Wesley Livsey Jones

Wesley Jones
Senate Majority Whip
In office
November 9, 1924 – March 4, 1929
Acting: November 9, 1924 – March 4, 1925
Leader Charles Curtis
Preceded by Charles Curtis
Succeeded by Simeon D. Fess
United States Senator
from Washington
In office
March 4, 1909 – November 19, 1932
Preceded by Levi Ankeny
Succeeded by Elijah S. Grammer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1899 – March 4, 1909
Preceded by William C. Jones
Succeeded by James W. Bryan (1913)
Personal details
Born Wesley Livsey Jones
(1863-10-09)October 9, 1863
Bethany, Illinois, U.S.
Died November 19, 1932(1932-11-19) (aged 69)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)
Minda Nelson
(m. 1886; his death 1932)
Children 2
Education Southern Illinois College, Enfield (BA)

Wesley Livsey Jones (October 9, 1863 – November 19, 1932) was an American politician. He served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate representing the state of Washington.

Born near Bethany, Illinois days after the death of his father, who was serving in the Union Army during the American Civil War, Jones worked on farms and taught school before graduating from Southern Illinois College in Enfield, Illinois. He studied law in Chicago, attained admission to the bar, and became active in politics as a Republican. In 1889, he moved to North Yakima, Washington, where he worked in real estate and practiced law. In 1898, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served five terms. He won a seat in the United States Senate in 1908; he served from 1909 until his death, and served in both leadership positions and as chairman of several Senate committees.

Jones lost his 1932 bid for reelection, and died after the November election, but before his term expired in March 1933. He died in Seattle, and was interred at Seattle's Bonney-Watson Mortuary.

Early life

Jones was born near Bethany, Illinois, the son of Wesley and Phoebe Jones;[1] he was born three days after the death of his father, who was serving as a private in Company B, 41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.[2] He graduated from Southern Illinois College in Enfield, Illinois, and studied law in Chicago while teaching school at night.[3] He attained admission to the bar in 1886, and started a law practice in Decatur, Illinois.[3] In 1889, Jones moved to North Yakima, Washington, where he worked in the real estate business and continued to practice law.[3]

Political career

After moving to Washington, Jones was active in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and his leadership roles in the organization gave him name recognition that enabled him to begin a political career.[1] A Republican, while still living in Illinois Jones campaigned for James G. Blaine for president in 1884, and Benjamin Harrison in 1888.[4] Beginning in 1890, Jones was a sought-after campaign speaker in Washington, and took part in Republican rallies throughout the state.[4] In 1898, Jones was elected to represent Washington's at-large congressional district.[3] He was reelected four times, and served in the U.S. House from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1909.[3]

In 1908, Jones ran successfully for a seat representing Washington in the United States Senate.[3] He was reelected in 1914, 1920, and 1926; he served from March 3, 1909 until his death.[5] In 1917, Jones moved from Yakima to Seattle.[6]

In the Senate, Jones advanced to a leadership position as Majority Whip, a post he held from 1924 to 1929.[7] He also served as chairman of several committees, including: Industrial Expositions (61st Congress); Fisheries (62nd Congress); Disposition of Useless Executive Papers (64th and 65th Congresses); Investigate Trespassers Upon Indian Land (65th Congress); Commerce (66th through 71st Congresses); and Appropriations (71st and 72nd Congresses).[7]

Jones was a successful advocate for federal investment in the Pacific Northwest, and secured funding for several irrigation projects and the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton.[8] In 1920 he sponsored and secured passage of the Jones Merchant Marine Act, which stipulated that only American ships could carry cargo between American ports, thereby making Alaska dependent on Seattle-based shipping.[9] Jones was a vocal proponent of prohibition throughout his political career, a stance that initially aided his popularity but eventually contributed to his electoral defeat in 1932.[10]

Death and burial

Jones died in Seattle on November 19, 1932, shortly after losing reelection to his Senate seat, but before his final term had expired.[7] His ashes were interred at Bonney-Watson Mortuary in Seattle.[7]

Family

In 1886, Jones married Minda Nelson.[1] They were the parents of two children,[1] daughter Hazel E. and son Harry B.[10] Hazel Jones was the wife of Arthur Coffin.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 A Biographical History, with Portraits, of Prominent Men of the Great West, p. 685.
  2. ↑ National Magazine, p. 481.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 National Magazine, p. 482.
  4. 1 2 Who's Who in America, p. 1037.
  5. ↑ Wesley L. Jones, late a Senator from Washington, p. 5.
  6. ↑ Official Congressional Directory, p. 119.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Biography, Wesley Livsey Jones".
  8. ↑ "Biographical Notes, Wesley L. Jones Papers, 1896-1932".
  9. ↑ "The Merchant Marine Act of 1920".
  10. 1 2 3 "Senator Jones of Washington Dies", p. 1.

Sources

Books

  • Campbell, John A. (1902). A Biographical History, with Portraits, of Prominent Men of the Great West. Chicago, IL: Western Biographical and Engraving Co.
  • Marquis, Albert Nelson (1910). Who's Who in America. VI. Chicago, IL: A. N. Marquis & Company.
  • United States Congress (1919). Official Congressional Directory. 65. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
  • United States Congress (1933). Wesley L. Jones, late a Senator from Washington. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office – via GenealogyBank.com.

Magazines

  • Chapple, Joe Mitchell (February 1, 1910). "Affairs at Washington". National Magazine. Boston, MA: Chapple Publishing Company.
  • Jones, Wesley L. (1922). "The Merchant Marine Act of 1920". Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science. New York, NY: Columbia University. p. 233.

Internet

  • Office of the Historian. "Biography, Wesley Livsey Jones". history.house.gov/. Washington, DC: United States House of Representatives. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  • "Biographical Notes, Wesley L. Jones Papers, 1896-1932". Archives West. Eugene, OR: Orbis Cascade Alliance. 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2017.

Newspapers

  • "Senator Jones of Washington Dies". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, SC. United Press. November 19, 1932. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)).

External sources

  • United States Congress. "JONES, Wesley Livsey (id: J000257)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Wesley Livsey Jones at Find a Grave
  • Wesley L. Jones papers - University of Washington
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
William C. Jones		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's at-large congressional district
1899–1909		 Vacant
Title next held by
James W. Bryan
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Levi Ankeny		 U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Washington
1909–1932
Served alongside: Samuel H. Piles, Miles Poindexter, Clarence Dill		 Succeeded by
Elijah S. Grammer
New office Chair of the Senate Industrial Expositions Committee
1909–1911		 Succeeded by
Elihu Root
Preceded by
Jonathan Bourne Jr.		 Chair of the Senate Fisheries Committee
1911–1913		 Succeeded by
John Thornton
Preceded by
James Paul Clarke		 Chair of the Senate Executive Papers Disposition Committee
1915–1918		 Succeeded by
Merrill Moores
Preceded by
Paul O. Husting		 Chair of the Senate Indian Land Trespassers Committee
1918–1919		 Succeeded by
Henry F. Ashurst
Preceded by
Duncan U. Fletcher		 Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee
1919–1930		 Succeeded by
Hiram Johnson
Preceded by
Charles Curtis		 Senate Majority Whip
1924–1929
Acting: 1924–1925		 Succeeded by
Simeon D. Fess
Preceded by
Francis E. Warren		 Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
1930–1932		 Succeeded by
Frederick Hale
Party political offices
New title Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Washington
(Class 3)
1914, 1920, 1926, 1932		 Succeeded by
Ewing Colvin
Preceded by
Charles Curtis		 Senate Republican Whip
1924–1929
Acting: 1924–1925		 Succeeded by
Simeon D. Fess
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.