Summary
James Sanford Davenport (September 21, 1864 – January 3, 1940) was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma and a member of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. He served on the Congressional committee that created the first roads and highways committee in the U.S. House.[1]
James S. Davenport | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma | |
| In office November 16, 1907 – March 3, 1909 | |
| Preceded by | District Created |
| Succeeded by | Charles E. Creager |
| Constituency | 3rd district |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 | |
| Preceded by | Charles E. Creager |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Alberter Chandler |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1911–1915) 1st district (1915–1917) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 21, 1864 Gaylesville, Alabama |
| Died | January 3, 1940 (aged 75) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
Early life and career edit
Born on a farm near Gaylesville, Alabama, Davenport moved with his parents to Conway, Arkansas, in 1880. He attended the common schools, Vilona (Arkansas) High School, and Greenbrier (Arkansas) Academy. He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar of Faulkner County on February 14, 1890, and commenced practice in Conway. In October of that year, Davenport moved to Muskogee, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), and in 1893 to Vinita, where he engaged in the practice of law.
Political career edit
He served as member of the Territorial council 1897-1901, serving as speaker the last two years of his term. He was one of the attorneys for the Cherokee Nation from 1901-1907. He served as mayor of Vinita in 1903 and 1904.
Davenport was elected as a Democrat to the 60th Congress on September 17, 1907, and served from November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma was admitted as a State into the Union, until March 3, 1909. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1908 to the 61st Congress.
Davenport was elected to the 62nd, 63rd, and 64th Congresses (March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1916 to the 65th Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Vinita. He was elected judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals in November 1926.
Death edit
He was reelected in 1932 and served until his death in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 3, 1940. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Oklahoma.
Electoral history edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James S. Davenport | 26,370 | 52.73 | ||
| Republican | Frank C. Hubbard | 23,643 | 47.27 | ||
| Total votes | 50,013 | 100.00 | |||
| Democratic win (new seat) | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles E. Creager | 24,952 | 48.30 | |
| Democratic | James S. Davenport (incumbent) | 23,881 | 46.23 | |
| Socialist | Winston T. Banks | 2,827 | 5.47 | |
| Total votes | 51,660 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
References edit
- United States Congress. "James S. Davenport (id: D000074)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Hanneman, Carolyn G., "Davenport, James Sanford (1840-1940) Archived 2008-12-31 at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived 2010-05-31 at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 27, 2010).
- ^ "OK District 03 Race - Sep 17, 1907". Our Campaigns. April 25, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ "OK District 03 Race - Nov 03, 1908". Our Campaigns. April 25, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
External links edit
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Davenport, James
- James S. Davenport at Find a Grave