Edmund Ray Stevens (June 20, 1869 – August 25, 1930) was an American lawyer and judge. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1926 until his death in 1930. He previously served 23 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the city of Madison in the 1901 session.[1]

Biography

Stevens was born Edmund Ray Stevens on June 20, 1869, in Lake County, Illinois.[2] His family later moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1895. As a young man, he was a prolific writer on the problems of government and pushing for progressive solutions. He also worked as a special correspondent for the Milwaukee Sentinel, making trips to Europe to report on the urban European perspective.[3]

Career

From 1896 to 1903, Stevens and future U.S. Representative Burr W. Jones operated the law firm Jones & Stevens. Additionally, Stevens was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1900. In 1903, Stevens was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge by Governor Robert M. La Follette. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 1925 and served as a member until his death.[4] During his time with the Supreme Court, he was also a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Stevens died at his home in the Nakoma neighborhood, in Madison, Wisconsin, on the morning of August 25, 1930. He suffered a brief illness that resulted in a heart attack.[5]

Personal life and family

Stevens married Kate Sabin of Windsor, Wisconsin. Sabin was also a University of Wisconsin graduate; she worked as a high school teacher in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, served as Dane County superintendent of schools, and taught at the Milwaukee-Downer College.[6] They had three children together, though one died young.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1900)

Wisconsin Assembly, Dane 1st District Election, 1900[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 1900
Republican E. Ray Stevens 3,468 56.32% +6.29%
Democratic George W. Levis 2,569 41.72% −8.25%
Prohibition Charles H. Parr 121 1.96%
Plurality 899 14.60% +14.54%
Total votes 6,158 100.0% +28.96%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Supreme Court (1925)

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 1925[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 7, 1925
Nonpartisan E. Ray Stevens 256,431 65.81%
Nonpartisan John C. Kleist 133,164 34.17%
Scattering 73 0.02%
Plurality 123,267 31.63%
Total votes 389,668 100.0%

References

  1. ^ "Stevens, E to F". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  2. ^ "E. Ray Stevens". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  3. ^ a b "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1901. p. 744. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Judge Stevens Received Majority of 123,267 Votes". Iron County Miner. May 8, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved December 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Justice E. Ray Stevens Dead". The Capital Times. August 25, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved December 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "To Be Married". Stevens Point Journal. June 21, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved December 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 1st district
January 7, 1901 – January 5, 1903
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 9th circuit
April 9, 1903 – December 31, 1926
Succeeded by
Preceded by Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
January 1, 1926 – August 25, 1930 (death)
Succeeded by
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