Summary Information
James Henry Davidson Papers
1876-1910
- Davidson, James Henry, 1858-1918
Oshkosh Mss BA
0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
UW-Oshkosh Polk Library / Oshkosh Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Papers of Davidson of Princeton and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a teacher, lawyer, politician, and Congressman (1897-1913), consisting almost entirely of correspondence, 1897-1900, from his constituents, local Republican leaders in the Sixth Congressional district, and federal government officials. Most of the letters concern patronage, particularly appointments for census enumerations for the 1900 Census, postmasters, and military and naval academy appointments.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-osh00ba ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
James Henry Davidson (June 18, 1858 - August 6, 1918), teacher, lawyer, politician, Congressman, was born in Colchester, Delaware County, New York, son of James and Ann (Johnson) Davidson. After being educated in the public schools of Delaware County and Walton (N.Y.) Academy, he taught elementary school for several years, including 1882-83 in Wisconsin, then returned to New York to study law, graduating as president of his class from Albany Law School in 1884. He was admitted to the bar in New York, but moved to Green Lake County, Wisconsin, where he worked for Chittenden and Morse, grain dealers, until he set up his own law office in Princeton in 1887. He was elected District Attorney for the county in 1888 and on October 8, 1889, married Niva T. Wilde, daughter of Ferdin and Wilde, druggist of Ripon.
Davidson served as chairman of the Republican congressional committee for the Sixth District of Wisconsin from 1890-1896. On January 1, 1892, he moved to Oshkosh and joined the law firm of Thompson and Harshaw for three years, then went into partnership in 1895 with his brother-in-law, R. W. Wilde. That same year he was appointed city attorney for Oshkosh and in 1896 was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Sixth District of Wisconsin. Re-elected for seven succeeding terms, he became chairman of the committee on railroads and canals, and served on the committee on rivers and harbors. Defeated in 1912 and again in 1914, he resumed his law practice, but in 1916 he was elected and served in the 65th Congress on the committee for military affairs from 1917 until his death at the age of sixty on August 6, 1918. His three children were James Ferdinand, Kenneth Wilde, and a daughter, Avery. Davidson was a member of the Elks, Knights Templar, Masons, and the Winnebago Bar Association.
Scope and Content Note
The correspondence in these Papers covers James H. Davidson's first two terms (1897-1900) as a Republican representative of the Sixth Congressional District of Wisconsin and is chiefly from his constituents, local party leaders and a few letters from Federal government officials. Some petitions are included with the correspondence, and there is one folder of his teaching certificates, election certificates, and printed programs.
The chief topic is patronage - in its various forms - more than one-half of the letters and petitions are concerned with appointments as census enumerator for the 1900 Census, and the political maneuvering involved. Other requests for patronage in the letters are for appointments as postmaster and to Annapolis and West Point, for commissions, pensions, free seeds, printed material, copies of the Congressional Record and speeches. Several of the letters reflect local opinion on current or pending legislation, and many comments on relations with Spain in 1898 and the outbreak of war.
In addition to correspondence, the only other manuscripts are contained in the last folder of the collection, and these account for the scattered dates prior to 1897 and following 1900. These include election certificates, school certificates, and various school programs, 1876-1900. All are related to James H. Davidson and his career.
There are several letters from each of the following correspondents, most of whom were local Republican party leaders.
| Baensch, Emil |
Manitowoc, Lt. Governor |
| Bishop, Dr. L. A. |
Fond du Lac |
| Blatchly, A. H. |
Milwaukee, personal friend |
| Boardman, Charles Ruggles |
Madison, Adjutant General of Wisconsin |
| Buckstaff, G. A. |
Oshkosh |
| Chittenden, T. S. |
Ripon |
| Clark, John |
Wautoma |
| Cook, Samuel Andrew |
Menasha |
| Edwards, R. H. |
Oshkosh |
| Ellarson, J. T. |
Madison |
| Englebright, W. H. |
Oshkosh |
| Evans, David R. |
Berlin |
| Givens, F. M. |
Fond du Lac |
| Hovey, J. A. |
Fond du Lac |
| Kennedy, J. E. |
Oshkosh |
| Kimball, Alanson Mellen |
Pine River |
| Kress, H. G. |
Manitowoc |
| Loper, Alonzo A. |
Ripon |
| Meinke, F. W. |
Westfield |
| Moses, L. D. |
Ripon |
| Muth, Christ |
Manitowoc |
| Noll, Andrew |
Chilton |
| Oleson, Ole |
Oshkosh |
| Phillips, M. C. |
Oshkosh |
| Sauerhering, Edward |
Member of Congress |
| Slocum, C. H. |
Omro |
| Stevens, E. E. |
Oshkosh |
| Tucker, Frank |
Princeton |
| Wilde, R. W. |
Oshkosh, brother-in-law and law partner |
| Young, W. C. |
Milwaukee |
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. James H. Davidson, Oshkosh, Wis., 1953. Also, Form letter, July 29, 1902 from Davidson seeking support at the coming Republican caucuses for his renomination presented by Emma H. Blair, n.p., n.d.; added to Box 2, Folder 6.
Processed by Margaret Hafstad, December 10, 1968.
Contents List
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Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
1
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1897
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|
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Box
1
Folder
2
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1898, Jan. - March
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Box
1
Folder
3
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1898, April
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|
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Box
1
Folder
4
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1898, May
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|
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Box
1
Folder
5
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1898, June - July
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Box
2
Folder
1
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1899, Jan. - Dec.
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Box
2
Folder
2
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1900, Jan.
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|
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Box
2
Folder
3
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1900, Feb.
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|
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Box
2
Folder
4
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1900, March
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|
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Box
2
Folder
5
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1900, April
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Box
2
Folder
6
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1900, May - Dec.; fragments
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Certificates and programs, 1876-1910
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