Draft:W. R. Donham

William Robert Donham (September 14, 1875 – August 19, 1945) was an Arkansas lawyer who served as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1938.

"Judge William R. Donham has attained distinction and prominence as a representative of the bar and has left the impress of his individuality indelibly upon the judicial history of the state. For many years he practiced successfully at Benton and since 1917 has made his home in Little Rock, following his profession in the capital city throughout the intervening period to the present. It is such men as Judge Donham who have been the real promoters of Arkansas' development and greatness. A native of this state, he was born near Monticello, in Drew county, September 14, 1875, his parents being William C. and Mary (Hales) Donham, both of whom were natives of Mississippi and belonged to old and prominent southern families. The father, William Carroll Donham, was reared and educated in his native state and with the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the Confederate army and became a second lieutenant of the Ninth Mississippi Infantry, engaging in active military duty until his capture at Dalton, Georgia, after which he was held as a prisoner of war until the cessation of hostilities, being incarcerated at Fort Delaware. Soon after the close of the war he removed to Arkansas and purchasing a tract of land in Drew county turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he established his home in Grant county, where he again engaged in farming until 1881, at which time he disposed of his property there and took up his abode in Jefferson county. In 1886 he removed to Saline county and continued to engage in farming which had claimed his attention up to this time. His progressiveness was not only manifest in the manner in which he conducted his agricultural interests, but also in his relation to the public, his aid and influence ever being given on the side of progress and improvement in all that related to the welfare of community, commonwealth and country. The democratic party numbered him among its stalwart supporters and while he never sought nor desired public office he was at all times keenly interested in everything that pertained to civic advancement. He belonged to the United Confederate Veterans' Association and he was an equally loyal member of the Missionary Baptist church. His death occurred January 3, 1913, while his wife died some years before-in 1894.

It was in the schools of Jefferson county that Judge Donham began his education, which he continued in Saline county, following the removal of the family thereto when he was a lad of about eleven years. After leaving the public schools he spent one year as a student in the Arkansas Industrial University at Fayetteville and then matriculated in the law department of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he continued his studies for another twelve months. In further preparation for the bar he entered the Missouri Law College at St. Louis, there remaining until his graduation with the LL. B. degree as a member of the class of 1902.

Judge Donham was admitted to practice before the circuit court at Benton upon successfully passing the required examination and at once took up the active work of the profession. He built up a large and lucrative practice and has appeared in connection with many important cases which have been brought before both the state and federal courts, including the supreme court of Arkansas and the supreme court of the United States. In 1908 Mr. Donham was elected to the bench of the county court of Saline county and at the close of his two years' term was reelected, so that he served upon the bench until 1912. A contemporary writer has said of his judicial career: "His administration has been specially notable from the fact that he has succeeded in greatly reducing the debt of the county, in addition to carrying out a progressive policy in the constructing of good roads and bridges throughout his jurisdiction. In every respect he has been a highly satisfactory incumbent of the office of county judge."

On the 4th of November, 1897, Judge Donham was united in marriage to Miss Ruth A. Smith, who was born and reared in Saline county, a daughter of John W. Smith, a representative agriculturist of that section of the state. Judge and Mrs. Donham became parents of four children: Blanche, who is now the wife of Dr. Sidney R. Crawford; Grace, who on the 15th of March, 1921, became the wife of Thomas Gray; John Smith, born in 1905; and Ruth, who completes the family. Both Judge and Mrs. Donham are members of the Missionary Baptist church and in its work have taken active and helpful part, doing all in their power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. Since coming to Little Rock Judge Donham has been made a director of the Baptist State Hospital in this city. In politics he has always been active as a supporter of democratic principles, but has never sought nor desired office outside of the strict path of his profession."

"Pick W.R. Donham for State Court in Butler's Place", Hope Star (January 27, 1938), p. 1.