James S. Madison (March 26, 1846 – December 25, 1892) was an American politician and planter. He was the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1890 to 1892.
James S. Madison | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1890 – January 1892 | |
| Preceded by | Charles B. Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Hugh McQueen Street |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the Noxubee County district | |
| In office January 1886 – December 25, 1892 Serving with 1890-1892: T. J. O'Neil, C. M. Thomas 1888-1890: J. L. Clemens, C. M. Thomas 1886-1888: J. L. Clemens, J. A. Nicholson | |
| Preceded by | A. W. Simpson J. L. Clemens A. J. Boswell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 26, 1846 Marengo County, AL |
| Died | December 25, 1892 (aged 46) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nettie Carpenter (m. 1876) |
| Children | 6 |
Early life edit
James S. Madison was born on March 26, 1846, in Marengo County, Alabama.[1][2] He was one of ten children of L. W. Madison and his wife, Frances Delilah (Tucker) Madison.[2] James's brother, John E. Madison, would serve in the Mississippi Legislature in 1880. When James was a child, he moved with his parents to Mississippi, first to Lowndes County and then to Noxubee County.[1][2] James attended only the common schools.[1] During the Civil War, Madison served in the Confederate Army.[2] He became a planter and was able to acquire considerable amount of property.[1][2]
Political career edit
Madison was a member of the Democratic Party.[3] After the end of Reconstruction, Madison was elected to the position of the Justice of the Peace of his district.[2] In 1885, he was elected to represent Noxubee County in the Mississippi House of Representatives for the 1886-1888 term.[1][2][4] He was re-elected in 1887 for the 1888-1890 term.[1][2][4] He was re-elected again in 1889 for the 1890-1892 term.[1][2][4] At the start of that term in January 1890, Madison was chosen by acclamation to be the Speaker of the House.[1][2] Madison was, also by acclamation, recommended to be a delegate to Mississippi's Constitutional Convention of 1890, but circumstances prevented him from attending.[2] Madison was re-elected to the House in 1891 for the 1892-1894 term.[1] He died in office of an illness on December 25, 1892.[1]
Legislation edit
In 1888, Madison authored a bill that granted relief to certain Confederate Civil War veterans living in Mississippi.[2] In addition, Madison authored a bill that required chancery clerks to keep ledger accounts against each officer in the state.[2] He also authored a bill that assessed the lands in each county, and a bill that made it a misdemeanor to not pay poll taxes.[2]
Personal life and family edit
Madison married Nettie Carpenter in 1876.[1][2] They had six children, five of whom survived James when he died.[1][2] By 1891, Madison weighed 320 pounds.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l House, Mississippi Legislature (1894). Journal. p. 61.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the State and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy and Illustrious Families and Individuals. Goodspeed. 1891. pp. 385–386.
- ^ "1886 House · Mississippi State University Libraries". msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ a b c Lowry, Robert; McCardle, William H. (1891). A History of Mississippi: From the Discovery of the Great River by Hernando DeSoto, Including the Earliest Settlement Made by the French Under Iberville, to the Death of Jefferson Davis. R.H. Henry & Company. p. 547. ISBN 978-0-7884-4821-8.