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    Carley, James A.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1909-10 (District 3); Senate 1915-30 (District 3); Senate 1935-52 (District 3)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic

    Counties Served:  Wabasha

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/17/1869
    Birth Place: Oronoco, Minnesota
    Birth County: Olmsted
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 5/14/1952
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Plainview
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney/Formerly Taught District Schools, 5 years; and Night Schools, St. Paul

    EDUCATION

    Wasfeajv Seminary, Mantorville, Minnesota; Secondary; (It is also spelled Wasioja.)
    Hamline University; Attended College;
    Winona State Teachers College; Attended College;
    University of Minnesota, Law Department; Law Degree; 1889, 1894, or 1904

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Plainview, Minnesota (Village Council); 1??? to 1???
    County Attorney: Wabasha County, Minnesota; 1897 to 1901
    Municipal Government: Plainview, Minnesota (Village Recorder); 19?? to 19??
    Municipal Mayor: Plainview, Minnesota (Village Mayor); 190? to 19??
    County Attorney: Wabasha County, Minnesota; 1905 to 1909

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Mary G. Chamberlain.
    Children:
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Toensing identifies his birth year as 1870 but all other sources list June 17, 1869.

    He was born on a farm near Oronoco, Minnesota.

    He was a member of the Democratic Party.

    "The land for [Carley State] park was donated to the State of Minnesota in 1948 by State Senator James A. Carley and the Ernestina Bolt family in hopes of preserving an outstanding grove of native white pines." (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Web site)

    He died at home in Plainview, Minnesota.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 12910

    SESSIONS SERVED

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 5/14/1952 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Reason for unfinished term: Death
    Session Notes: He died while in office on May 14, 1952.
    term photo
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    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
    Click to view

    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Reforestation
    • Rural Credits and State Development
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Reforestation
    • Rural Credits and State Development
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/8/1938
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Practicing Law
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Liquor Control
    • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Rural Credits and State Development
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore
    term photo
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    51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/8/1938
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Practicing Law
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Liquor Control
    • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Rural Credits and State Development
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    50th Legislative Session (1937-1938) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/6/1934
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/2/1939
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Practicing Law
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/6/1934
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/2/1939
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Practicing Law
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • General Legislation
    • Judiciary
    • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
    • Public Domain
    • Public Health
    • Railroads (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
    Click to view

    46th Legislative Session (1929-1930) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/2/1926
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/4/1927 to 1/5/1931
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Elections
    • Judiciary
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense

    45th Legislative Session (1927-1928)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/2/1926
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/4/1927 to 1/5/1931
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Elections
    • Finance
    • Judiciary
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    term photo
    Click to view

    44th Legislative Session (1925-1926) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/7/1922
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/2/1923 to 1/3/1927
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Elections
    • Finance
    • General Legislation
    • Judiciary
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Public Health (Chair)

    43rd Legislative Session (1923-1924)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/7/1922
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/2/1923 to 1/3/1927
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Finance
    • Judiciary
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Public Welfare and Health
    • Rules and Legislative Expense
    • Soldiers Home (Chair)
    term photo
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    42nd Legislative Session (1921-1922) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/5/1918
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/7/1919 to 1/1/1923
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Public Welfare and Health
    • Re-apportionment
    • Towns, Counties and Municipalities
    term photo
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    41st Legislative Session (1919-1920)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/5/1918
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/7/1919 to 1/1/1923
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration (Chair)
    • Education
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    40th Legislative Session (1917-1918) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/3/1914
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/5/1915 to 1/6/1919
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Game and Fish (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Public Service Corporations
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    39th Legislative Session (1915-1916)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/3/1914
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/5/1915 to 1/6/1919
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Game and Fish (Chair)
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Courts, Judicial and Public Officers
    • Judiciary: Criminal Law
    • Judiciary: Negligence
    • Public Service Corporations
    term photo
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    36th Legislative Session (1909-1910)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 03
    Elected: 11/3/1908
    Residence: Plainview
    Term of Office: 1/5/1909 to 1/2/1911
    Counties Represented: Wabasha
    Occupation: Attorney/Formerly Taught District Schools, 5 years; and Night Schools, St. Paul
    Party: Democratic
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Grain and Warehouse
    • Judiciary
    • Logs and Lumber
    • Military Affairs
    • Public Health and Pure Food
    term photo
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    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    James A. Carley Memorial. Minnesota Journal of the Senate, April 8, 1953, p. 1572-1573.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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