James Warren Nye was born on June 10, 1814 in De Ruyter, Madison County, New York, United States. He was the son of James and Thankful (Crocker) Nye and a descendant of Benjamin Nye who emigrated from England to settle in 1635 at Lynn, Massachussets. James grew up amidst the severe limitations of poverty.
Nye secured secondary schooling at Homer Academy, however, and then studied law in Hamilton, New York, where he practised for some years.
Nye was surrogate of Madison County, 1844-47, and judge of the county court, 1847-51. In 1848, running for Congress as a Free-Soil or "Barnburner" Democrat, he was defeated by the Whig candidate, William Duer. In 1851 he removed to Syracuse, continuing to enjoy a successful practice. Six years later, in 1857, he became one of the police commissioners of the metropolis under an act of that year amending the city charter.
Nye was appointed governor of the newly created territory of Nevada. Upon arrival in Carson City, Nevada, July 8, 1861, he was confronted with the difficult task of organizing the territory. The bulk of the population was included in what had been Carson County, Utah Territory. Without friction, Nye absorbed the government of the old county into that of the new territory, and guided the latter swiftly into the position of an effective governmental organization, a task the more difficult because the $30, 700 a year in greenbacks, voted by Congress for support of the territory, was worth hardly more than half its face value.
Nye logically became a candidate to represent the new state in the United States Senate and was elected in company with William M. Stewart. The two cast lots in the state Senate for the long term, Nye drawing the short term. Reуlected to the Senate in 1867 after a hot contest with Charles E. DeLong, he served with honor on important committees, always stanchly loyal to the Republican party which had sent him to Washington. He concluded his term on March 3, 1873, having been defeated for reelection by John Percival Jones. This was his last political office.
About two years later he sailed from San Francisco for New York, apparently in good health, but during the voyage he lost his mind, and after living many months under this cloud he died on December 25, 1876, at White Plains, New York.
When Fort Sumter was fired upon, Nye became an enthusiastic supporter of Lincoln, using his remarkable gift as a stump orator in behalf of the administration.
Nye was of medium height, weighed nearly two hundred pounds, but was well built, with small hands and feet. His dancing black eyes, expressive features, and shoulder-length snow-white hair gave him in his later years a striking appearance, while his genial humor, quick repartee, and natural gift for oratory gave him power in social as well as in political life. The name "Gray Eagle" was bestowed upon him in recognition of his abundant life and vitality. He was a prolific user of Bible quotations, though not always in anecdote of the choicest character.
In Fabius, New York, Nye married Elsie Benson, and they had two children.
