Summary
Charles Stewart Voorhees (June 4, 1853 – December 26, 1909) was an American lawyer and a two-term delegate to the U.S. Congress from the Territory of Washington.
Charles Stewart Voorhees | |
|---|---|
 image from The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), March 25, 1888 | |
| Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from Washington Territory | |
| In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Brents |
| Succeeded by | John B. Allen |
| Prosecuting Attorney of Whitman County, Washington | |
| In office 1882–1886 | |
| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | James V. O'Dell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 4, 1853 Covington, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 1909 (aged 56) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Resting place | Greenwood Cemetery, Spokane, Washington |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Frances "Fanny" Belle Vajen (m. 1888-1909, his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Daniel Wolsey Voorhees Anna Hardesty Voorhees |
| Education | Wabash College Georgetown College |
| Profession | Attorney |
Biography edit
Voorhees was born in Covington, Indiana on June 4, 1853, a son of Anna Hardesty Voorhees and Daniel Wolsey Voorhees, who served in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate from Indiana.[1] He attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and in 1873 he graduated from Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., June 26, 1873.[1]
After graduating from college, Voorhees studied law. He attained admission to the bar in 1875 and commenced practice in Terre Haute, Indiana.[1] In 1882, Voorhees moved to Washington Territory with his friend John L. Wilson, and settled in Colfax to establish a law practice.[1] From 1882 to 1886 he served as prosecuting attorney of Whitman County.[1]
A Democrat, in 1884 Voorhees was elected as Washington's territorial delegate.[1] He was reelected in 1886 and served in the 49th and 50th Congresses (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889).[1] During the 50th Congress, the U.S. House and Senate passed the Enabling Act of 1889, which provided the process for Washington Territory to achieve statehood.[2]
In 1888, Voorhees lost reelection to Republican John B. Allen, who served as delegate until Washington joined the Union as a state in November 1889.[2] After leaving Congress, Voorhees resumed the practice of law in Colfax.[1] He later moved to Spokane, where he continued the practice law.[1] He died in Spokane on December 26, 1909.[1] Voorhees was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane.[2]
Family edit
In 1888, Voorhees married Frances "Fanny" Belle Vajen, the daughter of a prominent Indianapolis businessman.[1] They were the parents of a daughter, Anna Belle.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Esarey, Logan (1924). History of Indiana from Its Exploration to 1922. Vol. 4. Dayton, OH: Dayton Historical Publishing Co. pp. 819–820 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c Pettit, Stefanie (July 13, 2016). "Landmarks: Obelisk marks gravesite of Spokane pioneer Charles Voorhees". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, WA.
External links edit
- United States Congress. "Charles Stewart Voorhees (id: V000115)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Charles Stewart Voorhees at Find a Grave
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress