Lewis County KY

The Honorable James McDermott, born on June 6, 1841, in New York City, rose from newsboy to leading lawyer and Kansas legislator. His early education in Kentucky led him to join the Union Army in 1861, where he served with distinction in several Civil War battles despite suffering a serious wound. After the war, he pursued law, establishing a practice in Winfield, Kansas. A staunch Republican and Baptist, McDermott’s legacy continues through his children, notably his son James A., who has succeeded him in law.