James A. Meeks | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 1938 campaign postcard distributed by Friends of Congressman Meeks (Danville, Illinois) | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's18th district | |
| In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1939 | |
| Preceded by | William P. Holaday |
| Succeeded by | Jessie Sumner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1864-03-07)March 7, 1864 Matamoras, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | November 10, 1946(1946-11-10) (aged 82) Danville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Resting place | Spring Hill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Frances R. Pearson (m. 1898)[1] |
| Education | Westfield College Illinois College |
| Profession | Attorney |
James Andrew Meeks (March 7, 1864 – November 10, 1946) was an American attorney and politician fromDanville, Illinois. ADemocrat, he served in local offices including Danville's corporation counsel. He served as aU.S. Representative fromIllinois from 1933 to 1939.
James A. Meeks was born inNew Matamoras, Ohio on March 7, 1864, the son of Moses Meeks and Susan (Hackathorn) Meeks.[1] In 1865, his family relocated toDanville, Illinois, where he was raised and educated.[1] He attendedWestfield College andIllinois College.[1][2] He thenstudied law with Judge E. R. E. Kimbrough, attainedadmission to the bar in 1890, and commenced practice in Danville as Kimbrough's partner.[1] Meeks later practiced in partnership with George F. Rearick, and their general civil practice firm was counsel for several corporations, railroads, and banks, including the First National Bank of Danville, First National Bank ofSidell, Citizens National Bank ofRidge Farm, and Farmers State Bank ofArmstrong.[3] Later partnerships included Meeks & Lowenstein and Meeks & Wise.[4]
Meeks served as master in chancery of the circuit court from 1903 to 1915.[1] DuringWorld War I, he was theVermillion County chairman of the state council of defense.[1] Meeks was active in politics as a Democrat, and frequently campaigned on behalf of the party's local and statewide candidates.[5][6] He was a candidate forgovernor of Illinois in the1924 election.[7] WhenNorman L. Jones won the Democratic nomination, Meeks supported Jones.[8] Meeks was subsequently mentioned that year as a candidate for an at-large seat in theU.S. House but did not run.[9] He was also mentioned in connection with the 1924 nomination forIllinois Secretary of State, but the nomination went to Andrew Olson.[10][11] In 1925, Meeks received thehonorary degree ofMaster of Arts from Jacksonville College.[12]
From 1925 to 1931, Meeks served as Danville's corporation counsel.[1] He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in1920,1924,1928, and1932.[1] At the 1924 convention, Meeks made a seconding speech for the nomination of presidential candidateWilliam Gibbs McAdoo.[13]
In 1932, Meeks was selected as theDemocratic nominee inIllinois's 18th congressional district after the death of the original nominee,Frank Trimble O'Hair.[1][14] Meeks won the election and was reelected in 1934 and 1936. He served from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1939, the73rd,74th, and75th Congresses.[15] During his House tenure, Meeks served on theBanking and Currency Committee.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1938 to the76th Congress.[15]
After leaving Congress, Meeks resumed the practice of law and also engaged in banking.[15] In 1940, he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the77th Congress.[15] Meeks was active in theKnights of Pythias andElks, and was a member of the Vermillion County, Illinois, andAmerican Bar Associations.[3][16] In addition, he was a trustee of Illinois College, and was active in theSigma Pi literary society.[17] He died in Danville on November 10, 1946.[15] Meeks was interred at Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville.[15]
Meeks's wife died in 1962, and her estate later endowed a scholarship fund at Illinois College.[18] The James A. Meeks Memorial Scholarship is awarded to outstanding juniors for academic excellence in History, Political Science, Philosophy and Religion.[19]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 18th congressional district 1933-1939 | Succeeded by |
