Background
Broadhead, James Overton was born on May 29, 1819 in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. Son of Achilles and Mary Winston (Carr) Broadhead.
Broadhead, James Overton was born on May 29, 1819 in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. Son of Achilles and Mary Winston (Carr) Broadhead.
Attended University of Virginia, 1835-1836.
Studied law, St. Louis. Tutor, family of Edward Bates, St. Louis, 1837. Licensed and began practice law, Bowling Green, Missouri, 1842.
Delegate Missouri Constitutional Convention, 1845. Member Missouri House of Representatives (Whig), 1846-1847, Missouri Senate, 1850-1853. Became partner (with Fidelio C. Sharp) in New firm, St. Louis, 1859.
An organizer Committee of Safety to resist pro-Southern forces in St. Louis. Member Missouri Constitutional Convention which declared provisional government favorable to Union, 1861. Appointed provost-marshal general of district including Missouri, Southern Iowa, Kansas, Indian Territory and Arkansas, 1861.
Member Missouri State Constitutional Convention, 1875. Government counsel for Whiskey Ring cases, 1876. President American Bar Association, 1878.
Member United States House of Representatives from Missouri, 48th Congress, 1883-1885, member judiciary committee. Appointed by President Cleveland special commissioner to France to investigate government archives in relation to French spoliation claims. Minister to Switzerland, 1893-1897.
Member Missouri House of Representatives (Whig), 1846-1847, Missouri Senate, 1850-1853. Member Missouri Constitutional Convention which declared provisional government favorable to Union, 1861. Member Missouri State Constitutional Convention, 1875.
Member United States House of Representatives from Missouri, 48th Congress, 1883-1885.
Married Mary S. Dorsey, May 13, 1847.