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 | |
| Governor | Francis E. McGovern |
| Preceded by | John Strange |
| Succeeded by | Edward Dithmar |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Senate | |
| In office 1904 1908 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 9, 1861 Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada East |
| Died | September 17, 1928 (aged 66) New York City, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lillian L. Pendleton |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin Law School |
| Profession | Lawyer Politician |
Early life
editMorris was born in Saint-Hyacinthe, St. Arnold Parish, Canada East. 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
editIn 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
editMorris married Lillian L. Pendleton and had nine children.
References
edit- ^ Wisconsin Alumni Association (1905). Wisconsin Alumni Magazine, Volume 7. Wisconsin Alumni Association. p. 125.
- ^ Legislative Reference Bureau (1913). State of Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 528.
- ^ Legislative Reference Bureau (1909). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 1105.
- ^ "Did You Know? Bits of UW-L History". University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Richter, Troy (May 11, 1988). "1988RICHTER.pdf" (PDF).
- ^ Wisconsin Legislature (1911). The Wisconsin Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislature. p. 662.
- ^ "Thomas Morris, Former State Official, Succumbs". Wisconsin State Journal. September 17, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Further reading
edit- 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