Xenophon P. Wilfley
Encyclopedia
Xenophon Pierce Wilfley (ˈzɛnəfɒn ˈwɪlfliː; March 18, 1871 May 4, 1931) was a Democratic Party
politician who represented the state of Missouri
in the U.S. Senate for five months in 1918.
Wilfley was born near Mexico, Missouri
, and attended local country schools in his youth. An 1891 graduate of Clarksburg College
, he graduated from Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri
in 1894, teaching there for one year and at Sedalia High School in Sedalia, Missouri
, for three. In 1899 he graduated from Washington University law school and began the practice of law in St. Louis
. From 1917 to 1918 he was the chairman of the city's board of election commissioners; in 1918 he was appointed to the Senate as a Democrat to fill out the term of William J. Stone
, who had died on April 14, 1918. Wilfley served from April 30 to November 5, and was the chairman of the Committee on Industrial Expositions
. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat, being defeated by Joseph Folk, who in turn lost to Republican Selden P. Spencer
in November. After leaving the Senate, Wilfley resumed the practice of law, becoming president of the Missouri Bar Association in 1925. He died in St. Louis and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery
.
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...
politician who represented the state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the U.S. Senate for five months in 1918.
Wilfley was born near Mexico, Missouri
Mexico, Missouri
Mexico is a city in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Audrain County. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County...
, and attended local country schools in his youth. An 1891 graduate of Clarksburg College
Clarksburg College
Clarksburg College was a school in Clarksburg, Missouri beginning in 1877. It was originally named Clarksburg Academy. The first principal was W. J. Hawkins....
, he graduated from Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri
Fayette, Missouri
Fayette is a city in Howard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,793 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County. It is in the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1894, teaching there for one year and at Sedalia High School in Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
, for three. In 1899 he graduated from Washington University law school and began the practice of law in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. From 1917 to 1918 he was the chairman of the city's board of election commissioners; in 1918 he was appointed to the Senate as a Democrat to fill out the term of William J. Stone
William J. Stone
William Joel Stone was a Democratic politician from Missouri who represented his state in the United States House of Representatives from 1885 to 1891, and in the U.S...
, who had died on April 14, 1918. Wilfley served from April 30 to November 5, and was the chairman of the Committee on Industrial Expositions
United States Senate Committee on Industrial Expositions
The Senate Committee on Industrial Expositions was a committee of the United States Senate between 1899 and 1921. It was originally established as a select committee, but became a standing committee in 1909...
. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat, being defeated by Joseph Folk, who in turn lost to Republican Selden P. Spencer
Selden P. Spencer
Selden Palmer Spencer was a United States Senator from Missouri. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, he attended the public schools there and graduated from Yale College in 1884 and from the law school of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1886. He was admitted to the bar, commencing...
in November. After leaving the Senate, Wilfley resumed the practice of law, becoming president of the Missouri Bar Association in 1925. He died in St. Louis and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery may refer to:in the United States* Oak Grove Cemetery Historic Section, listed on the NRHP in Conway, Arkansas* Oak Grove Cemetery , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Prairie County, Arkansas...
.