John Rice Eden (February 1, 1826 – June 9, 1909) was an American lawyer and politician who a total of five terms served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois during three non-consecutive stints between 1863 and 1887.

John R. Eden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 17th district
In office
March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887
Preceded bySamuel W. Moulton
Succeeded byEdward Lane
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 15th district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byAlbert P. Forsythe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865
Preceded byJames Carroll Robinson
Succeeded byHenry P. H. Bromwell
Personal details
Born(1826-02-01)February 1, 1826
Bath County, Kentucky
DiedJune 9, 1909(1909-06-09) (aged 83)
Sullivan, Illinois
Resting placeGreenhill Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and career

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Born in Bath County, Kentucky, Eden moved with his parents to Indiana. He attended public schools, and later studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1853 at Shelbyville, Illinois and commenced practice in Sullivan, Illinois.

He served as prosecuting attorney for the seventeenth judicial district of Illinois 1856-1860.

Congress

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Eden was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1864 to the Thirty-ninth Congress. He was an unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois in 1868.

Eden was elected to the Forty-third, Forty-fourth, and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879). He served as chairman of the Committee on War Claims (Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1878. He resumed the practice of law in Sullivan, Illinois.

Eden was elected to the Forty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1886.

Later career and death

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He again engaged in the practice of law.

He died in Sullivan, Illinois, June 9, 1909. He was interred in Greenhill Cemetery.

References

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  • United States Congress. "John R. Eden (id: E000042)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois
1868
Vacant
Title next held by
Lewis Steward
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 7th congressional district

1863-1865
Succeeded by
Preceded by
District created
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 15th congressional district

1873-1879
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 17th congressional district

1885-1887
Succeeded by
  NODES
Note 1