James Beach Wakefield | |
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| 8th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 7, 1876 – January 10, 1880 | |
| Governor | Cushman Davis John S. Pillsbury |
| Preceded by | Alphonso Barto |
| Succeeded by | Charles A. Gilman |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | Horace B. Strait |
| Succeeded by | John Lind |
| 8th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1866–1866 | |
| Preceded by | Jared Benson |
| Succeeded by | John Q. Farmer |
| Member of theMinnesota Senate | |
| In office 1867-1869 | |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1858 1863 1866 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1825-03-21)March 21, 1825 Winsted, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | August 25, 1910(1910-08-25) (aged 85) Blue Earth, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nannette Reinhart |
| Profession | lawyer, judge, politician |
James Beach Wakefield (March 21, 1825 – August 25, 1910) was aUnited States Congressman fromMinnesota. He was also Senator and 8th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.
Wakefield was born inWinsted, Connecticut to Dr. Luman Wakefield and Betsey Rockwell. His father was a Connecticut politician, and his brother was a Doctor fromYale University, who marriedSarah F. Wakefield.[1] His niece was Helen Wakefield Yale, member of theYale family and wife of JudgeJohn H. Kennard.[2][3] His sister, Lucy Clarissa, married to the son of CongressmanLancelot Phelps, and brother of CongressmanJames Phelps, whose father-in-law,Samuel Ingham, was also Congressman and Senator from Connecticut.[4]
James attended the public schools atWestfield, Massachusetts, andJonesville, New York, graduated fromTrinity College,Hartford, Connecticut, in 1846 and studied law inPainesville,Lake County, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice inDelphi, Indiana, in 1852. He moved toShakopee, Minnesota, in 1854. He was first judge of the probate court ofFaribault County, Minnesota.
He was elected as a member of theMinnesota House of Representatives in 1858, 1863, and 1866, serving as speaker in the session of 1866. He was elected as a member of theMinnesota State Senate 1867–1869. He was appointed receiver of the United States Land Office atWinnebago City Township, Minnesota, June 1, 1869, and served until January 15, 1875, when he resigned. He was theeighth Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota 1875–1877. In 1879, he was expected to be the Republican nominee for Governor that year, until incumbent John S. Pillsbury announced he was running for a third term. Wakefield was defeated in the primary.[5] He was elected as aRepublican to the48th and49th congresses, (March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887).
He retired from public life and died atBlue Earth, Faribault County, Minnesota with interment in Evergreen Cemetery,Painesville, Ohio.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1866 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota 1875–1877 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative fromMinnesota's 2nd congressional district 1883–1887 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
