James E Tolman

Early life and education

Tolman was born on November 8, 1867 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He attended Gloucester public schools and in 1909 graduated from Boston University School of Law.

Business career

Tolman was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1910. For fifteen years, he worked in the theatre business as part of the partnership of Lothrop and Tolman. Tolman also worked in the grocery and provision business.

Gloucester, Massachusetts Common Council

From 1899 to 1901 Tolman served on the Gloucester, Massachusetts Common Council. For two years, in 1899 and in 1901, Tolman was the President of the Common Council.

Mayor of Gloucester

In 1902 Tolman ran as an Independent Republican Gloucester mayoral election. On December 2, 1902 Tolman was elected as the mayor of Gloucester.

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Tolman served as a Republican member of the Massachusetts House representing the Twenty Second Essex District in 1909, and again from 1914 to 1916. From 1917 to 1918 Tolman represented the Twenty First Essex District in the House.

In the 1909 House Tolman served as the Clerk of the Committee on Public Lighting. In the 1914 House Tolman served on the Committee on Legal Affairs and on the Committee on Public Lighting. In the 1915 House Tolman served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Lighting. In the 1916 House Tolman served on the Committee on legal affairs and as the Chairman of the Committee on public lighting.

Massachusetts Senate

From 1910 to 1912, Tolman represented the Third Essex District in the Massachusetts State Senate In the 1910 Senate Tolman served as the Chairman of the Committee of Third Reading, and on the Committees on Legal Affairs, Mercantile Affairs and Constitutional Amendments. In the 1911 Senate Tolman served as the Chairman of the Committees on Legal Affairs and of Public Lighting, and on the Committee on Mercantile Affairs.

Death

Tolman died on February 21, 1956 at his home in Gloucester. He was 88 years old.