James W. Mott
Encyclopedia
James Wheaton Mott was a U.S. Representative
from Oregon
. A graduate of Columbia University
and Willamette University
's law school
, he worked as a newspaper reporter, city attorney, and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
.
, Mott moved with his parents to Salem, Oregon
, in 1890. There he attended the public schools, and then the University of Oregon
in Eugene, Stanford University
in California, and finally Columbia University
in New York City where he graduated in 1909. Mott then worked as a newspaper reporter in New York City, San Francisco, California
, and Salem between 1909 and 1917. In Salem he graduated from Willamette University College of Law
in 1917 with a law degree
. He was admitted to the bar
in the same year and commenced practice in Astoria, Oregon
.
During World War I
, Mott served as a seaman first class in the United States Navy
. After the war he returned to Astoria, where he worked as the city attorney from 1920 to 1922. In 1919, he married Ethel Lucile Walling, and they would have three daughters together.
from 1922 to 1928, and again from 1930 to 1932.
Between stints in the House, he moved to Salem in 1929. While in the legislature, he worked as the Corporation Commissioner of Oregon from 1931 to 1932.
In 1932, Mott was elected as a Republican
to the United States House of Representatives
. He was re-elected to five more terms.
While in Congress, he worked towards federal improvements at Tongue Point Naval Base and other Columbia River
projects. In his version of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944, Mott is credited with the first use of the term interstate to refer to the system of express highways that became the federal Interstate Highway System
.
In April and May 1945, Mott traveled to Germany
with a number of other congressmen and senators to tour some of the newly-liberated concentration camps, including Buchenwald on April 24 and Dachau on May 2. Mott helped to put together a special report for the U.S. Senate concerning the atrocities and conditions in the camps.
, on November 12, 1945, his 62nd birthday. He was interred in Salem, Oregon
's City View Cemetery
.
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 Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A graduate of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
's law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
, he worked as a newspaper reporter, city attorney, and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
.
Early life
Born near New Washington, PennsylvaniaNew Washington, Pennsylvania
New Washington is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 89 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Washington is located at ....
, Mott moved with his parents to Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, in 1890. There he attended the public schools, and then the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in California, and finally Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City where he graduated in 1909. Mott then worked as a newspaper reporter in New York City, San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and Salem between 1909 and 1917. In Salem he graduated from Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in 1917 with a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in the same year and commenced practice in Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Mott served as a seaman first class in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. After the war he returned to Astoria, where he worked as the city attorney from 1920 to 1922. In 1919, he married Ethel Lucile Walling, and they would have three daughters together.
Politics
Mott was elected to and served as member of the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
from 1922 to 1928, and again from 1930 to 1932.
Between stints in the House, he moved to Salem in 1929. While in the legislature, he worked as the Corporation Commissioner of Oregon from 1931 to 1932.
In 1932, Mott was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to 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...
. He was re-elected to five more terms.
While in Congress, he worked towards federal improvements at Tongue Point Naval Base and other Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
projects. In his version of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944, Mott is credited with the first use of the term interstate to refer to the system of express highways that became the federal Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
.
In April and May 1945, Mott traveled to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with a number of other congressmen and senators to tour some of the newly-liberated concentration camps, including Buchenwald on April 24 and Dachau on May 2. Mott helped to put together a special report for the U.S. Senate concerning the atrocities and conditions in the camps.
Death
Mott remained in Congress until his death in Bethesda, MarylandBethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, on November 12, 1945, his 62nd birthday. He was interred in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
's City View Cemetery
City View Cemetery
City View Cemetery is a privately owned cemetery in Salem, Oregon, United States that was established in 1893. Its Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, opened in 1914, contains the remains of seven Governors of Oregon.-History:...
.