Burr W. JONES, Congress, WI (1846-1935)

JONES, Burr W., a Representative from Wisconsin; born near Evansville, Rock County, Wis., March 9, 1846; attended the common schools and the Evansville (Wis.) Seminary; taught school for several years; was graduated from the literary department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1870 and from the law department in 1871; was admitted to the bar in 1871 and commenced practice in Portage, Wis.; moved to Madison, Wis., in 1872 and continued the practice of law; prosecuting attorney of Dane County in 1872 and 1874; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1885); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1884 to the Forty-ninth Congress; professor of law at the University of Wisconsin 1885-1915; served as city attorney in 1891; chairman of the Democratic State convention in 1892; delegate to the national convention (gold standard) at Indianapolis in 1896; member of the Wisconsin Tax Commission in 1897 and 1898 and served as chairman; appointed associate justice of the State supreme court September 6, 1920, to fill a vacancy; elected to the same office April 4, 1922, and served until his retirement on January 1, 1926; resumed the practice of law; died in Madison, Wis., January 7, 1935; interment in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Bibliography

Birge, Edward A. “Burr W. Jones.” Wisconsin Magazine of History 21 (September 1937): 63-67; Jones, Burr W. “Reminiscences of Nine Decades.” Wisconsin Magazine of History 20 (September 1936): 10-33; 20 (December 1936): 143-84; 20 (March 1937): 270-90; 20 (June 1937): 404-36; 21 (September 1937): 39-62.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present