James O. Davidson

James Ole Davidson (February 10, 1854 – December 16, 1922) was an American merchant and politician in Wisconsin. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

Davidson was born in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway and immigrated in 1872 to the United States when he was 18 years old. In Boscobel, Wisconsin he worked as a farmhand and as a tailor. Davidson began a successful mercantile business and established his own tailor business in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.

He held several political positions in Wisconsin, and was twice elected village president in Soldiers Grove.Davidson was also elected as a Republican candidate to the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving three terms from 1893 to 1899. He was elected Wisconsin state treasurer in 1898 and 1900.

Elected the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin alongside governor Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Davidson served until January 1, 1906, when La Follette resigned to join the United States Senate, making Davidson acting governor. He was elected governor in 1906 and reelected in 1908. He served from January 4, 1906 to January 3, 1911; and during his tenure, state regulation of the railroads was extended to include public utilities, telegraph, telephone, electricity, water companies, and the insurance industry.

After retiring from office, he was appointed by his gubernatorial successor to a five-year term as president of the State Board of Control.

Davidson died in Madison, Wisconsin on December 16, 1922 (age 68 years, 309 days), due to pneumonia and heart complications. He is interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin.

Davidson was the son of Ole Davidson and Ingabor (Jenson) Davidson. On February 19, 1883 Davidson married Helen Bliss and they had two daughters, Mabel Elsie and Grace.