Jessie Sumner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's18th district | |
| In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | James A. Meeks |
| Succeeded by | Edward H. Jenison |
| Judge ofIroquois County, Illinois | |
| In office December 8, 1937 – December 5, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | John H. Gillan |
| Succeeded by | Stephen C. Malo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1898-07-17)July 17, 1898 Milford, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 1994(1994-08-10) (aged 96) Watseka, Illinois, U.S. |
| Resting place | Maple Grove Cemetery, Milford, Illinois, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Smith College |
| Occupation | Attorney Bank president |
Jessie Sumner (July 17, 1898 – August 10, 1994) was an American attorney and banker from Illinois. ARepublican, she served as aU.S. Representative from 1939 to 1947.
Jessie Sumner was born inMilford, Illinois on July 17, 1898, the daughter of Aaron Taylor Sumner and Jeannette Elizabeth (Gillan) Sumner.[1][2] She attended the public schools of Milford and in 1916 she graduated from theGirton School inWinnetka, Illinois.[3] She then attendedNorthampton, Massachusetts'sSmith College, from which she graduated in 1920 with aAB degree in economics.[4]
After college, Sumner studied law at theUniversity of Chicago Law School,Columbia University, andOxford University.[3] She also studied briefly at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison and theNew York University School of Commerce in New York City.[5] She wasadmitted to the bar in 1923 and practiced inChicago, Illinois.[3] In 1928, Sumner moved to New York City, where she was employed on the legal staff of theChase National Bank.[3] She returned toMilford, Illinois in 1932, resumed the practice of law, and was an unsuccessfulRepublican candidate forIroquois County district attorney.[3][5] Sumner also served as director of Sumner National Bank inSheldon, of which her father was president.[1][5]
In December 1937, Sumner won a special election for judge of Iroquois County, filling the vacancy left by the death of her uncle John H. Gillan.[6] She served until December 1938, when she resigned in preparation to assume her seat in theUnited States House of Representatives.[7] In 1938, Sumner was elected to the U.S. House; she was reelected three times and served from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1947, the76th,77th,78th Congresses.[5] During her congressional service, Sumner was known for her opposition to the presidency ofFranklin D. Roosevelt.[1] She was also an isolationist beforeWorld War II and opposed expansion of the navy and continuation of the pre-war draft.[1] After the war, Sumner opposed theUnited Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration's efforts to rebuild Europe and Asia.[1] She was not a candidate for renomination in 1946, and returned to her Illinois legal and banking interests.[5]
After the end of her congressional term, Sumner resumed her position at Sumner National Bank, where she had been appointed as vice president in 1938.[1] Following the death of her father, in 1966 she succeeded him as the bank's president, and she served until her death.[1] She also managed her family's other business interests, including an insurance company, grain elevators and farms.[1] Sumner died inWatseka, Illinois, on August 10, 1994.[1] She was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Milford.[8]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 18th congressional district 1939-1947 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
| People | |
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