John Comstock Gaveney (June 30, 1863April 13, 1947) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

lawyer, Republican politician, and judge. He served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing

La Crosse La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's populat ...

and Trempealeau counties, and was county judge of Trempealeau County for over 15 years.

Biography

Born in the town of

Arcadia Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...

, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Gaveney went to Arcadia High School. Gaveney then received his bachelor's degree from

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

in 1885 and his law degree from University of Wisconsin Law School in 1888. He then practiced law in Arcadia, Wisconsin, managed the family's lumberyard and flour mill, and helped organized the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company. Gaveney also was principal of the Arcadia and Independence High Schools. He served as president of the village of Arcadia. From 1901 to 1905, Gaveney served in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican. From 1930 until 1946, Gaveney served as Trempealeau County judge. Gaveney died of a heart attack sitting in a chair while smoking a cigar at his home in

Whitehall, Wisconsin Whitehall is a city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Trempealeau River. The population was 1,645 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Trempealeau County. Whitehall is situated on the former Green Bay and Western ...

Personal life and family

John Comstock Gaveney was the last surviving son of James Gaveney, an

Irish American , image = Irish ancestry in the USA 2018; Where Irish eyes are Smiling.png , image_caption = Irish Americans, % of population by state , caption = Notable Irish Americans , population = 36,115,472 (10.9%) alone ...

immigrant and pioneer of Trempealeau County. James Gaveney went to California during the

Gold Rush A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, New Z ...

and there encountered fellow Wisconsinite

Noah D. Comstock Noah Durham Comstock (November 22, 1832June 6, 1890) was an American farmer and Republican politician. He served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate and four years in the State Assembly, representing Trempealeau County. Biography Born in ...

. The two men drew guns and nearly killed each other over competing claims on a tract of mining land, but reason prevailed and they decided to work the claim in partnership. Their friendship endured for the rest of their lives. Noah Comstock was the source of John Comstock Gaveney's middle name.

References

External links

Trempealeau County, Wisconsin Circuit Court judges-John C. Gaveney
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaveney, John C. 1863 births 1947 deaths People from Arcadia, Wisconsin Businesspeople from Wisconsin Educators from Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni University of Wisconsin Law School alumni Mayors of places in Wisconsin Wisconsin state court judges Republican Party Wisconsin state senators People from Whitehall, Wisconsin