James S. Davenport

James Sanford Davenport (September 21, 1864 – January 3, 1940) was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma and a member of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. He served on the Congressional committee that created the first roads and highways committee in the U.S. House.[1]

James S. Davenport
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 3rd district
In office
November 16, 1907 – March 3, 1909
Preceded byDistrict Created
Succeeded byCharles E. Creager
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1915
Preceded byCharles E. Creager
Succeeded byCharles D. Carter
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917
Preceded byBird Segle McGuire
Succeeded byThomas Alberter Chandler
Personal details
Born(1864-09-21)September 21, 1864
Gaylesville, Alabama
DiedJanuary 3, 1940(1940-01-03) (aged 75)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and career

Born on a farm near Gaylesville, Alabama, Davenport moved with his parents to Conway, Arkansas, in 1880. He attended the common schools, Vilona (Arkansas) High School, and Greenbrier (Arkansas) Academy. He studied law.

He was admitted to the bar of Faulkner County on February 14, 1890, and commenced practice in Conway. In October of that year, Davenport moved to Muskogee, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), and in 1893 to Vinita, where he engaged in the practice of law.

Political career

He served as member of the Territorial council 1897-1901, serving as speaker the last two years of his term. He was one of the attorneys for the Cherokee Nation from 1901-1907. He served as mayor of Vinita in 1903 and 1904.

Davenport was elected as a Democrat to the 60th Congress on September 17, 1907, and served from November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma was admitted as a State into the Union, until March 3, 1909. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1908 to the 61st Congress.

Davenport was elected to the 62nd, 63rd, and 64th Congresses (March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1916 to the 65th Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Vinita. He was elected judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals in November 1926.

Death

He was reelected in 1932 and served until his death in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 3, 1940. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Oklahoma.

References
  • United States Congress. "James S. Davenport (id: D000074)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  1. Hanneman, Carolyn G., "Davenport, James Sanford (1840-1940)," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived 2010-05-31 at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 27, 2010).
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
District Created		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district
1907-1909		 Succeeded by
Charles E. Creager
Preceded by
Charles E. Creager		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district
1911-1915		 Succeeded by
Charles D. Carter
Preceded by
Bird Segle McGuire		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 1st congressional district
1915-1917		 Succeeded by
Thomas Alberter Chandler
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