James Benjamin Aswell

James Benjamin Aswell Sr. (December 23, 1869 – March 16, 1931) was a prominent educator and a Democratic U.S. representative from Louisiana, who served from 1913 until his death, which occurred twelve days into his tenth term.

James Benjamin Aswell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1913  March 16, 1931
Preceded bydistrict created
Succeeded byJohn H. Overton
President of Louisiana Tech University
In office
1900–1904
Preceded byW. C. Robinson
Succeeded byW. E. Taylor
Louisiana Superintendent of Education
In office
1904–1908
Succeeded byT. H. Harris
President of Northwestern State University
In office
1908–1911
Preceded byBeverly C. Caldwell
Succeeded byVictor L. Roy
Personal details
Born(1869-12-23)December 23, 1869
Vernon, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, US
DiedMarch 16, 1931(1931-03-16) (aged 61)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeRock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materPeabody College
University of Nashville
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas School of Law
OccupationTeacher; lawyer; politician

Life and career

Aswell was born in the Vernon community in rural Jackson Parish in north Louisiana to Benjamin W. and Elizabeth A. (Lyles) Aswell . He graduated with teaching credentials in 1892 from Peabody College. In 1893, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nashville, and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville the following year. In 1907, he obtained his law degree from the same institution.[1]

He was a state school administrator before he was selected to be president of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, now Louisiana Tech University, in 1900. He resigned in 1904 after being elected as Louisiana Superintendent of Education in 1904. He resigned his position in 1908 to be president of Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State University. Aswell resigned his position in 1911 to run unsuccessfully for governor in the 1912 Democratic primary. He was defeated by Luther E. Hall, who served in the state's highest office from 1912 to 1916.[2]

Later that year, Aswell was elected to the U.S. House from the newly-created 8th congressional district, based around Natchitoches and Alexandria. TAswell was reelected nine times. During the 1920s, he was the ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee. He worked with the Louisiana naturalist Caroline Dormon to establish the Kisatchie National Forest in his district.[1]

He died in Washington, D.C., and is interred there in Rock Creek Cemetery.[3]

References

  1. "James B. Aswell Papers" (PDF). Louisiana State University.
  2. Ohles, John F., ed. (1978). Biographical Dictionary of American Educators. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313040122.
  3. United States Congress. "ASWELL, James Benjamin (id: A000321)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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