James J. Banks was born at Enon, Bullock County, Alabama, April 27, 1861, the son of Jabez B. Banks and Jane (Harvey) Banks, both natives of Georgia. They came to Alabama in the early days and settled in Bullock County. Jabez B. was a planter. He died in 1892. His wife died in 1881. Three children were living in 1904. William H. was a soldier in the Civil war and a member of the Constitutional convention of 1901.
James J. was reared on a farm, attending the private schools. He graduated from the Alabama Polytechnic institute in 1882 with the degree of bachelor of arts. He returned to the farm on account of the illness of his father, and there he remained until 1884, when he entered the University of Alabama and took the law course, graduating as a bachelor of laws in 1885.
In September 1885, he removed to Birmingham, having been admitted to the general practice of law before the Supreme court at Montgomery. He formed a brief partnership with E. H. Cabaniss. In 1890 he was elected city attorney and held the office about eighteen months when he was elected judge of the Tenth judicial circuit, comprising Jefferson, Walker, and Winston counties. He served on the bench for six and a half years. At the expiration of his term, he resumed the practice of law in the Banks & Selheimer, formed in October 1889.
Judge Banks was a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was married Dec. 7, 1887, to Lee Frazer, daughter of Judge S. T. Frazer of Union Springs. He and Mrs. Banks were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had two sons by 1904: Frazer Banks and James J. Banks.
James J. Banks passed away Dec. 13, 1946 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Union Springs, Bullock County, Alabama along with his wife Lee (b. Sep. 22, 1868- Mar. 6, 1936)
SOURCE:
Notable Men of Alabama by Joel Campbell Dubose vol 2 – 1904
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