Preceded by Levi Ankeny Party Republican Party Preceded by William Carey Jones | Political party Republican Succeeded by Elijah S. Grammer Name Wesley Jones Resigned November 19, 1932 | |
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Born October 9, 1863
Bethany, Illinois ( 1863-10-09 ) Role Former United States Senator Died November 19, 1932, Seattle, Washington, United States | ||
Previous office Senator (WA) 1909–1932 | ||
Wesley livsey jones top 5 facts
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.
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Early life
Jones was born near Bethany, Illinois, the son of Wesley and Phoebe Jones. Jones 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. He attended Southern Illinois College in Enfield, Illinois. He studied law in Chicago while teaching school at night, attained admission to the bar in 1886, and started a law practice in Decatur, Illinois. In 1889, Jones moved to North Yakima, Washington, where he continued to practice law.
Political career
A Republican, in 1898, Jones was elected to represent Washington's at-large congressional district in the House of Representatives. He was reelected four times, and served from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1909.
Jones ran successfully for a seat representing Washington in the United States Senate. He was reelected in 1914, 1920, and 1926; he served from March 3, 1909 until his death.
In the Senate, Jones advanced to a leadership position as Majority Whip, a post he held from 1924 to 1929. 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).
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. 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. 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.
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. His ashes were interred at Bonney-Watson Mortuary in Seattle.
Family
In 1886, Jones married Minda Nelson. They were the parents of two children, daughter Hazel and son Harry B. Hazel Jones was the wife of Arthur Coffin.