James O. Davidson

James Ole Davidson
21st Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1906  January 2, 1911
Lieutenant William D. Connor
John Strange
Preceded by Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Succeeded by Francis E. McGovern
19th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 5, 1903  January 1, 1906
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
Preceded by Sewell A. Peterson
Succeeded by John J. Kempf
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
1893–1899
Personal details
Born (1854-02-10)February 10, 1854
Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway
Died February 16, 1922(1922-02-16) (aged 68)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Helen M. Bliss Davidson
Children Mabel Elsie Davidson
Grace Davidson
Parents Ole Davidson
Ingabor (Jenson) Davidson
Profession Miller
Merchant
Politician

James Ole Davidson (February 10, 1854  December 16, 1922) was an American merchant and politician in Wisconsin. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

Early life

Davidson was born in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway and immigrated in 1872 to the United States when he was 18 years old.[1] In Boscobel, Wisconsin he worked as a farmhand and as a tailor.[2] Davidson began a successful mercantile business and established his own tailor business in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.[3]

Political career

He held several political positions in Wisconsin, and was twice elected village president in Soldiers Grove. [4] 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 1900.[5]

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.[6] He was elected governor in 1906 and reelected in 1908.[7] 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

Davidson died in Madison, Wisconsin on December 16, 1922 (age 68 years, 309 days),[10] due to pneumonia and heart complications. He is interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin.[11]

Family life

Davidson was the son of Ole Davidson and Ingabor (Jenson) Davidson.[12] On February 19, 1883 Davidson married Helen Bliss and they had two daughters, Mabel Elsie and Grace.[13]

References

  1. Davidson, James O. 1854 - 1922
  2. Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration, and Herman, Jennifer L. (2008). Wisconsin Encyclopedia. North American Book Dist LLC,. p. 218.
  3. Jens Davidson at NRK Sogn og Fjordane County Encyclopedia (Norwegian)
  4. "Did You Know?". Soldiers Grove Wisconsin America's First Solar Village. Retrieved May 24, 2014. line feed character in |publisher= at position 25 (help)
  5. Legislative Reference Bureau (1960). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 154.
  6. "James O. Davidson". 1996-2014 Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  7. Legislative Reference Bureau (1960). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 154.
  8. "Marker 112: James Davidson". Marker 112: James DavidsonWisconsinHistorical Markers. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  9. "Governors of Wisconsin". Genealogy Trails. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  10. Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration, and Herman, Jennifer L. (2008). Wisconsin Encyclopedia. North American Book Dist LLC,. p. 218.
  11. "Wisconsin Scandinavian Obituaries D". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  12. "Wisconsin Scandinavian Obituaries D". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  13. "James O. Davidson". 1996-2014 Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
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Political offices
Preceded by
Sewell A. Peterson
Treasurer of Wisconsin
1899–1903
Succeeded by
John J. Kempf
Preceded by
Jesse Stone
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
19021906
Succeeded by
William D. Connor
Preceded by
Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Governor of Wisconsin
1906  1911
Succeeded by
Francis E. McGovern
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