Representative John All Barham

John All Barham (July 17, 1843 – January 22, 1926) was an American lawyer and Republican politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1895 to 1901. His congressional service occurred during a significant period in American history, and as a member of the House of Representatives he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his California constituents.

Barham was born on a farm in Cass County, Missouri, on July 17, 1843. In 1849, during the California Gold Rush, he moved with his parents to California. The family eventually settled in Woodland, California, where he attended the common schools and later Hesperian College. His upbringing in a rural setting and his early education in California’s developing communities helped shape his familiarity with the concerns of a growing western state.

Between 1864 and 1876, Barham taught in the public schools of California, beginning his professional life in education. While engaged in teaching, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1865. He then commenced the practice of law, building his legal career in several California communities, including Watsonville, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa. His work as an attorney established him as a prominent member of the bar and provided the professional foundation for his later political career.

Barham entered national politics as a member of the Republican Party and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from California. He was chosen as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, and Fifty-sixth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1895, to March 3, 1901. During his three terms in office, he contributed to the legislative process at a time of economic expansion and increasing national involvement in international affairs. While in the House of Representatives, he served as chairman of the Committee on Mileage during both the Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth Congresses, overseeing matters related to the travel allowances of members. He did not seek renomination in 1900, thereby concluding his congressional service after six years.

After leaving Congress, Barham returned to California and resumed the practice of law. He continued his legal work in Santa Rosa, remaining active in his profession into his later years. Barham died in Santa Rosa, California, on January 22, 1926. He was buried in Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, closing a life that had spanned the era from the California Gold Rush through the early twentieth century and that had included notable service as an educator, lawyer, and member of the United States Congress.