Beman Gates Dawes (January 14, 1870 – May 15, 1953) was a politician and oil executive who served two terms as a Republican Congressman from Ohio from 1905 to 1909.

Beman Gates Dawes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 15th district
In office
March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1909
Preceded byH. Clay Van Voorhis
Succeeded byJames Joyce
Personal details
Born(1870-01-14)January 14, 1870
Marietta, Ohio, US
DiedMay 15, 1953(1953-05-15) (aged 83)
Newark, Ohio, US
Resting placeDawes Arboretum
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBertie Burr
Parent(s)Rufus Dawes
Mary Beman Gates
Alma materMarietta College

Biography edit

Dawes, a descendant of American Revolution hero William Dawes and the son of American Civil War Brevet Brigadier General Rufus R. Dawes, was born in Marietta, Ohio. Three brothers also gained international prominence in politics and business: Charles G. Dawes, Rufus C. Dawes, and Henry May Dawes.

Beman attended the public schools of Marietta and graduated from Marietta College with the Class of 1890. He married Bertie Burr on October 3, 1894. Dawes engaged in agriculture and engineering, and became interested in public utilities. He was President of The Ohio River Bridge & Ferry Company in 1903 when the Williamstown–Marietta Bridge was constructed. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th District from 1905 to 1909, the Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth United States Congresses. After his retirement from Congress, Dawes became interested in the production of oil and the building of electric railways. Along with his wife, he founded the Dawes Arboretum, an endowed institution dedicated to the education of youth. In 1914, he was elected president and chairman of the board of directors of the Pure Oil Company.

Death edit

Beman Gates Dawes died in Newark, Ohio. His body was entombed in a mausoleum at the Dawes Arboretum.

References edit

  • United States Congress. "Beman Gates Dawes (id: D000146)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-12-29
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by U.S. Representative from Ohio's 15th Congressional District
1905-1909
Succeeded by