Frank A. Youmans

Who was Frank A. Youmans?

Frank Abijah Youmans was a United States federal judge.

He was the son of Dr. John Powers Youmans, from New York, and Mary Elizabeth Faust Youmans, a German immigrant. Youmans was born while his father was serving in the Union Medical Corps during the Civil War. He received a degree from the University of Missouri in 1884, and did graduate work at the University of Arkansas. He was in private practice in Fort Smith, Arkansas from 1886 to 1897. He was the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas from 1897 to 1905.

Youmans was an active Republican politician, serving as party chairman in his county and running twice for congressional seats and once for attorney general in Arkansas.

He was married on December 27, 1888, to Delia Enroughty; they had five children.

On May 29, 1911, Youmans was nominated by President William H. Taft to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas vacated by John H. Rogers. Youmans was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 20, 1911, and received his commission the same day. He served until he suffered a fatal stroke while holding court on April 11, 1932.