John Kevin "K. J." Callahan (November 17, 1896 – July 26, 1985) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Marquette County, Wisconsin. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1931 to 1935, then served 28 years as county judge of Marquette County, retiring in 1966.[1]

K. J. Callahan
County Judge of Marquette County, Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1938 – November 30, 1966
Preceded byJohn A. Metzler
Succeeded byAndrew P. Cotter
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the AdamsMarquette district
In office
January 5, 1931 – January 7, 1935
Preceded byGeorge W. Bingham
Succeeded byEdwin W. Blomquist
District Attorney of Marquette County, Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1925 – January 1, 1931
Preceded byRell Conant
Succeeded byJohn A. Conant
Personal details
Born(1896-11-17)November 17, 1896
Montello, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJuly 26, 1985(1985-07-26) (aged 88)
Portage, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeSaint John the Baptist Cemetery, Montello
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Luella N. Retzner
(m. 1945; died 1977)
Childrennone
Education
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

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K. J. Callahan was born in Montello, Wisconsin, in November 1896. He graduated from Montbello High School in 1914 and went on to attend Oshkosh State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), where he graduated in 1918. He went on to the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduated in 1924. Later that year, he was elected district attorney of Marquette County, and served six years, leaving office when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1930.[2]

Running as an Independent Republican, he defeated Democrat John A. Cadigan in the 1930 election. He was re-elected in 1932, defeating Democrat H. F. Fredericks.

Rather than running for another term in the Assembly in 1934, he ran for Wisconsin Senate in the 31st Senate district, but lost the general election to Progressive candidate James Earl Leverich.[3]

He returned to elected office in January 1938, after being elected county judge of Marquette County. He served as county judge for the next 28 years, retiring November 30, 1966. He remained a reserve judge for another 17 years after his retirement until finally ending his service in 1983.

He died at Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, Wisconsin, on the morning of July 26, 1985.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Callahan, K. J." Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  2. ^ a b "John Callahan". Portage Daily Register. July 27, 1985. p. 5. Retrieved July 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1935). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. p. 623. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the AdamsMarquette district
January 5, 1931 – January 7, 1935
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Rell Conant
District Attorney of Marquette County, Wisconsin
January 1, 1925 – January 1, 1931
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John A. Metzler
County Judge of Marquette County, Wisconsin
January 1, 1938 – November 30, 1966
Succeeded by
Andrew P. Cotter