Norman L. James

Norman Leslie James (November 29, 1840 – November 25, 1918) was an American farmer, merchant, and Republican politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate (1885, 1887) and State Assembly (1873, 1875), representing Richland County. His brother David G. James also served in the Wisconsin Senate, representing the same district.

Early life and war service James was born November 29, 1840, in Deerfield, New Hampshire. He came to Wisconsin with his parents and siblings in 1855, settling in Richland Center. He received a common school education in New Hampshire and continued his education at the public school in Richland Center. At age 18, he began working at various occupations, taught common school, and hired private instructors for his own advancement. The 16th Wisconsin Infantry mustered into federal service in January 1862 and headed for St. Louis, Missouri, in March, for service in the western theater of the war. They arrived at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, on March 20, 1862, and were assigned to the left wing of Grant's army. On April 6, 1862, they were involved in the first skirmishing of the Battle of Shiloh. During the battle, their brigade fell back several times. The 16th Wisconsin held up well even when nearly surrounded by the enemy, and ultimately suffered 40 dead and 188 wounded.

James was not personally wounded at Shiloh, but was seriously ill after the fighting and was sent to a hospital north of Cairo, Illinois. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1888, and was succeeded by another Republican, Robert Joiner

Congressional testimony

In 1911, he testified before the United States Senate about his involvement in the election of Isaac Stephenson to the Senate from Wisconsin. He described himself as a longtime friend and supporter of Stephenson, whom he had met when they were both delegates to the 1880 Republican National Convention, and with whom he often went fishing. He testified that the only money he had been paid from the campaign was reimbursement for expenditures he'd made in support of Stephenson's election. He testified that while he was not (as had been inquired) "a man of some means," nonetheless "... I have always taken an active part in politics. That is, I have always had some man as a candidate that I was interest in."

Personal life Norman James was the eldest of four children born to George Hopkins James and his wife Lois Eames ( Heard).

Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly (1872)

Wisconsin Senate (1884)