Wesley L. Jones
Wesley L. Jones | |
---|---|
Senate Majority Whip | |
In office November 9, 1924 – March 4, 1929 Acting: November 9, 1924 – March 3, 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 3, 1909 | |
Preceded by | William C. Jones |
Succeeded by | James W. Bryan (1913) |
Personal details | |
Born | Wesley Livsey Jones October 9, 1863 Bethany, Illinois, U.S. |
Died | November 19, 1932 Seattle, Washington, U.S. | (aged 69)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Minda Nelson (m. 1886) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Southern Illinois College, Enfield (BA) |
Wesley Livsey Jones (October 9, 1863 – November 19, 1932) was an
Born near Bethany, Illinois days after the death of his father, who was serving in the Union Army during the American Civil War, Jones grew up working on farms. He taught school before graduating from Southern Illinois College in Enfield, Illinois. He studied law in Chicago, passed the bar, and became active in politics as a Republican. In 1889, he moved to North Yakima, in eastern Washington, where he worked in real estate and practiced law. In 1898, he was elected as a Republican 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. He died soon 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
He passed the bar in 1886, and started a law practice in Decatur, Illinois.[3] He also began to get active in politics, having joined the Republican Party. While living in Illinois, Jones campaigned for James G. Blaine for president in 1884, and for Benjamin Harrison in 1888.[4]
Marriage and family
In 1886 Jones also married Minda Nelson, starting a family.[1] They had two children together, daughter Hazel E. and son Harry B. Jones. [5][1] Hazel Jones later married Arthur Coffin.[5]
Move to Washington state
In 1889, Jones moved to North Yakima, in eastern Washington. It was a developing area near the Yakima River. He worked in the real estate business and continued to practice law.[3]
The town developed near the Yakama Indian Reservation, where several related peoples had been settled since the mid-nineteenth century, when they signed a treaty ceding millions of acres of land to the United States.
Political career
After moving to Washington state, Jones became was active in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. His leadership roles in the organization gave him name recognition that enabled him to begin a political career.[1] 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
In the Senate, Jones advanced to a leadership position as
Jones was a successful advocate for federal investment in the Pacific Northwest. He secured funding for several irrigation projects, which particularly aided farmers in the more arid eastern part of the state. In 1906 he proposed a bill requiring the
Jones also gained construction of a large naval facility, the
Jones was a vocal proponent of prohibition throughout his political career. Initially this aided his popularity, but it likely contributed to his electoral defeat in 1932.[5] The 28-point loss was the second-largest of any major-party nominee in history.[13] More importantly, the Great Depression had set in, and many Republicans lost to Democrats in this election, as voters sought other solutions to growing unemployment. Jones was defeated by Democrat Homer Bone, who swept in with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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.[8] A replacement was appointed to serve until the winner of the election took office in 1933. His ashes were interred at Bonney-Watson Mortuary in Seattle.[8]
See also
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)
References
- ^ a b c d A Biographical History, with Portraits, of Prominent Men of the Great West, p. 685.
- ^ National Magazine, p. 481.
- ^ a b c d e f National Magazine, p. 482.
- ^ a b Who's Who in America, p. 1037.
- ^ a b c "Senator Jones of Washington Dies", p. 1.
- ^ Wesley L. Jones, late a Senator from Washington, p. 5.
- ^ Official Congressional Directory, p. 119.
- ^ a b c d "Biography, Wesley Livsey Jones".
- ^ McWhorter, Lucullus Virgil. "The Crime Against the Yakamas", North Yakima: Republic Print, 1913, p. 2
- ^ Evans, Steven Ross (1996). Voice of the Old Wolf. Pullman: Washington State University Press, p. 5
- ^ "Biographical Notes, Wesley L. Jones Papers, 1896-1932".
- ^ "The Merchant Marine Act of 1920".
- ^ "Senate Forecast: Landrieu Headed Toward Historic Defeat In Louisiana Runoff". FiveThirtyEight. December 5, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
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. p. 685.
- Marquis, Albert Nelson (1910). Who's Who in America. Vol. VI. Chicago, IL: A. N. Marquis & Company.
- United States Congress (1919). Official Congressional Directory. Vol. 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.
External links
- United States Congress. "JONES, Wesley Livsey (id: J000257)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Wesley L. Jones at Find a Grave
- Wesley L. Jones papers - University of Washington
- Media related to Wesley Livsey Jones at Wikimedia Commons