Statewide County WI Archives Biographies.....McGILLIVRAY, JAMES J.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Tina S. Vickery tsvickery@gmail.com October 22, 2007, 7:49 pm

Author: Halford Erickson

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. MEMBERS OF THE FIFTY-EIGHTH
CONGRESS. UNITED STATES. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.

SENATE. The senate is composed of thirty-three members,
who hold office for four years and receive $500 each for
their services at each regular session. Members of the
senate, session of 1905, representing odd-numbered
districts, were elected in 1902. Their terms will end Jan.
1, 1907. Those representing even-numbered districts were
elected in 1904. Their terms will end Jan. 1, 1909. The
lieutenant-governor is President of the senate, but can
vote only in case of a tie. A temporary president, to act
in the absence of the president, is chosen by the members
of the senate. The senate of 1905 contains 28 republicans,
4 democrats, and one social democrat. Lieutenant-Governor
James O. Davidson, president; James J. McGillivray,
president pro tern.; L. K. Eaton, chief clerk; R. C.
Falconer, sergeant-at-arms.

THIRTY-FIRST SENATORIAL DISTRICT. Jackson, Juneau and
Monroe counties. Population, 1900—66,198.

JAMES J. McGILLIVRAY (Rep.), of Black River Falls, Jackson
county, was born at Barrachios, Gasbie county, Canada,
East, June 16, 1848. He received his education in the
common schools, and came to Black River Fails, Nov. 21,
1866. He is an architect and manufacturer. He was elected
to the assembly in 1890, and re-elected in 1892. During
his first term in the assembly he was sponsor of the bills
exempting wide tired wagons from taxes; for reduction of
interest on money loaned to school district from 6 and 7
to 4 per cent., and reduction of interest on tax sale
certificates from 25 to 15 per cent. In the senate in
1897, he introduced and was instrumental in securing the
passage of bills to prohibit the state from accepting
bounties from cities and towns for the location of public
institutions; exempting sugar factories from taxation for
five years; to promote the health of children of the state
by causing vaccine to be stamped by the manufacturer; to
promote health and honesty in the dairy interests; also a
memorial to congress requesting that body to submit to the
people of the United States a constitutional amendment
empowering them to control trusts and combinations. He
worked hard for equal taxation and good road legislation.
He was honored by being selected to nominate Senator John
C. Spooner for the United States senate in 1897 and again
in 1903. He has always espoused the cause of woman's
suffrage in both, assembly and senate has been assigned to
the most prominent committee whichever house of the
legislature he has served. He was the author of an anti-
trust bill which was calculated to prohibit trusts and
combinations in Wisconsin and which passed both houses of
the legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Peck. Mr.
McGillivray has been prominently mentioned for some of the
highest offices within the gift of the state, the more
important of which are governor, representative in
congress and United States senator. He is the oldest
member in the legislature in point of service, having been
a member since 1890. He served as president pro tem of the
senate of 1901, 1903 and 1905, and has always been noted
for his fair rulings in that capacity. He nominated Gov.
R. M. La Follette for U. S. Senator in 1905, making the
3rd successful candidate for that office, Mr. McGillivray
had the honor to nominate. He was elected to the state
senate in 1894, and re-elected in 1898 and 1902, receiving
6,808 votes against 3,793 votes for A. D. Gill (Dem.).

Additional Comments:
Erickson, Halford.  The Blue Book of the State of
Wisconsin. Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer,
1905.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/history/bluebook/1905/bios/mcgilliv386nbs.txt

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