US Congressman. Born on a farm near Millstadt, Illinois, he attended public schools there as well as Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He worked as a coal miner early in his life and afterward taught in public schools for five years. He was hired by the East Saint Louis, Illinois Gazette newspaper and became known as a fiery and radical editor. In 1891 he became the owner of the Belleville News-Democrat in Belleville, Illinois. He was elected chief enrolling clerk of the Illinois Senate in 1892 and unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for election to the Fifty-sixth Congress in 1898. In 1901 he was elected to the Fifty-seventh Congress on the Democratic ticket and served one term until March 1903. Unsuccessful in being reelected to the 58th Congress in 1902, he resumed his newspaper pursuits in Belleville. He was then elected the mayor of Belleville in 1902, serving in that position from 1903 until 1913. He also served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1904, 1908, and 1912. In 1913 he was appointed by Illinois Governor Edward F. Dunne as President of the Illinois State Board of Administration, serving in that position until 1919. He died in Belleville, Illinois at the age of 67. He is a member of the Illinois Press Association's Editor's Hall of Fame.
US Congressman. Born on a farm near Millstadt, Illinois, he attended public schools there as well as Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He worked as a coal miner early in his life and afterward taught in public schools for five years. He was hired by the East Saint Louis, Illinois Gazette newspaper and became known as a fiery and radical editor. In 1891 he became the owner of the Belleville News-Democrat in Belleville, Illinois. He was elected chief enrolling clerk of the Illinois Senate in 1892 and unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for election to the Fifty-sixth Congress in 1898. In 1901 he was elected to the Fifty-seventh Congress on the Democratic ticket and served one term until March 1903. Unsuccessful in being reelected to the 58th Congress in 1902, he resumed his newspaper pursuits in Belleville. He was then elected the mayor of Belleville in 1902, serving in that position from 1903 until 1913. He also served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1904, 1908, and 1912. In 1913 he was appointed by Illinois Governor Edward F. Dunne as President of the Illinois State Board of Administration, serving in that position until 1919. He died in Belleville, Illinois at the age of 67. He is a member of the Illinois Press Association's Editor's Hall of Fame.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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