E. Ray Stevens

For others of a similar name, see Ray Stevens (disambiguation).

Edmund Ray Stevens (June 20, 1869 – August 25, 1930) was an American lawyer and judge. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1926 until his death in 1930. He previously served 23 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the city of Madison in the 1901 session.^[1]

E. Ray Stevens
portrait of Stevens as a Supreme Court justice
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office January 1, 1926 – August 25, 1930
Preceded by	Burr W. Jones
Succeeded by	George B. Nelson
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 9th circuit
In office April 9, 1903 – December 31, 1925
Appointed by	Robert M. La Follette
Preceded by	Robert G. Siebecker
Succeeded by	Herman W. Sachtjen
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 1st district
In office January 7, 1901 – January 5, 1903
Preceded by	George E. Bryant
Succeeded by	Matthew S. Dudgeon
Personal details
Born	(1869-06-20)June 20, 1869 Lake County, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 25, 1930(1930-08-25) (aged 61) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kate S. Sabin ​ (m. 1898⁠–⁠1930)​
Children	Ellen Stevens (b. 1900; died 1911) Myron R. Stevens (b. 1902; died 1994) Henry S. Stevens
Education	University of Wisconsin Law School
Profession	Lawyer

Biography

Stevens was born Edmund Ray Stevens on June 20, 1869, in Lake County, Illinois.^[2] His family later moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1895. As a young man, he was a prolific writer on the problems of government and pushing for progressive solutions. He also worked as a special correspondent for the Milwaukee Sentinel, making trips to Europe to report on the urban European perspective.^[3]

Career

From 1896 to 1903, Stevens and future U.S. Representative Burr W. Jones operated the law firm Jones & Stevens. Additionally, Stevens was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1900. In 1903, Stevens was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge by Governor Robert M. La Follette. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 1925 and served as a member until his death.^[4] During his time with the Supreme Court, he was also a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Stevens died at his home in the Nakoma neighborhood, in Madison, Wisconsin, on the morning of August 25, 1930. He suffered a brief illness that resulted in a heart attack.^[5]

Personal life and family

Stevens married Kate Sabin of Windsor, Wisconsin. Sabin was also a University of Wisconsin graduate; she worked as a high school teacher in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, served as Dane County superintendent of schools, and taught at the Milwaukee-Downer College.^[6] They had three children together, though one died young.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1900)

Wisconsin Assembly, Dane 1st District Election, 1900^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 6, 1900
	Republican	E. Ray Stevens	3,468	56.32%	+6.29%
	Democratic	George W. Levis	2,569	41.72%	−8.25%
	Prohibition	Charles H. Parr	121	1.96%
Plurality			899	14.60%	+14.54%
Total votes			6,158	100.0%	+28.96%
	Republican hold

Wisconsin Supreme Court (1925)

1925 Wisconsin Supreme Court election^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 7, 1925
	Nonpartisan	E. Ray Stevens	256,431	65.81
	Nonpartisan	John C. Kleist	133,164	34.17
		Scattering	73	0.02
Plurality			123,267	31.63
Total votes			389,668	100