John D. Works Explained

John D. Works
Birth Name:John Downey Works
Jr/Sr:United States Senator
State:California
Term Start:March 4, 1911
Term End:March 3, 1917
Predecessor:Frank P. Flint
Successor:Hiram Johnson
Office1:Member of the Los Angeles City Council for the at-large district
Term1:December 10, 1909 – March 22, 1910
Predecessor1:Office established
Successor1:Frederick J. Whiffen
Office3:Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
Term Start3:October 2, 1888
Term End3:January 5, 1891
Appointer3:Robert Waterman
Predecessor3:Elisha W. McKinstry
Successor3:Ralph C. Harrison
Office4:Judge of the San Diego County Superior Court
Term Start4:1886
Term End4:1887
Appointer4:George Stoneman
Office5:Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from Ohio County and Switzerland County
Term Start5:January 9, 1879
Term End5:January 6, 1881
Predecessor5:William Freeman
Successor5:Stephen H. Stewart
Birth Date:29 March 1847
Birth Place:Rising Sun, Indiana, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Party:Republican
Signature:Signature of John Downey Works.png
Branch:Union Army
Unit:10th Indiana Cavalry Regiment
Battles:American Civil War

John Downey Works (March 29, 1847June 6, 1928) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1911 to 1917, and an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from October 2, 1888, to January 5, 1891.

Biography

Works was born in Ohio County, Indiana, and attended public schools there.[1] During the American Civil War, he served as a member of the 10th Regiment of the Indiana Cavalry. Once discharged, he returned home, read law and in 1868 was admitted to the Indiana bar.[2] [3] In November 1878, he was elected as a representative in the Indiana General Assembly, serving during the 1879 term.[4] In June 1883, he published a book of practice, pleading and forms to match the revised code of Indiana.[5]

In 1883, Works's poor health forced a move to San Diego, California, where he became active in the Republican Party, and rose in California politics. In September 1886, he ran on the Republican ticket, and prior to the election was appointed by Governor Robert Waterman as a judge of the San Diego County Superior Court.[6] [7] In September 1887, he resigned to return to private practice, and Governor Waterman appointed Edwin Parker to fill the vacant seat.[8]

In 1888, Governor Waterman appointed Works as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court to fill a vacancy after the resignation of Elisha W. McKinstry.[9] [10] [11] In August 1888, the Republican Party nominated Works and he was elected to the remaining portion of McKinstry's term ending January 5, 1891.[12] [13] In 1891, after stepping down from the bench, Works became president of the San Diego Sun company, and then returned to private practice with his son in the firm of Works & Works in San Diego.[14] [15] [16]

In January 1896, Works moved to Los Angeles, California.[17] On December 7, 1909, he was elected as a council member of the Los Angeles City Council, and chosen as its president, but he resigned shortly after on March 22, 1910.

In 1911, Works was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served on the committee on Expenditures in the War Department (Sixty-second United States Congress) and the Committee on Fisheries.[18] In February 1917, he and other Progressive Senators, under the moniker "twelve willful men," blocked by filibuster legislation empowering President Woodrow Wilson to arm merchant vessels prior to the United States entering World War I.[19] [20]

After retiring from the Senate he wrote two books: (1919) Duty to Man: A Study of Social Conditions and How They May Be Improved and (1922) What's Wrong With the World?

On June 6, 1928, he died in Los Angeles and his ashes were placed in Inglewood Park Cemetery.[21]

Personal life

On November 7, 1868, he married Alice Banta, in Vevay, Indiana, and they had two sons, Thomas L. and Louis R., who became an attorney and practiced with his father, and later the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Division;[22] [23] as well as five daughters: Josephine (who died as an infant), Ida, Laura, Ethel and Isabel.[24] [25] He is said to have been a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist.[26]

