James Butler BOWLIN, Congress, MO (1804-1874)

BOWLIN James Butler , a Representative from Missouri; born near Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Va., January 16, 1804; apprenticed to a trade, but abandoned it to teach school; received a classical education; moved to Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, Va., in 1825; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice in Greenbrier County; moved to St. Louis, Mo., in 1833 and continued the practice of law; established the Farmers and Mechanics' Advocate; chief clerk of the State house of representatives in 1836; member of the State house of representatives in 1836 and 1837; appointed district attorney for St. Louis in 1837; unsuccessful candidate for the State house of representatives in 1838; elected judge of the criminal court in 1839 and served until his resignation in 1842; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1843-March 3, 1851); chairman, Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Public Lands (Thirty-first Congress); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress; appointed Minister Resident to New Granada by President Pierce December 13, 1854; appointed commissioner to Paraguay by President Buchanan September 9, 1858, and served until February 10, 1859; resumed the practice of law; died in St. Louis, Mo., July 19, 1874; interment in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present