Brother James William Cherry, the son of Alfred N. and Mary E. Banks Cherry, was born on a farm in Rocky Run Township, Hancock County, Illinois, on April 5, 1872.

During the year 1886 he moved with his parents to Anthony, Kansas, where he attended High School, graduating therefrom in 1892. During that year he again followed his parents to their home in Salt Lake City.
He began the study of Law at an early age and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Utah on August 30, 1893, when he was but twenty-one years of age, and continued in that profession throughout his entire life.

He established his home in Sanpete County, Utah, during the year 1895, and on June 21, 1898, was married to Louise Keller at Manti, Utah. They made their home in Mt. Pleasant for many years.
During April, 1901, he moved with his family to La Grande, Oregon, and soon entered into a Law Partnership with Mr. F. S. Ivanhoe, in which he continued for about two years, when he again returned to Mt. Pleasant where they lived for the next twenty years.

He was elected District Attorney of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of Utah in 1912, in which position he continued for four years. He was elected a member of the Supreme Court of Utah during 1922, in which position he served the full term of ten years, including four years as Chief Justice. He served as a member of the State Board of Pardons for ten years. He was an Honorary member of the Salt Lake Alumni Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

He became afflicted with asthma during the year 1930, but continued his work in the Supreme Court until the expiration of his term, 1932, following which he spent some time in search of a climate less severe on his condition, trying California, Southern Utah and Arizona, continuing his home mostly in Arizona until his death. They lived in Phoenix for a short time, then several years at Chandler and more recently at Mesa, where he passed away on March 23, 1949.

Brother Cherry was a student of Freemasonry and throughly imbued with its principles and teachings, a true man and Mason.

He became a member of Damascus Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M. of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, in March, 1906, and served as Master of that Lodge during the year 1909. In 1910 he was appointed Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Utah, elected Junior Grand Warden in 1911; Senior Grand Warden in 1912; Deputy Grand Master in 1913 and Grand Master on January 21, 1914. Following his year as Grand Master he served on many important Committees of Grand Lodge as long as he continued his home in Utah.

He became a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Utah during the thirty-first Reunion held April 23, 24 and 25, 1918, and Created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine March, 1923

Cremation having been in Arizona, Memorial Services were conducted in the Masonic Temple at Salt Lake City by officers of Grand Lodge on Sunday, March 27, 1949, and graveside services conducted by the officers and members of Damascus Lodge No. 10 at Manti and his ashes returned to Mother Earth.

Surviving are Mrs. Cherry; three sons, Alfred K. Cherry of Washington, D. C., James W. Cherry, Jr. of Los Angeles and Keller B. Cherry of San Francisco; three daughters, Mrs Joseph Moslander of Salt Lake City, Mrs. Arthur C. Inman and Miss Louise Cherry of Boise, Idaho; a brother E. A. Cherry, of Butte, Montana; three sisters, Mrs Frank Carmean of Salt Lake City, Mrs. Bertha C. Vorse of Portland, Oregon, and Mrs. Blanche Brown of Los Angeles; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

By the passing of Brother Cherry this Fraternity has suffered the loss of an ardent and beloved member. He will be mourned by all who knew him.