James Ole Davidson (February 10, 1854 – December 16, 1922) was a Norwegian American immigrant and the 21st governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He also served as lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and state treasurer.
James Ole Davidson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 21st Governor of Wisconsin | |
Acting January 1, 1906 – January 7, 1907 | |
| In office January 1, 1906 – January 2, 1911 | |
| Lieutenant | William D. Connor John Strange |
| Preceded by | Robert M. La Follette |
| Succeeded by | Francis E. McGovern |
| 19th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 5, 1903 – January 7, 1907 | |
| Governor | Robert M. La Follette, Sr. |
| Preceded by | Jesse Stone |
| Succeeded by | William D. Connor |
| 13th Treasurer of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 2, 1899 – January 5, 1903 | |
| Governor | Edward Scofield Robert M. LaFollette, Sr. |
| Preceded by | Sewell A. Peterson |
| Succeeded by | John J. Kempf |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office 1893–1899 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 10, 1854 Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway |
| Died | December 16, 1922 (aged 68) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Helen Bliss |
| Children | 2 |
| Signature |  |
Early life
editDavidson was born in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway and immigrated in 1872 to the United States when he was 18 years old.[1][2] In Boscobel, Wisconsin he worked as a farmhand and as a tailor.[3] Davidson began a successful mercantile business and established his own tailor business in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.[4]
Political career
editHe held several political positions in Wisconsin, and was twice elected village president in Soldiers Grove. [5] Davidson was also elected as a Republican candidate to the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving three terms from 1893 to 1899. He was elected Wisconsin state treasurer in 1898 and 1903.[6]
Elected the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin alongside governor Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Davidson served until January 1, 1906, when La Follette resigned to join the United States Senate, making Davidson acting governor.[7] He was elected governor in 1906 and reelected in 1908.[6] He served from January 4, 1906, to January 3, 1911; and during his tenure, state regulation of the railroads was extended to include public utilities, telegraph, telephone, electricity, water companies, and the insurance industry.[8] After retiring from office, he was appointed by his gubernatorial successor to a five-year term as president of the State Board of Control.[9]
Death
editDavidson died in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 16, 1922,[1][3] due to pneumonia and heart complications. He is interred at Madison's historic Forest Hill Cemetery.[10]
Family life
editDavidson was the son of Ole Davidson and Ingabor (Jenson) Davidson.[10] On February 19, 1883, Davidson married Helen Bliss and they had two daughters, Mabel Elsie and Grace.[1][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Ex-Governor of Wisconsin Dead". Wausau Daily Herald. December 18, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved April 11, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Davidson, James O. 1854 – 1922". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
- ^ a b Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration, and Herman, Jennifer L. (2008). Wisconsin Encyclopedia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 218. ISBN 9781878592613.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Jens Davidson at NRK Sogn og Fjordane County Encyclopedia (in Norwegian)
- ^ "Did You Know?". Soldiers Grove Wisconsin America's First Solar Village. Retrieved May 24, 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Legislative Reference Bureau (1960). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 154.
- ^ "James O. Davidson". 1996–2014 Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- ^ "Marker 112: James Davidson". Marker 112: James DavidsonWisconsinHistorical Markers. Retrieved May 24, 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Governors of Wisconsin". Genealogy Trails. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ a b "Wisconsin Scandinavian Obituaries D". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ "James O. Davidson". 1996–2014 Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.