James Earnest

Not to be confused with James Ernest.

James Harrison Earnest (January 11, 1818 – June 12, 1900) was an American Democratic politician and Wisconsin pioneer. He served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate and six years in the Assembly, representing Lafayette County.

James Earnest
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 13th district
In office January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869
Preceded by	Samuel Cole
Succeeded by	Hamilton H. Gray
In office January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Preceded by	Samuel Cole
Succeeded by	Samuel Cole
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office January 1, 1877 – January 7, 1878
Preceded by	Danverse Neff (Lafayette County)
Succeeded by	Bernard McGinty
Constituency	Lafayette 2nd
In office January 5, 1857 – January 3, 1859
Preceded by	Hamilton H. Gray
Succeeded by	David W. Kyle
Constituency	Lafayette 3rd
In office January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
Preceded by	Eli Robinson
Succeeded by	Matthew Murphy
Constituency	Lafayette 1st
In office January 5, 1852 – January 3, 1853
Preceded by	Nathan Olmsted
Succeeded by	Eli Robinson
Constituency	Lafayette 1st
Personal details
Born	(1818-01-11)January 11, 1818 Franklin, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	June 12, 1900(1900-06-12) (aged 82) Shullsburg, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Saint Matthews New Catholic Cemetery, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary E. McGown ​ (m. 1847⁠–⁠1900)​
Children	Laura (Hughes) (b. 1847; died 1917) Katherine "Kate" (Dunlop) (b. 1850; died 1929) Arethusa R. "Susan" (Leclerc) (b. 1852; died 1924) James Emmett Earnest (b. 1853; died 1902) Ida B. (Porter) (b. 1856; died 1892) Gratton William Earnest (b. 1857; died 1917) Walter Washington Earnest (b. 1859; died 1920) Charles D. Earnest (b. 1861)

Background

James Earnest was born in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1818.^[1] His parents died while he was still young,^[2] and, when he was about sixteen years old, he went to Springfield, Illinois, to look for work.^[3] In 1836, he moved north into the Wisconsin Territory and settled at the township of New Diggings. He found work in the lead mines, and, after 1844, opened a store in the town and operated his own mining company.^[2][3]

In 1850, he used his earnings to purchase an unimproved farmstead in the vicinity of Shullsburg, Wisconsin. He constructed a home and other buildings on the property.^[2]

In politics, he became an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party, which was popular with the laborers in the lead mining region. Over the next several decades, he was elected to six terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and two 2-year terms in the Wisconsin State Senate. He was a constant defender of the economic interests of the lead mining region, until the industry began to decline in the aftermath of the American Civil War.^[1]

In his later years, he devoted his attention to his farmstead, where he raised thoroughbred livestock.^[1]

He died at his homestead near Shullsburg on June 12, 1900, after a long illness.^[3]

Personal life and family

James Earnest married Mary E. McGown of Mercer County, Kentucky, in 1847. They had eight children together, all of whom were still living at the time of his death in 1900.^[2]