James H. Knowlton (August 22, 1813 – January 29, 1879) was an American politician and lawyer. He served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. His brother, Wiram Knowlton, was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
James H. Knowlton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office January 1, 1858 – January 1, 1859 | |
| Preceded by | Ezra A. Foot |
| Succeeded by | William E. Wheeler |
| Constituency | Rock 3rd district |
| In office January 1, 1856 – January 1, 1857 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph White |
| Succeeded by | James Earnest |
| Constituency | Lafayette 3rd district |
| In office January 1, 1854 – January 1, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | Philemon Simpson |
| Succeeded by | A. A. Townsend |
| Constituency | Lafayette 2nd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1813 Canandaigua, New York |
| Died | January 29, 1879 (aged 65) Chicago, Illinois |
| Resting place | Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Middleton, Wisconsin |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | Agnes Flanders (died 1886) |
| Relatives | Wiram Knowlton (brother) |
| Profession | lawyer, politician |
Early life and career edit
Knowlton was born in Canandaigua, New York, in 1813.[1] His brother and parents moved to the Wisconsin Territory in the 1830s, and he joined them at Janesville in 1838.[2] He was there only briefly before moving to Mineral Point, and in 1847, he moved to Shullsburg, in Lafayette County.[1] At Shullsburg he completed his legal studies, was admitted to the bar, and served as the first probate judge of the county.[1]
Political career edit
He was a member of the legal team defending Judge Levi Hubbell during his 1853 impeachment, and later that year was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Democrat. He was not reelected in 1854, but was returned to office again in 1856, this time as a Republican. Following the 1855 election, however, Knowlton became involved in Republican gubernatorial candidate Coles Bashford's legal challenge of the election results. Bashford ultimately prevailed and took office in March 1856.[1]
After the 1856 legislative session, Knowlton moved back to Janesville, in Rock County, where he was elected to his third and final Assembly term in 1857.[1]
In 1862, he was a candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court but was not elected.[1]
Later years edit
Knowlton moved to Chicago in 1865 and continued his law practice. He lost his entire library in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.[1]
He died in 1879 after a long period of illness.[1]
Personal life and family edit
Knowlton's brother, Wiram Knowlton, was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h Berryman, John R. (1898). History of the Bench and Bar of Wisconsin. Vol. 2. Chicago: H. C. Cooper Jr. pp. 197–199. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
- ^ "Knowlton, James H. 1813 - 1879". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
- ^ "Knowlton, Wiram 1816 - 1963". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 31, 2020.