O'Connor, James Francis, 1878-1945

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1878-05-07

Death 1945-01-15

Biographical notes:

Park County, Montana rancher and five term Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives.

From the description of James Francis O'Connor papers, 1937-1945. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 42927726

U.S. congressman from Montana.

From the description of James Francis O'Connor papers, 1937-1945. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 154692329

James Francis O'Connor was born May 7, 1878, near California Junction, Iowa. He attended public and normal schools in that state and graduated from the Nebraska Law School in 1904. He came to Montana in 1905 and practiced law in Livingston. He began his public career as a judge of the Sixth Judicial District and becoming a member of the Democratic Party. Later he was elected to the Montana House of Representatives and was elected Speaker in his first term. During much of his career he owned a ranch near White Sulphur Springs. In 1936 he was elected to the U.S. Congress from the Second District, representing eastern Montana, and was re-elected in 1938, 1940, 1942, and 1944. He served on several committees and was chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. He died on January 13, 1945, while serving in Congress. His only son, Miles O'Connor, died the same year.

From the guide to the James Francis O'Connor Papers, 1937-1945, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)