California Department of Health and Welfare. p. 2380.
7. "Index to Great Register: Merced County, Cressey Precinct". State of California. 1912.