Samuel James McNaughton, lawyer and jurist, is descended from one of the early Scottish families, which was in Scotland before the formation of the clans. The heads of this family for centuries were the Thanes of Loch Fyne and Lochawe. The family has a record of its ancestry for over eight hundred years. Alexander McNaughton, of Argyleshire, immigrated to America in 1738, and settled in New Windsor, Orange county, New York, and subsequently was granted a patent to land in Argyle, Wasihngton[sic] county, New York. Duncan McNaughton, Samuel's great-great-grandfather, was born in Argyle, Scotland, and married Margaret Fisher, who, after her husband's death, brought her family to America, the oldest boy, Malcolm, having come with his uncle, Alexander. The grandfather, Findley, third son of Malcolm, married Elizabeth Murray and they had six children, of whom Malcolm, the fourth, was born in Argyle, Washington county, New York, and received an excellent education. He became an attorney and practiced in Saratoga county, New York, where he served six years as judge of the court of sessions. He died there in 1876. His wife, Phoebe, was the daughter of Gen. James McDouall, who was a general in the army during the war of 1812. Mrs. Phoebe McNaughton was born in Washington county, New York, and lived there all her life.

Samuel James, son of Malcolm and Phoebe McNaughton, was born at Schuylerville, Saratoga county, New York, on Sept. 9, 1851, and was next to the youngest of eight children. He was educated at the public schools and at St. Stephen's Academy. In 1869 he graduated in law and three years later was admitted to the bar. He at once came to Kansas and began to teach school in Reno township, Leavenworth county; then practiced law in Lawrence for two years, and in 1872 was elected justice of the peace, which office he held fifteen years, and at the same time ran a farm that he owned near Lawrence. In 1893 he settled in Tonganoxie, where he has since been engaged in professional work. Fraternally he is past venerable consul of the Modern Woodmen, past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias, and a member of Tonganoxie Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons. For four years he was chairman of the executive committee of the Kansas Farmers' Alliance.

On April 14, 1881, Mr. McNaughton married Anna A., daughter of Nathaniel H. and Mary A. Eaton, of Reno township, and they have four children: Malcolm, Lucy, Alicia, and Mabel.