Representative John James McDannold

John James McDannold (August 29, 1851 – February 3, 1904) was an American lawyer, state court judge, and Democratic politician who represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives from 1893 to 1895. A member of the Democratic Party, he served one term in Congress as the representative of Illinois’ 12th Congressional District, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American history.

McDannold was born in Mount Sterling, Brown County, Illinois, on August 29, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of his native community and later attended a private school in Quincy, Illinois. Pursuing a legal career, he enrolled in the law department of the University of Iowa at Iowa City, from which he graduated in June 1874. Shortly thereafter, he was admitted to the bar of Illinois in September 1874 and commenced the practice of law in Mount Sterling, establishing himself as a local attorney.

McDannold’s legal abilities led to early responsibilities in the county judiciary. In October 1885 he was appointed master in chancery for Brown County, Illinois, a position involving oversight of equity matters referred by the courts. Building on this experience, he was elected county judge of Brown County in 1886. As a state court judge, he presided over local judicial affairs and was recognized sufficiently by his constituents to be re-elected in November 1890. He continued to serve as county judge until October 2, 1892, when he resigned the office after receiving the Democratic nomination for the United States Congress.

In national politics, McDannold was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress, representing Illinois’ 12th District. His term in the U.S. House of Representatives extended from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1895. During this single term in office, he participated in the deliberations of the House of Representatives and represented the interests of his Illinois constituents at a time marked by economic and political challenges, including the aftermath of the Panic of 1893. Although he sought to continue his service, he lost renomination in 1894 and thus did not return to Congress after the expiration of his term.

Following his congressional service, McDannold moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1895 and resumed the practice of law. He continued his legal career in that major urban center for the remainder of his life. John James McDannold died in Chicago on February 3, 1904. His remains were returned to his hometown, and he was interred in City Cemetery in Mount Sterling, Illinois, closing a life spent largely in public and professional service within his native state.