James Sheakley
Encyclopedia
James Sheakley was an American
Democratic politician
who was the Governor of the District of Alaska
from 1893 to 1897. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
from 1875 to 1877.
, Pennsylvania
. He attended the Meadville Academy in Meadville, Pennsylvania
. He learned the trade of cabinetmaker, and moved to California
in 1851 and engaged in the mining of gold
. He returned to Pennsylvania and settled in Greenville, Pennsylvania
in 1855. He became engaged in mercantile pursuits and in 1864 began in the production and shipment of petroleum. He served as the school director of Greenville from 1864 to 1868.
Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1892.
in July 1887 and served five years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in the United States District Court of Alaska in 1888. He was elected Governor of Alaska from 1893 to 1897.
He returned to Greenville in 1898, and was elected mayor of Greenville, serving from 1909 to 1913. He was elected justice of the peace in 1914 and served until his death in Greenville. Interment in Shenango Valley Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was the Governor of the District of Alaska
District of Alaska
The District of Alaska was the governmental designation for Alaska from May 17, 1884 to August 24, 1912, when it became Alaska Territory. Previously it had been known as the Department of Alaska. At the time, legislators in Washington, D.C., were occupied with post-Civil War reconstruction issues,...
from 1893 to 1897. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1875 to 1877.
Early life
James Sheakley was born in SheakleyvilleSheakleyville, Pennsylvania
Sheakleyville is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 164 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He attended the Meadville Academy in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
. He learned the trade of cabinetmaker, and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1851 and engaged in the mining of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. He returned to Pennsylvania and settled in Greenville, Pennsylvania
Greenville, Pennsylvania
Greenville is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Located along the Shenango River, Greenville is roughly 80 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Greenville is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is home to 570,000 people...
in 1855. He became engaged in mercantile pursuits and in 1864 began in the production and shipment of petroleum. He served as the school director of Greenville from 1864 to 1868.
United States House of Representatives
Sheakley was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1892.
Alaska
He was appointed the United States commissioner of schools of Alaska by President Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
in July 1887 and served five years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in the United States District Court of Alaska in 1888. He was elected Governor of Alaska from 1893 to 1897.
He returned to Greenville in 1898, and was elected mayor of Greenville, serving from 1909 to 1913. He was elected justice of the peace in 1914 and served until his death in Greenville. Interment in Shenango Valley Cemetery.