James Higgins (Wisconsin)


James Higgins was an American farmer from Shields, Wisconsin who spent a single term, in 1876, as a Reform Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Dodge County.

Background

Higgins was born in County Sligo, Ireland on March 25, 1824. He received a common school education, and became a farmer. He came to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled in the Town of Shields.

Public office

He had served seven years as chairman of his town, several years as a justice of the peace, and two years as Dodge County county clerk, when in 1875 he was elected to the Assembly from Dodge County's 6th Assembly district. He received 420 votes as a candidate of the Reform Party, against 397 votes for Thomas O'Meara, the regular Democratic nominee. He was assigned to the standing committee on medical societies.
The Assembly was redistricted for the 1877 session ; the new district which included Shields was taken by Democrat Patrick Roche.