Thomas Morris (Wisconsin politician)

Thomas Morris (December 9, 1861  September 17, 1928) was an American lawyer and politician in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate and was the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1911 until 1915.

Thomas Morris
22nd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1911  January 4, 1915
GovernorFrancis E. McGovern
Preceded byJohn Strange
Succeeded byEdward Dithmar
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
1904
1908
Personal details
Born(1861-12-09)December 9, 1861
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
DiedSeptember 17, 1928(1928-09-17) (aged 66)
New York City, United States
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Lillian L. Pendleton
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin Law School
ProfessionLawyer
Politician

Early life

Morris was born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, St. Arnold Parish, Quebec. He attended the common schools in Quebec before moving to La Crosse, Wisconsin where he worked as a barber. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, Wisconsin in 1889,[1] and returned to La Crosse to practice law.[2]

Political career

In 1898 he was elected District Attorney for La Crosse County, Wisconsin, and was reelected in 1900. He served as the chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee of the Seventh Congressional District before being elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1904 and 1908.[3] Morris was instrumental in establishing what is now University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in 1909.[4][5]

In 1911 Morris was elected Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin as a Republican serving until 1915.[6]

He died on September 17, 1928 in New York City of a heart attack at the age of 67.[7]

Family life

Morris married Lillian L. Pendleton and had nine children.

References

  1. Wisconsin Alumni Association (1905). Wisconsin Alumni Magazine, Volume 7. Wisconsin Alumni Association. p. 125.
  2. Legislative Reference Bureau (1913). State of Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 528.
  3. Legislative Reference Bureau (1909). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 1105.
  4. "Did You Know? Bits of UW-L History". University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  5. http://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/1793/11775/1/1988RICHTER.pdf
  6. Wisconsin Legislature (1911). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislature. p. 662.
  7. "Thomas Morris, Former State Official, Succumbs". Wisconsin State Journal. September 17, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved July 1, 2020 via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

  • Members of County Bar Association Discuss Life and Career of Tom Morris, May 29, 1932, 'La Crosse Tribune'.
  • Thomas Morris, La Crosse Attorney, once Lieutenant Governor of State, June 5, 1932, 'La Crosse Tribune'.
  • Heart Attack is Fatal to Tom Morris, September 17, 1932, 'La Crosse Tribune'.
  • Newspaper clippings file courtesy of the La Crosse Public Library archives


Political offices
Preceded by
John Strange
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
19111915
Succeeded by
Edward Dithmar
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