James Walter Elder (October 5, 1882 – December 16, 1941) was an American lawyer and politician who served one-term as a United States Representative for Louisiana's 5th congressional district from 1913 to 1915.

James W. Elder
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915
Preceded byJoseph E. Ransdell
Succeeded byRiley J. Wilson
State Representative from Catahoula Parish
In office
1900–1904
Preceded byHenry Breithaupt
Succeeded byE. B. Cottingham
Personal details
Born
James Walter Elder

(1882-10-05)October 5, 1882
Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1941(1941-12-16) (aged 59)
Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
Resting placeGreenwood Cemetery in Ruston, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceRuston, Louisiana
Alma materBaylor University
OccupationAttorney

Biography

edit

A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, James W. Elder attended the public schools and from 1895 to 1901 Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He later studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1903, and commenced practice in Farmerville in Union Parish, Louisiana.

Early career

edit

Elder served as mayor of Farmerville before he moved to Monroe in Ouachita Parish to continue his legal practice.

Politics

edit

He was a member of the Louisiana State Senate for one term from 1908 to 1912 and was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress, in which he served from March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1915. He was defeated for renomination in 1914 by Riley J. Wilson.

Later career and death

edit

After leaving Congress, Elder returned to the practice of law in Farmerville. On January 1, 1925, he relocated to Ruston, where he continued the practice of law until his death on December 16, 1941.

He is interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston.

References

edit
  • United States Congress. "James Walter Elder (id: E000102)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 5th congressional district

1913–1915
Succeeded by