James Yancy Callahan
Encyclopedia
James Yancy Callahan was a late 19th century politician
. Callahan would represent the Oklahoma Territory
as a Delegate
to the United States House of Representatives
from 1887 to 1899. Callahan, as a member of the Free Silver
party, is the only third party
politician to represent Oklahoma
at the federal level
.
Callahan was born near Salem
, Dent County
, Missouri
, on December 19, 1852. He was reared on the farm where he was born, educated in the common school
s, and worked on a farm. He entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1880, continued to engage in agricultural pursuits, sawmill
ing, and mining
. In 1885 he moved to Stanton County, Kansas
, where he lived until 1892. In 1886, a year after James moved to Kansas, he was elected register of deeds for Stanton County. He was reelected in 1888 and served until December 1889, when he resigned and returned to Dent County, Missouri.
In 1892 he moved to Kingfisher County, Oklahoma
, settling near the town of Kingfisher
. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In 1896, Mr. Callahan was nominated for Congressional delegate from Oklahoma Territory
. He was elected by a plurality of less than fifteen hundred, running on the Free Silver
ticket to the 55th United States Congress
(March 4, 1897–March 3, 1899). Callahan was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1898.
After leaving politics Callahan relocated to Enid
, Garfield County
, Oklahoma
, where he published the Jacksonian until January 1, 1913. He retired from active business pursuits in 1913. He claimed to be healed of a chronic ulcer in 1923 after receiving prayer from Rev. P. C. Nelson, an Assemblies of God educator. He resided in Enid, Oklahoma
until his death there on May 3, 1935. He was interred at Enid Cemetery.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Callahan would represent the Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
as a Delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the United States House of Representatives
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 1887 to 1899. Callahan, as a member of the Free Silver
Free Silver
Free Silver was an important United States political policy issue in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Its advocates were in favor of an inflationary monetary policy using the "free coinage of silver" as opposed to the less inflationary Gold Standard; its supporters were called...
party, is the only third party
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...
politician to represent 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...
at the federal level
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
.
Callahan was born near Salem
Salem, Missouri
-External links:* * Historic maps of Salem in the at the University of Missouri...
, Dent County
Dent County, Missouri
Dent County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 14,927. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 15,119. The largest city and county seat is Salem...
, 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...
, on December 19, 1852. He was reared on the farm where he was born, educated in the common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s, and worked on a farm. He entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1880, continued to engage in agricultural pursuits, sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
ing, and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
. In 1885 he moved to Stanton County, Kansas
Stanton County, Kansas
Stanton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,235...
, where he lived until 1892. In 1886, a year after James moved to Kansas, he was elected register of deeds for Stanton County. He was reelected in 1888 and served until December 1889, when he resigned and returned to Dent County, Missouri.
In 1892 he moved to Kingfisher County, Oklahoma
Kingfisher County, Oklahoma
Kingfisher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,384. Its county seat is Kingfisher.-History:...
, settling near the town of Kingfisher
Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Kingfisher is a city in and the county seat of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,380 at the 2000 census. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College.-History:...
. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In 1896, Mr. Callahan was nominated for Congressional delegate from Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
. He was elected by a plurality of less than fifteen hundred, running on the Free Silver
Free Silver
Free Silver was an important United States political policy issue in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Its advocates were in favor of an inflationary monetary policy using the "free coinage of silver" as opposed to the less inflationary Gold Standard; its supporters were called...
ticket to the 55th United States Congress
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
(March 4, 1897–March 3, 1899). Callahan was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1898.
After leaving politics Callahan relocated to Enid
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, Garfield County
Garfield County, Oklahoma
Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma named after President James A. Garfield. As of 2010, the population was 60,580. Enid is the county seat and largest city within Garfield County...
, 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...
, where he published the Jacksonian until January 1, 1913. He retired from active business pursuits in 1913. He claimed to be healed of a chronic ulcer in 1923 after receiving prayer from Rev. P. C. Nelson, an Assemblies of God educator. He resided in Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
until his death there on May 3, 1935. He was interred at Enid Cemetery.
Sources
- A History of Oklahoma, by Joseph B. Throburn and Isaac M. Holcomb, Doub and Company San Francisco 1908
- Ex-Congressman Healed and Filled with Spirit, by P. C. Nelson. Enid, OK: Southwestern Press, 1932.