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 byEzra A. Foot
Succeeded byWilliam E. Wheeler
ConstituencyRock 3rd district
In office
January 1, 1856 – January 1, 1857
Preceded byJoseph White
Succeeded byJames Earnest
ConstituencyLafayette 3rd district
In office
January 1, 1854 – January 1, 1855
Preceded byPhilemon Simpson
Succeeded byA. A. Townsend
ConstituencyLafayette 2nd district
Personal details
Born(1813-08-22)August 22, 1813
Canandaigua, New York
DiedJanuary 29, 1879(1879-01-29) (aged 65)
Chicago, Illinois
Resting placeEvergreen Hill Cemetery, Middleton, Wisconsin
Political party
SpouseAgnes Flanders (died 1886)
RelativesWiram Knowlton (brother)
Professionlawyer, politician

Early life and career

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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

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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

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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

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Knowlton's brother, Wiram Knowlton, was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[3]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Knowlton, James H. 1813 - 1879". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  3. ^ "Knowlton, Wiram 1816 - 1963". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 31, 2020.