James D. Shaver

James David Shaver (February 28, 1861 – March 14, 1951) was an American politician and judge from Arkansas. He was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1888 to 1892. He later served as chancellor judge of the sixth chancery district from 1901 to 1922.

Early life James David Shaver was born on February 28, 1861, in Reed's Creek, Lawrence County, Arkansas, as the second of eight children to Adelaide L. (née Ringgold) and Robert G. Shaver. His father was a Confederate officer and Ku Klux Klan leader. In 1873, the family moved to Center Point. He studied law under his father in 1882 and was admitted to the bar in March 1884 at Center Point.

From 1890 to 1894, Shaver served as prosecuting attorney of the ninth judicial court in Howard County. He had a law practice in Center Point until 1898 and then continued practicing law in Mena until the spring of 1908. He practiced law in Mena in the firm Shaver & Norwood with Hal L. Norwood.

On April 6, 1901, Shaver was appointed by Governor Jeff Davis as chancellor judge of the sixth chancery district. He was re-elected in 1905 and 1910. From 1912 to 1913, he was president of the Arkansas Bar Association. In 1915, he opened offices in Miller County courthouse. In 1922, he retired from the bench and did not seek re-election as chancellor judge. He continued to practice law. His wife died in 1929. They had five children, including James D., Robert Benjamin, Dorothy, and Elsie. His daughter Dorothy worked in the fashion industry. Shaver was a Mason and Elk. He was associated with the Presbyterian Church.

Shaver lived in Ashdown. He later lived in Mena. In 1915, he moved with his family to Hickory Street in Texarkana. He died of a heart attack on March 14, 1951, at the home of his son in Ashdown.