James W. Wadsworth Explained

James W. Wadsworth
Office:Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
Term Start:November 8, 1881
Term End:March 3, 1885
Predecessor:Elbridge G. Lapham
Successor:Sereno E. Payne
Constituency1: (1891–93)
(1893–1903)
(1903–07)
Term Start1:March 4, 1891
Term End1:March 3, 1907
Predecessor1:John G. Sawyer
Successor1:Peter A. Porter
Office4:New York State Comptroller
Term Start4:January 1, 1880
Term End4:December 31, 1881
Governor4:Alonzo B. Cornell
Predecessor4:Frederic P. Olcott
Successor4:Ira Davenport
Office5:Member of the New York State Assembly from Livingston County
Term Start5:January 1, 1878
Term End5:December 31, 1879
Predecessor5:Jonathan B. Morey
Successor5:Archibald Kennedy
Birth Name:James Wolcott Wadsworth
Birth Date:12 October 1846
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Death Place:Washington, D.C.
Resting Place:Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York
Education:Hopkins School
Party:Republican
Parents:James S. Wadsworth
Mary Craig Wharton
Children:James W. Wadsworth, Jr.
Allegiance:United States of America
Union
Branch:United States Army
Union Army
Serviceyears:1864 - 1865
Rank:Brevet Major
Battles:American Civil War

James Wolcott Wadsworth (October 12, 1846  - December 24, 1926)[1] was an American farmer, soldier and statesman.

Early life

Wadsworth was born in Philadelphia to General James Samuel Wadsworth and Mary Craig (née Wharton) Wadsworth. His brothers were Charles Frederick Wadsworth and Craig Wharton Wadsworth, the father of Craig Wharton Wadsworth, Jr. His elder sister, Cornelia Wadsworth Ritchie Adair became prominent as matriarch of Glenveagh Castle in County Donegal, Ireland, and the large JA Ranch in the Texas Panhandle.[2] His younger sister, Elizabeth S. Wadsworth, married firstly Arthur Post in 1875, and secondly in 1889, as a widow, Arthur Smith-Barry, 1st Baron Barrymore, becoming Lady Barrymore.

His paternal grandfather, James Wadsworth, and his grandfather's brother, William Wadsworth, moved from Durham, Connecticut, and were the original settlers of Geneseo.[3] [4] [5]

He was educated at the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut, preparing to attend Yale, however, he did not attend, instead joining the Army in 1864.

Career

In 1864, Wadsworth joined the Union army and served during the Civil War. On January 24, 1865, he was awarded a brevet major for "gallant and meritorious service at the Battle of Five Forks, Va." He honorably mustered out June 25, 1865.

Political career

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Livingston Co.) in 1878 and 1879. He served as the New York State Comptroller from January 1, 1880, to December 31, 1881, elected at the New York state election, 1879.

He was elected to the 47th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Elbridge G. Lapham, and re-elected to the 48th United States Congresses, serving from December 5, 1881, to March 3, 1885. In 1885,[6] he ran again for State Comptroller but was defeated by Democrat Alfred C. Chapin.[7]

He ran again in 1890[8] and was elected the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th and 59th United States Congresses, serving from March 4, 1891, to March 3, 1907.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] He was talked about as a candidate for Governor of New York, but did not run.[14] [15] In 1906, he was defeated for re-election by Peter A. Porter.[16]

He was a delegate to the 1884 and 1904 Republican National Conventions.[17] He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1915.[18]

Personal life

On September 14, 1876,[19] he was married to Louise Travers (1848–1931),[20] [21] the daughter of wealthy New York lawyer, William R. Travers,[22] [23] and granddaughter of U.S. Senator and U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom Reverdy Johnson.[24] Together, they were the parents of:[25]

Wadsworth died on December 24, 1926, in Washington, D.C. He was buried at the Temple Hill Cemetery in Geneseo, New York. His gravestone reads: "Soldier in the Civil War / Public Servant / Patron of Sport / Farmer all his Days".[1] His widows died in 1931.[20]

Descendants

His grandson, James Jeremiah Wadsworth (1905–1984), served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.[31] His granddaughter, Evelyn Wadsworth (1903–1972), married William Stuart Symington, Jr. (1901–1988), the first Secretary of the Air Force and a Democratic U.S. Senator from Missouri, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960. His great-grandson, James Wadsworth Symington (b. 1927) served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri as a Democrat and his great-great grandson, William Stuart Symington IV (b. 1952), is currently serving as the United States Ambassador to Nigeria and was the former U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic.[32]

Legacy and honors

He received an honorary A.M. degree from Yale University in 1898.[19]

