James I. Dolliver
Encyclopedia
James Isaac Dolliver served six terms as a Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 6th congressional district
, beginning in 1944. He was the nephew of U.S. Senator Jonathan Prentiss Dolliver of Iowa.
Born in Park Ridge, Illinois
, to Rev. and Mrs. Robert H. Dolliver, he received elementary education in Illinois schools at Lanark, Pawpaw, Eochelle, Lockport and Joliet before moving to Hot Springs, South Dakota
. He graduated from Morningside College
, Sioux City, Iowa
, in 1915. He taught school at Alta, Iowa
, and Humboldt, Iowa
, until 1918, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was enrolled in signal officers' training school at New Haven, where he was when the First World War
ended.
Following the conclusion of his military service, he attended the University of Chicago Law School
, graduating in 1921. He was admitted to the bar
the same year and commenced private practice in Chicago.
Dolliver moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa
, in 1922. He served as the County Attorney for Webster County, Iowa
from 1924 to 1929, then returned to private practice. He served as member of the school board of Fort Dodge School District between 1938 and 1945. He also served a term as commander of the Iowa American Legion.
In 1942, Dolliver ran against Governor George A. Wilson
and two others for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. In the primary election, Dolliver finished a distant third.
Two years later, Dolliver ran for the U.S. House for a seat held by Fred C. Gilchrist
, an incumbent member of Dolliver's own party who was then completing his seventh term in office. In a primary characterized by light turnout, Dolliver defeated Gilchrist in a close race. He then ran against Charles Hanna in the general election, defeating him handily. Dolliver was re-elected five times before losing in 1956 to Democrat Merwin Coad
, in an extraordinarily close race. Coad won by 198 votes, out of over 129,000 cast. In all, Dolliver served from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1957.
After his loss, he served as regional legal counsel for International Cooperation Administration in the Middle East from 1957 until his retirement in 1959.
In retirement, he resided in Spirit Lake, Iowa
.
Dolliver died in Rolla, Missouri
, on December 10, 1978. He was interred in Oakland Cemetery, Fort Dodge, Iowa
.
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 Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It existed from 1862 to 1992, when it was lost due to Iowa's declining population....
, beginning in 1944. He was the nephew of U.S. Senator Jonathan Prentiss Dolliver of Iowa.
Born in Park Ridge, Illinois
Park Ridge, Illinois
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
, to Rev. and Mrs. Robert H. Dolliver, he received elementary education in Illinois schools at Lanark, Pawpaw, Eochelle, Lockport and Joliet before moving to Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
. He graduated from Morningside College
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
, Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, in 1915. He taught school at Alta, Iowa
Alta, Iowa
Alta is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,865 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Alta is located at . It is located 6 miles from the city of Storm Lake...
, and Humboldt, Iowa
Humboldt, Iowa
Humboldt is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,690 at the 2010 census, gaining 238 people since the 2000 census.- History :...
, until 1918, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was enrolled in signal officers' training school at New Haven, where he was when the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ended.
Following the conclusion of his military service, he attended the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
, graduating in 1921. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and commenced private practice in Chicago.
Dolliver moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
, in 1922. He served as the County Attorney for Webster County, Iowa
Webster County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 38,013 in the county, with a population density of . There were 17,035 housing units, of which 15,580 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1924 to 1929, then returned to private practice. He served as member of the school board of Fort Dodge School District between 1938 and 1945. He also served a term as commander of the Iowa American Legion.
In 1942, Dolliver ran against Governor George A. Wilson
George A. Wilson
George Allison Wilson was a United States Senator and 28th Governor of Iowa.-Personal background:Born on a farm near Menlo, Iowa, Wilson attended rural schools, and Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law at Iowa City in 1907, and was admitted to...
and two others for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. In the primary election, Dolliver finished a distant third.
Two years later, Dolliver ran for the U.S. House for a seat held by Fred C. Gilchrist
Fred C. Gilchrist
Fred Cramer Gilchrist was a seven-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa, from 1931 to 1945.Born in California, Pennsylvania, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Gilchrist moved with his parents to Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1871.He attended the public schools. He graduated from State Teachers'...
, an incumbent member of Dolliver's own party who was then completing his seventh term in office. In a primary characterized by light turnout, Dolliver defeated Gilchrist in a close race. He then ran against Charles Hanna in the general election, defeating him handily. Dolliver was re-elected five times before losing in 1956 to Democrat Merwin Coad
Merwin Coad
Merwin Coad was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district for six years—January 1957 to January 1963. His election snapped the Republican Party's fourteen-year hold on every U.S. House seat from Iowa....
, in an extraordinarily close race. Coad won by 198 votes, out of over 129,000 cast. In all, Dolliver served from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1957.
After his loss, he served as regional legal counsel for International Cooperation Administration in the Middle East from 1957 until his retirement in 1959.
In retirement, he resided in Spirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,261 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.The town is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region....
.
Dolliver died in Rolla, Missouri
Rolla, Missouri
Rolla is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States, midway between the larger cities of St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. The population in the 2010 United States Census was 19,559.It is the county seat of Phelps County...
, on December 10, 1978. He was interred in Oakland Cemetery, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
.