James Gunn (congressman)
Encyclopedia
James Gunn was a U. S. Congressman
from the state of Idaho
.
, Ireland
, and emigrated to America
with his parents. The family settled in Wisconsin
where he attended the common schools. James later attended the Notre Dame Academy in Indiana
and taught school briefly before the Civil War
.
In 1862, Gunn enlisted in the 27th Wisconsin Infantry, and served with them for the remainder of the war. By the time he was discharged in October 1865, he was a Captain. He briefly studied law, but never practiced, and, in 1866, he headed west.
In the West, he followed opportunity and lived for a while in Gilpin County
and Georgetown
, Colorado
.
He also worked in Virginia City, Nevada
, and in California
before settling in Hailey, Idaho
, in 1881. At Hailey, he went into the newspaper business, publishing the Wood River Valley Sentinel.
Gunn became a member of the Populist Party, and stood for office several times. When Idaho became a state in 1890, Gunn was elected to the state Senate.
He also served as editor of the Boise Sentinel until elected to Congress.
He ran for Congress four times; in 1892, 1894, 1896, and 1898, but only his 1896 race was successful.
He was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1896 representing the entire state.
He served only one term, from March 1897 to March 1899.
Gunn later was the commandant of the Idaho Soldiers’ Home in 1901–03.
He is buried in Boise, Idaho
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
Biography
Gunn was born in County FermanaghCounty Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and emigrated to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his parents. The family settled in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
where he attended the common schools. James later attended the Notre Dame Academy in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and taught school briefly before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
In 1862, Gunn enlisted in the 27th Wisconsin Infantry, and served with them for the remainder of the war. By the time he was discharged in October 1865, he was a Captain. He briefly studied law, but never practiced, and, in 1866, he headed west.
In the West, he followed opportunity and lived for a while in Gilpin County
Gilpin County, Colorado
Gilpin County is the second least extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Gilpin County was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado. The county population was 4,757 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Central City...
and Georgetown
Georgetown, Colorado
The historic town of Georgetown is a Territorial Charter Municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
He also worked in Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 855 at the 2010 Census.- History :...
, and in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
before settling in Hailey, Idaho
Hailey, Idaho
Hailey is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, in the Wood River Valley of the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 6,200 at the 2000 census. Hailey is the site of Friedman Memorial Airport , the airport for the resort area of Sun Valley/Ketchum, north. The town...
, in 1881. At Hailey, he went into the newspaper business, publishing the Wood River Valley Sentinel.
Gunn became a member of the Populist Party, and stood for office several times. When Idaho became a state in 1890, Gunn was elected to the state Senate.
He also served as editor of the Boise Sentinel until elected to Congress.
He ran for Congress four times; in 1892, 1894, 1896, and 1898, but only his 1896 race was successful.
He was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1896 representing the entire state.
He served only one term, from March 1897 to March 1899.
Gunn later was the commandant of the Idaho Soldiers’ Home in 1901–03.
He is buried in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
.