The Wadsworth Hospital, Theatre and Chapel at the Sawtelle Veterans Home in Los Angeles, California, are named in his honor.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Historic Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, NY . 2023-01-11 . Temple Hill Cemetery.
  2. http://www.ranches.org/JAranch.htm History of the JA Ranch
  3. Book: Pearson. Henry Greenleaf. James S. Wadsworth of Geneseo: brevet Major-General of United States Volunteers. 1913. C. Scribner's Sons. New York. 9780598756053. 7 April 2017. en.
  4. Web site: Mahood. Wayne. James Wadsworth. www.crookedlakereview.com. Crooked Lake Review. 7 April 2017. Fall 2003.
  5. Web site: WADSWORTH FAMILY COLLECTION SUNY GENESEO. SUNY Geneseo. 7 April 2017.
  6. News: MR. WADSWORTH'S CANDIDACY.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 11 September 1885.
  7. News: IRA DAVENPORT AS CONTROLLER.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 26 September 1885.
  8. News: IN FAVOR OF HASKINS.; WYOMING COUNTY REPUBLICANS WANT HIM FOR CONGRESSMAN.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 30 July 1890.
  9. News: FASSETT -- WADSWORTH -- WHITE.; HOW FASSETT WON AND THE OTHER TWO FELL BY THE WAYSIDE.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 5 October 1891.
  10. News: THE CASE OF MR. WADSWORTH.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 7 October 1891.
  11. News: WADSWORTH QUITS WORK; PLATT'S BOODLE CIRCULAR FORCES HIS CASHIER TO RESIGN. HAS A CONGRESSMAN-ELECT HE THINKS THAT HE HAS BEEN VIOLATING THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW IN SOLICITING CAMPAIGN FUNDS.. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 6 October 1891.
  12. News: Editorial Article 1 -- No Title. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 6 October 1891.
  13. News: FIGHTING FOR SECOND PLACE; REPUBLICANS AT SARATOGA TRYING TO OVERRIDE PLATT. Vigorous Protests Against the Boss's Scheme of Nominating Wadsworth for Lieutenant Governor -- Morton's Nomination for Governor a Certainty -- Nevertheless Fassett, Russell, and Butterfield Still Consider that They Are in the Field.. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 17 September 1894.
  14. News: SIX WADSWORTH COUNTIES; THE SEEMING LIMIT OF HIS FOLLOWING FOR GOVERNOR. Relations of the Candidate with Mr. Platt Are Friendly Now -- Judge Coyne's Influence in Livingston County and the Belief There that He Is a Rising Manager -- Mixed Situation in Respect to Bryan and McKinley.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 9 August 1896.
  15. News: ALDRIDGE'S FRIENDS ALARMED.; Growth of Wadsworth Boom Something They Do Not Understand.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 20 August 1896.
  16. News: Times. Special To The New York. WADSWORTH NOMINATED, BUT ON COUNTY SULKS; Representative Causes Anger by Denouncing Peter A. Porter. HIS OPPONENTS NOW UNITED Democratic Convention Indorses Porter Who Is Running as an Independent Republican. . 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 30 September 1906.
  17. News: BELMONT MAY LEAVE STATE RACING BOARD; Higgins Likely to Appoint J.W. Wadsworth in His Place. TOO MANY TURF OFFICES? Then If Wadsworth Is Chosen a Way to Congress Will Be Cleared for Senator Stevens.. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 20 June 1905.
  18. Web site: WADSWORTH, James Wolcott - Biographical Information. bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 10 May 2017.
  19. Book: Leonard. John William. Mohr. William Frederick. Knox. Herman Warren. Holmes. Frank R.. Downs. 0infield Scott. Who's who in New York (city and State). 1918. Who's who publications, Incorporated. 10 May 2017. en.
  20. News: WADSWORTH DIES. 10 May 2017. The Burlington Hawk-Eye. May 6, 1931. 2. en.
  21. Book: Social Register: Summer VOL. XIV No. 19. 1900. Social Register Association.. 10 May 2017. en.
  22. News: JOHN TRAVERS'S ESTATE.. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 23 May 1888.
  23. News: A BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT.. 11 May 2017. The New York Times. 10 February 1885.
  24. News: William R. Travers, well known for the last 30 years in Wall-Street, in the leading clubs, and in society in this city, died in Bermuda March 19. He was unconscious during the last hours, when his wife, his son, R.J. Travers, his daughter Susie, and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Duer, stood around his bed. . William R. Travers Dead; Final Rest Of A Man Universally Popular. Dying At Bermuda After A Long And Languishing Illness. Sketch Of His Career. . . March 28, 1887 . 2007-06-01 .
  25. Book: Who's who in the Nation's Capital 1921-22. 1921. Consolidated Publishing Company. 10 May 2017. en.
  26. Web site: WADSWORTH, James Wolcott, Jr. - Biographical Information. bioguide.congress.gov. 2016-11-08.
  27. News: SENATOR WADSWORTH; JAMES W. WADSWORTH JR.: A Biographical Sketch. By Henry F. Holthusen. Preface by the Hon. Elihu Root. Illustrated. 243 pp. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. $2.50.. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 31 October 1926.
  28. News: Fletcher Harper, Authority On Fox Hunting, Dies at 89. 10 May 2017. The New York Times. 5 November 1963.
  29. The Spur, Vol. XII Number 1. 1 January 1913. 10 May 2017. Angus Company. en.
  30. Book: Winants. Peter. Foxhunting with Melvin Poe. August 12, 2002. Derrydale Press. 9781461734673. 10 May 2017. en.
  31. News: Treaster. Joseph B.. JAMES J. WADSWORTH DIES AT 78; HEADED U.S. DELEGATION TO U.N.. 7 April 2017. The New York Times. 15 March 1984.
  32. Web site: Symington, W. Stuart . State.gov . 2005-01-30 . 2016-05-12.

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