Walter Van Dyke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Van Dyke
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| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California | |
| In office January 4, 1899 – December 25, 1905 |
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| Appointed by | Elected |
| Preceded by | William Cary Van Fleet |
| Succeeded by | M. C. Sloss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 8, 1823 Tyre, Seneca County, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1905 (aged 82) East Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Rowena Cooper
(m. 1854) |
| Children | Edwin Cooper Van Dyke |
| Signature |  |
Walter Van Dyke (born October 8, 1823 – died December 25, 1905) was an important judge in California. He served as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Later, he became a justice on the highest court in California, the California Supreme Court. He held these important roles in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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Early Life and Career
Walter Van Dyke was born in Tyre, New York, on October 8, 1823. He studied law in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1846 to 1848. In 1849, he traveled across the Great Plains to California. He stayed briefly in Los Angeles before moving to Northern California.
In 1853, he settled in Humboldt County, California. There, he was elected to the California State Assembly. This is a group of people who make laws for the state. He also worked as a lawyer and was the district attorney for the area in 1854. A district attorney is a lawyer who works for the government to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.
Political Roles in California
In 1861, Walter Van Dyke was elected to the California State Senate. This is another part of the state's law-making body. He served in the Senate in 1862 and 1863. During this time, he helped create the Republican Party in California.
He also worked as an editor for a newspaper called the Humboldt Times until 1863. After that, he moved to San Francisco. In 1868, he was chosen as an alternate elector for the Republican Party's national meeting. This meeting chose the candidate for president, who was Ulysses S. Grant that year.
From 1874 to 1877, Van Dyke served as the United States Attorney for California. This means he was the chief lawyer for the U.S. government in the state. In 1878, he was chosen to be a delegate for the California Constitutional Convention. This was a special meeting to write a new constitution for California.
Becoming a Judge
In 1884, Walter Van Dyke moved to Los Angeles. He worked as a lawyer in a firm called Wells, Van Dyke & Lee. In 1888, he was elected as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was reelected in 1894 and served until December 1899.
In November 1898, he ran for a position as an Associate Justice on the California Supreme Court. This is the highest court in California. He won the election and started his 12-year term on January 4, 1899. He was chosen by a group of different political parties working together.
Later Life and Passing
Walter Van Dyke passed away on December 25, 1905, at the age of 82. He died at his home in East Oakland, California, after a short illness. His funeral services were held at Mountain View Cemetery. After his death, M. C. Sloss was appointed to take his place on the Supreme Court.
Personal Life
On September 21, 1854, Walter Van Dyke married Rowena Cooper in Humboldt County, California. They had eight children together. When he passed away, he was survived by his wife and five of their children. His children included William M. Van Dyke, who was a court clerk, and Henry S. Van Dyke, who became an attorney. His son, Dr. Edwin Cooper Van Dyke, became a famous entomologist, studying insects.
