Joseph J. Mansfield
Encyclopedia
Joseph Jefferson Mansfield was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from the U.S. state
of Texas
from 1917-1947.
Mansfield was born on February 9, 1861. He was born in Wayne, West Virginia
. However when he was born this was still part of state of Virginia
. He attended the public schools in West Virginia.
In 1881 he moved to Texas, settling in the community of Alleyton
. Here he worked in farm and railroad laboring jobs.
In 1886 he was admitted to the bar. By this time he had relocated to Eagle Lake, Texas
. This was a busy year for Mansfield, as he also organized two companies of the Texas National Guard
. About this time he also began the first newspaper in Eagle Lake. Mansfield rose to the rank of captain in the National Guard.
In 1889 he was elected mayor
of Eagle Lake. In 1892 he became the county prosecutor of Colorado County where both Alleyton and Eagle Lake are located. From 1896 until 1916 he served as judge
of Colorado County. Until 1910 this also made him the effective superintendent of schools for the county.
He was elected to Congress as a Democrat
in 1916. He served in Congress until his death at Bethesda, Maryland
on July 12, 1947.
From the Seventy-second Congress
until the Seventy-ninth Congress
he served as chairman of the House Committee on Rivers and Harbors
. Mansfield Dam
is named after him.
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 the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from 1917-1947.
Mansfield was born on February 9, 1861. He was born in Wayne, West Virginia
Wayne, West Virginia
Wayne is a town in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,105 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County. Wayne is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. However when he was born this was still part of state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He attended the public schools in West Virginia.
In 1881 he moved to Texas, settling in the community of Alleyton
Alleyton, Texas
Alleyton is an unincorporated area in central Colorado County, in the U.S. state of Texas, on the Colorado River. It is three miles east of Columbus.In 2000 Alleyton had 165 residents.-External links:...
. Here he worked in farm and railroad laboring jobs.
In 1886 he was admitted to the bar. By this time he had relocated to Eagle Lake, Texas
Eagle Lake, Texas
Eagle Lake is a city in southeastern Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,664 at the 2000 census. It is home to a golf course, the largest private lake in Texas, and the Eagle Lake Regional Airport, which services light aircraft....
. This was a busy year for Mansfield, as he also organized two companies of the Texas National Guard
Texas National Guard
The Texas National Guard consists of the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. The Guard is administered by the adjutant general, an appointee of the governor of Texas. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state...
. About this time he also began the first newspaper in Eagle Lake. Mansfield rose to the rank of captain in the National Guard.
In 1889 he was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Eagle Lake. In 1892 he became the county prosecutor of Colorado County where both Alleyton and Eagle Lake are located. From 1896 until 1916 he served as judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of Colorado County. Until 1910 this also made him the effective superintendent of schools for the county.
He was elected to Congress as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1916. He served in Congress until his death at Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, 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 July 12, 1947.
From the Seventy-second Congress
72nd United States Congress
The Seventy-second 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, 1931 to March 4, 1933, during the last two years...
until the Seventy-ninth Congress
79th United States Congress
The Seventy-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1947, during the last months of...
he served as chairman of the House Committee on Rivers and Harbors
United States House Committee on Rivers and Harbors
The House Committee on Rivers and Harbors was a U.S. House committee from 1883 until 1946. It was authorized early in the 48th Congress in December 1883, when the committee was given jurisdiction over subjects relating to the improvements of rivers and harbors; it also had the responsibility of...
. Mansfield Dam
Mansfield Dam
Mansfield Dam is a dam located at across a canyon at Marshall Ford on the Colorado River, northwest of Austin, Texas. Construction of the dam began in 1937 and was completed in 1941 as a joint project by the Lower Colorado River Authority and the United States Bureau of Reclamation...
is named after him.