James Rariden (February 14, 1795 – October 20, 1856) was an American lawyer and politician who served two terms as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

, from 1837 to 1841.

Biography

Born near

Cynthiana, Kentucky Cynthiana is a home rule-class city in Harrison County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 6,402 at the 2010 census. It is the seat of its county. History The settlement developed on both sides of the South Fork of the Licki ...

, Rariden received a limited schooling. He moved to

Brookville, Indiana Brookville is a town in Brookville Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,596 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of and the largest community entirely within Franklin County. History Brookville was ...

, and later to Salisbury, where he served as deputy clerk of court and studied law. He was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

in 1818 and began practice in Centerville, Indiana, in 1820. He served as prosecuting attorney 1822–1825.

Political career

He served in the State senate in 1823 and as a member of the State house of representatives in 1829, 1830, 1832, and 1833. Rariden was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1841).

Later career and death

In 1846, he moved to

Cambridge City, Indiana Cambridge City is a town in Jackson Township, Wayne County, Indiana, Jackson Township, Wayne County, Indiana, Wayne County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,870 at the 2010 census. History Cambridge City was laid out and platted ...

. He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1850. He died in

on October 20, 1856, and was interred in Riverside Cemetery.

References

1795 births 1856 deaths Indiana state senators Members of the Indiana House of Representatives People from Harrison County, Kentucky Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana 19th-century American politicians People from Wayne County, Indiana People from Brookville, Indiana {{Indiana-politician-stub