James Harrison Earnest (January 11, 1818 – June 12, 1900) was an American Democratic politician and Wisconsin pioneer. He served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate and six years in the Assembly, representing Lafayette County.

James Earnest
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 13th district
In office
January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869
Preceded bySamuel Cole
Succeeded byHamilton H. Gray
In office
January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Preceded bySamuel Cole
Succeeded bySamuel Cole
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1877 – January 7, 1878
Preceded byDanverse Neff (Lafayette County)
Succeeded byBernard McGinty
ConstituencyLafayette 2nd
In office
January 5, 1857 – January 3, 1859
Preceded byHamilton H. Gray
Succeeded byDavid W. Kyle
ConstituencyLafayette 3rd
In office
January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
Preceded byEli Robinson
Succeeded byMatthew Murphy
ConstituencyLafayette 1st
In office
January 5, 1852 – January 3, 1853
Preceded byNathan Olmsted
Succeeded byEli Robinson
ConstituencyLafayette 1st
Personal details
Born(1818-01-11)January 11, 1818
Franklin, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 1900(1900-06-12) (aged 82)
Shullsburg, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Matthews New Catholic Cemetery, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary E. McGown
(m. 1847⁠–⁠1900)
Children
  • Laura (Hughes)
  • (b. 1847; died 1917)
  • Katherine "Kate" (Dunlop)
  • (b. 1850; died 1929)
  • Arethusa R. "Susan" (Leclerc)
  • (b. 1852; died 1924)
  • James Emmett Earnest
  • (b. 1853; died 1902)
  • Ida B. (Porter)
  • (b. 1856; died 1892)
  • Gratton William Earnest
  • (b. 1857; died 1917)
  • Walter Washington Earnest
  • (b. 1859; died 1920)
  • Charles D. Earnest
  • (b. 1861)

Background

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James Earnest was born in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1818.[1] His parents died while he was still young,[2] and, when he was about sixteen years old, he went to Springfield, Illinois, to look for work.[3] In 1836, he moved north into the Wisconsin Territory and settled at the township of New Diggings. He found work in the lead mines, and, after 1844, opened a store in the town and operated his own mining company.[2][3]

In 1850, he used his earnings to purchase an unimproved farmstead in the vicinity of Shullsburg, Wisconsin. He constructed a home and other buildings on the property.[2]

In politics, he became an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party, which was popular with the laborers in the lead mining region. Over the next several decades, he was elected to six terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and two 2-year terms in the Wisconsin State Senate. He was a constant defender of the economic interests of the lead mining region, until the industry began to decline in the aftermath of the American Civil War.[1]

In his later years, he devoted his attention to his farmstead, where he raised thoroughbred livestock.[1]

He died at his homestead near Shullsburg on June 12, 1900, after a long illness.[3]

Personal life and family

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James Earnest married Mary E. McGown of Mercer County, Kentucky, in 1847. They had eight children together, all of whom were still living at the time of his death in 1900.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Earnest, James Harrison 1818 - 1900". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1901. pp. 620-621. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Hon. James H. Earnest died at his home near this city..." The Southwestern Local. June 15, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Lafayette 1st district
January 5, 1852 – January 3, 1853
Succeeded by
Eli Robinson
Preceded by
Eli Robinson
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Lafayette 1st district
January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
Succeeded by
Matthew Murphy
Preceded by
Hamilton H. Gray
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Lafayette 3rd district
January 5, 1857 – January 3, 1859
Succeeded by
David W. Kyle
Preceded by
Danverse Neff
(all of Lafayette County)
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Lafayette 2nd district
January 1, 1877 – January 7, 1878
Succeeded by
Bernard McGinty
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 13th district
January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Succeeded by
Samuel Cole
Preceded by
Samuel Cole
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 13th district
January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869
Succeeded by
Hamilton H. Gray