John Barnes (judge)

John Barnes (July 26, 1859  January 1, 1919) was an American attorney and judge from Wisconsin. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1908 until 1916, and was one of the first Wisconsin Railroad Commissioners. He worked as general counsel for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1916 until his death.

The Honorable

John Barnes
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office
July 1, 1908  February 11, 1916
Preceded byRobert McKee Bashford
Succeeded byMarvin B. Rosenberry
Personal details
Born
John Barnes

(1859-07-26)July 26, 1859
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
DiedJanuary 1, 1919(1919-01-01) (aged 59)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cause of deathStroke
Resting placeResurrection Cemetery
Madison, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
  • Julia Koelzer
  • (m.1887; died 1960)
Children
  • Dorothy (McGuire)
  • (b. 1891; died 1961)
  • Beatrice (Tormey)
  • (b. 1892; died 1932)
  • Fayne B. (Hayes)
  • (b. 1892; died 1964)
  • John Barnes
  • (b. 1893; died 1972)
Alma materOshkosh Normal School
University of Wisconsin Law School
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

Born in 1859, on a farm in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Barnes was the son of Irish American immigrants who had arrived in the Wisconsin from Canada in 1858. Barnes graduated from Manitowoc High School in 1876 and attended the Oshkosh Normal School, after which he taught school for six years. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1885 and began practicing law in Oshkosh. In 1887, he relocated to Rhinelander, and became the first municipal judge of Oneida County, served as president of the local school board, and prospered in business.[1][2]

In 1905, he was appointed to the newly created Wisconsin Railroad Commission by Governor Robert M. La Follette. In 1908, he was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a special election after the death of Chief Justice John B. Cassoday. He defeated appointed justice Robert McKee Bashford, and went on to re-election to a full term in 1909.[2] In 1916, however, Barnes resigned to become general counsel of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.[1][3]

Barnes suffered a stroke at his office in Milwaukee on December 28, 1918, and died four days later, after developing pneumonia.[4]

Personal life and family

Judge Barnes married Julia Koelzer, a childhood friend, in 1887. They had four children together. He was a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Politically, Judge Barnes was a Democrat.[4]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 1908[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 7, 1908
Nonpartisan John Barnes 134,642 57.42%
Nonpartisan Robert M. Bashford (incumbent) 84,656 36.10%
Nonpartisan William Ruger 15,168 6.47%
Scattering 30 0.01%
Plurality 49,986 21.32%
Total votes 234,496 100.0%

References

  1. "Former Justices - John Barnes (1859-1919)". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. "Biographical sketches". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1915 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. 1915. p. 487. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. John Barnes, Wisconsin Historical Society
  4. "John Barnes dead; dies in Milwaukee". The Capital Times. January 2, 1919. Retrieved May 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Beck, J.D., ed. (1909). "Election Statistics". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 556.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Robert McKee Bashford
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
July 1, 1908  February 11, 1916
Succeeded by
Marvin B. Rosenberry
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