Associate Justice, Texas Supreme Court, 1866-1867
Born in Howard County, Missouri, on May 27, 1821, Stockton P. Donley attended Transylvania University in Kentucky and was admitted to the bar in that state.
In 1846 Donley moved to Texas and opened a law practice in Clarksville, the county seat of Red River County. The following year he relocated to Rusk, and went into partnership with James M. Anderson. Donley quickly established a reputation as a capable criminal attorney. In 1853 he was elected district attorney of the Sixth Judicial District and gained a reputation as an efficient prosecutor. In 1860 he relocated to Tyler.
When the Civil War broke out, Donley enlisted as a private in the Texas volunteer army and was captured at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. He was eventually exchanged and promoted to lieutenant. Following the war he returned to Tyler and resumed practicing law.
In 1866 Donley was elected by popular vote to the Texas Supreme Court, serving until he was among state officials removed by the military as “impediments to Reconstruction” on September 10, 1867. He went into practice with Oran Roberts and then with John L. Henry. He practiced privately until his death in Kaufman, Texas on February 17, 1871. He was buried in Tyler.
Maria v. State,
Anderson, H. Allen. Donley, Stockton P.,
Handbook of Texas Online (last modified June 6, 2001). http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/DD/fdo14.htmlDavenport, Jewette Harbert.
The History of the Supreme Court of the State of Texas 86 (Austin, Texas: Southern Law Book Publishers, 1917).Lynch, James Daniel.
The Bench and Bar of Texas 148-150 (St. Louis, Missouri: Nixon-Jones Printing Co., 1885).
