Moses J. Wentworth Explained

Moses J. Wentworth
Birth Name:Moses Jones Wentworth
Birth Date:9 May 1848
Birth Place:Sandwich, New Hampshire
Death Place:Chicago, Illinois
Resting Place:Rosehill Cemetery
Occupation:Lawyer, politician
Children:2
Office:Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Constituency:1st District
Term Start:1875
Term End:1882

Moses Jones Wentworth (1848–1922) was an American lawyer and politician from Chicago, who served as a member of the 29th, 30th, and 31st General Assemblies in the Illinois House of Representatives, from the 1st District.[1] [2] He was elected as a member of the short-lived Illinois Opposition Party.

Biography

Moses J. Wentworth was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire on May 9, 1848. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1863, and from Harvard College in 1868. He moved to Chicago later that year.[2] [3]

He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Chicago Law School, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1871.[2] [3]

While in the Illinois General Assembly, Wentworth introduced the successful statute which required compulsory school attendance in Illinois.[4]

By 1896 he was associated with the Democratic Party, and was a gold Democrat delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention.[5]

He married Lizzie Shaw Hunt on December 7, 1891, and they had two sons. He was the nephew of "Long John" Wentworth, mayor of Chicago, and handled his uncle's business affairs and estate.[2]

Moses J. Wentworth died at his home in Chicago on March 12, 1922, and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Illinois Legislative Manual for 1875, Roster of the Illinois House of Representatives, p. 88
  2. News: Capitalist and Pioneer Expires at 74 . . 1 . 1922-03-12 . 2023-04-21 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Book: Harvard College Class of 1868 Fortieth Anniversary Secretary's Report No. 8 . E. O. Cockayne . Boston . 159–162 . 1908 . 2023-04-21 . Google Books.
  4. Editorial: "Compulsory Schooling in Illinois" Skandinaven April 22, 1879
  5. News: Silver Men Confident; Have No Doubt They Will Control the Chicago Convention; Talk Like Wild Fanatics . . Chicago . 1, 2 . 1896-06-29 . June 30, 1896 . 2023-04-21 . Newspapers.com.