James F. O'Connor

Who was James F. O'Connor?

James Francis O'Connor was a U.S. Representative from Montana.

He was born on a farm near California Junction, Iowa, and attended the grade schools and normal school in Iowa. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1904. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Livingston, Montana, in 1905. He also engaged in stock raising, ranching, and banking. He served as judge of the sixth judicial district of Montana in 1912. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1917-1918 and served as speaker. He served as special counsel for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., in 1918. He served as member of Park County High School Board for a number of years. Following the death of United States Senator Thomas J. Walsh, O'Connor ran for the United States Senate in the special election held to replace him in 1934. In doing so, he challenged John E. Erickson, who, as Governor of Montana, appointed himself to the United States Senate. In the Democratic primary, O'Connor narrowly lost to James E. Murray, but finished ahead of Erickson.

In 1936, when incumbent United States Congressman Roy E.