Henry T. Backus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Associate Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
| In office December 26, 1865 – 1869 | |
| Nominated by | Abraham Lincoln |
| Preceded by | William T. Howell |
| Succeeded by | John Titus |
| 15thLieutenant Governor of Michigan | |
| In office 1861–1862 | |
| Governor | Austin Blair |
| Preceded by | Joseph R. Williams |
| Succeeded by | Charles S. May |
| Member of theMichigan Senate | |
| In office 1860 | |
| Member of theMichigan House of Representatives | |
| In office 1840 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1809-04-09)April 9, 1809 |
| Died | July 13, 1877(1877-07-13) (aged 68) Greenwood, Arizona |
| Political party | Whig/Republican |
| Spouse | Juliana Trumball Woodbridge |
Henry Titus Backus (April 4, 1809 – July 13, 1877) was an American politician from theU. S. state ofMichigan and judge from theArizona Territory.
Backus was born inNorwich, Connecticut, to James and Dorothy Church (Chandler) Backus on April 4, 1809.[1] He was educated in local schools.[2] Following graduation he worked briefly as a store clerk before he beganreading law underCalvin Goddard and attending lectures atYale University.[1] Backus wasadmitted to the bar in 1833 and practiced for a short time in Norwich before moving toMichigan.[3]
In Michigan, Backus initially lived inDetroit at the house of his cousin,William Woodbridge. He also formed a law partnership with Woodbridge.[3] He later became senior partner in the law firm, Backus and Harbough.[4] Backus married Woodbridge's daughter, Juliana Trumball, on December 7, 1835. The couple had five children, two of which lived to maturity.[5][3]
Backus served as aWhig in theMichigan House of Representatives in 1840 and was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1850.[6] He wasGrand Master of Masons inGrand Lodge of Michigan from 1851 to 1853, and later served asalderman from the 9th ward of Detroit from 1860 to 1861.[3]
In 1860, Backus was elected as aRepublican to theMichigan Senate and chosen as president pro tempore of the state senate afterJoseph R. Williams became lieutenant governor. After the death of Williams a couple months later on June 15, 1861, Backus became the 15thlieutenant governor of Michigan underAustin Blair until January 1863.
Following the resignation ofWilliam Thompson Howell from the Arizonabench,U.S. SenatorJacob M. Howard recommended Backus as a replacement.[7] The new Associate Justice received his commission on March 11, 1865.[3] He reachedPrescott for the opening of the territorial supreme court's first session on December 26, 1865, and left for his posting inTucson on January 2, 1866.[8] While he served faithfully during his four years of office, during his spare time he explored the region including trips to theColorado River and an 1867 journey intoMexico.[3]
As his term neared an end, Backus issued a ruling in a pair of cases that had significant impact upon the territory.[9] The ruling determined that the means ofapportionment used by the territory violated theArizona Organic Act. As a result, the legality of the3rd,4th, and5th Arizona Territorial Legislatures was brought into question. This had the consequence of effectively crippling the territorial government.[10] The issue was not resolved until March 23, 1870, when theUnited States Congress passed a law confirming the legality of the territorial legislature's actions despite any irregularities that may have occurred.[10][9]
Backus declined to seek reappointment, with his term expiring in 1869.[11] He held court in April 1869,[12] but it is unclear when he ceased his tenure on the bench. He returned to his private legal practice in Detroit.[9] In Michigan, he discovered that his health, which included a chronic throat condition, had been helped by the Arizona climate.[13] In 1875, Backus requested appointment to a position in eitherArizona orNew Mexico territories but no such posting was available.[9] He returned to Arizona Territory in March 1877 and stayed at the home of his friend,Charles T. Hayden ofTempe. In addition to making his home in the territory, the former justice planned to use his "ample fortune" to found the territory's first bank in Prescott.[9] While traveling throughMohave County with Hayden, Backus became ill near the town of Greenwood. Backus died in Greenwood on July 13, 1877.[14] He was initially buried in Greenwood with his remains later moved to Yantic Cemetery in Norwich, Connecticut.[9]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Michigan 1861–1863 | Succeeded by |
