James Wakefield

James Beach Wakefield
8th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office 1875–1877
Governor	Cushman Davis John S. Pillsbury
Preceded by	Alphonso Barto
Succeeded by	Charles A. Gilman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 3rd district
In office 1883–1887
Preceded by	Horace B. Strait
Succeeded by	John Lind
7th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1866–1866
Preceded by	Jared Benson
Succeeded by	John Q. Farmer
Personal details
Born	March 21, 1825(1825-03-21) Winsted, Connecticut
Died	August 25, 1910(1910-08-25) (aged 85) Blue Earth, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Nannette Reinhart
Profession	lawyer, judge, politician

James Beach Wakefield (March 21, 1825 – August 25, 1910) was a United States Representative from Minnesota; born in Winsted, Connecticut; attended the public schools at Westfield, Massachusetts, and Jonesville, New York; was graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut in 1846; studied law in Painesville, Lake County, Ohio; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Delphi, Indiana, in 1852; moved to Shakopee, Minnesota, in 1854; first judge of the probate court of Faribault County, Minnesota; elected as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1858, 1863, and 1866, serving as speaker in the session of 1866; member of the Minnesota State Senate 1867 – 1869; appointed receiver of the United States Land Office at Winnebago City Township, Minnesota, June 1, 1869, and served until January 15, 1875, when he resigned; the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota 1875 – 1877; elected as a Republican to the 48th and 49th congresses, (March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887); retired from public life; died at Blue Earth, Faribault County, Minnesota; interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Painesville, Ohio.

References

• James Wakefield at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Minnesota Historical Society
• Minnesota Legislators Past and Present

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas H. Armstrong	Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1866	Succeeded by John Q. Farmer
Preceded by Alphonso Barto	Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota 1875–1877	Succeeded by Charles A. Gilman
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Horace B. Strait	U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district 1883–1887	Succeeded by John Lind