Selected publications

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Johnson. J. Edward. History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1850–1900, vol 1. 1963. Bender Moss Co. San Francisco, CA. 156–161. August 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227124913/http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_1.pdf. December 27, 2016. dead.
  2. News: About the Courts. September 11, 2017. Indianapolis Journal. 100. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 6 May 1873. 2. 4. John D. Works [was] admitted to practice in the Superior Court.
  3. News: Personal. September 11, 2017. Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 4 June 1873. 3. John D. Works [was] yesterday admitted to practice in the Civil Circuit Court.
  4. News: The Legislature. September 11, 2017. Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 13 March 1879. 4.
  5. News: Just published: Practice, Pleading and Forms. September 11, 2017. Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 18 June 1883. 4.
  6. News: County Tickets. September 11, 2017. Daily Alta California. 13528. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 12 September 1886. 41. 5.
  7. News: State News. September 11, 2017. Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 13 October 1886. 1. John D. Works, a former Vevay lawyer, has been appointed superior judge of San Diego, Cal., by the governor, being already the republican candidate for that position at the next election..
  8. News: Superior Court: Judge Parker Takes His Seat-Complimentary Resolutions to Judge Works.. September 11, 2017. Coronado Mercury. 109. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 September 1887. 4.
  9. News: State Republicans. September 11, 2017. Sacramento Daily Union. 137. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 1 August 1888. 59. 2.
  10. News: Young Republicans. September 11, 2017. Coronado Mercury. 70. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 August 1888. 4.
  11. News: Fourth Ward Republicans. September 11, 2017. Coronado Mercury. 72. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 August 1888. 4.
  12. News: Local Brevities. September 11, 2017. Sacramento Daily Union. 97. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 12 December 1888. 60. 2. Yesterday the Governor issued a certificate of election to John D. Works as Associate Justice for the term expiring January, 1891, vice E. W. McKinstry, resigned..
  13. News: The Returns. September 11, 2017. Los Angeles Herald. 36. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 November 1888. 31. 1.
  14. News: Pacific Coast News. September 11, 2017. Sausalito News. 50. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 23 January 1891. 6. 1.
  15. News: A Pert Petition. September 11, 2017. San Francisco Call. 157. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 November 1893. 74. 2.
  16. News: Gossip of the Hotels. September 11, 2017. San Francisco Call. 38. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 July 1893. 74. 6. Judge John D. Works, ex-Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California, Is at the Palace Hotel. Judge Works lives In San Diego, where he has a lucrative legal practice and extensive real estate Interests. He has no desire for political or judicial honors, and declined the nomination three years ago as Chief Justice of the State..
  17. News: Festivities at San Diego. September 11, 2017. Los Angeles Herald. 112. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 January 1896. 45. 9.
  18. News: Latest News. September 11, 2017. Hammond Times. 174. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 12 January 1911. 5. 1.
  19. News: Extra Session of Congress Seems Probable. September 11, 2017. Richmond Palladium (Daily). 100. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 9 March 1917. 42. 1.
  20. Book: Graham. Katherine. Katharine Graham's Washington. 2009. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. New York, NY. 978-0307421517. September 11, 2017. Diary entry for March 1, 1917
  21. News: Former California Solon Dies in L.A.. September 11, 2017. San Bernardino Sun. 99. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 June 1928. 62. 4.
  22. News: Judge Lewis of San Diego County Dead After Week's Illness. September 11, 2017. San Bernardino Sun. UPI. 121. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 December 1920. 48. 1.
  23. News: Justice Finlayson Draws Long Term. September 11, 2017. Los Angeles Herald. 51. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 December 1920. B13.
  24. News: Personal. September 11, 2017. San Bernardino Sun. 23. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 March 1895. 2. 3.
  25. News: L. A. Girl to Marry Tax Expert. September 11, 2017. Los Angeles Herald. 152. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 April 1920. A1. Miss Darling, who graduated from the Los Angeles high school almost three years ago, spent the winter of 1917–18 In Washington, when her grandfather was In the senate, and enjoyed a very brilliant social success..
  26. http://politicalgraveyard.com/group/christian-scientist.html The Political Graveyard: Christian Scientist Politicians

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