James S. Davenport
Encyclopedia
James Sanford Davenport 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
.
, 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.
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.
, January 3, 1940. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Oklahoma
.
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 Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and a member of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Court System, the judicial branch of the Oklahoma state government....
. He served on the Congressional committee that created the first roads and highways committee in the U.S. House
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...
.
Early life and career
Born on a farm near Gaylesville, AlabamaGaylesville, Alabama
Gaylesville is a town in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.Gaylesville was the late 19th & early 20th century home to Isaac Knowles, born in the West Indies...
, Davenport moved with his parents to Conway, Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
, 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
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Conway
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
. In October of that year, Davenport moved to Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), and in 1893 to Vinita
Vinita, Oklahoma
Vinita is a city in south-central Craig County, Oklahoma. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is the county seat of Craig County.-Geography:...
, 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 NationCherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
from 1901-1907. He served as 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 Vinita in 1903 and 1904.
Davenport was elected 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...
to the 60th Congress
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth 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 March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
on September 17, 1907, and served from November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma was admitted as a 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...
into the Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, until March 3, 1909. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1908 to the 61st Congress
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first 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 March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
.
Davenport was elected to the 62nd
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
, 63rd
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
, and 64th
64th United States Congress
The Sixty-fourth 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 March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917, during the third and fourth...
Congresses (March 4, 1911-March 3, 1917). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1916 to the 65th Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth 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 March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
. He resumed the practice of law in Vinita. He was elected judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Court System, the judicial branch of the Oklahoma state government....
in November 1926.
Death
He was reelected in 1932 and served until his death in Oklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, January 3, 1940. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Oklahoma
Vinita, Oklahoma
Vinita is a city in south-central Craig County, Oklahoma. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is the county seat of Craig County.-Geography:...
.