John D. Works | |
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| United States Senator fromCalifornia | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 | |
| Preceded by | Frank P. Flint |
| Succeeded by | Hiram Johnson |
| Member of theLos Angeles City Council for the at-large district | |
| In office December 10, 1909 – March 22, 1910 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Frederick J. Whiffen |
| Associate Justice of theCalifornia Supreme Court | |
| In office October 2, 1888 – January 5, 1891 | |
| Appointed by | Robert Waterman |
| Preceded by | Elisha W. McKinstry |
| Succeeded by | Ralph C. Harrison |
| Judge of theSan Diego County Superior Court | |
| In office 1886–1887 | |
| Appointed by | George Stoneman |
| Member of theIndiana House of Representatives fromOhio County andSwitzerland County | |
| In office January 9, 1879 – January 6, 1881 | |
| Preceded by | William Freeman |
| Succeeded by | Stephen H. Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Downey Works (1847-03-29)March 29, 1847 Rising Sun,Indiana,U.S. |
| Died | June 6, 1928(1928-06-06) (aged 81) Los Angeles,California,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Unit | 10th Indiana Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Downey Works (March 29, 1847 – June 6, 1928) was an American politician and lawyer. He was aU.S. Senator representingCalifornia from 1911 to 1917, and an associate justice of theCalifornia Supreme Court from October 2, 1888, to January 5, 1891.
Works was born inOhio County, Indiana, and attended public schools there.[1] During theAmerican Civil War, he served as a member of the10th Regiment of the Indiana Cavalry. Once discharged, he returned home,read law and in 1868 was admitted to the Indiana bar.[2][3] In November 1878, he was elected as a representative in theIndiana General Assembly, serving during the 1879 term.[4] In June 1883, he published a book of practice, pleading and forms to match the revised code of Indiana.[5]
In 1883, Works's poor health forced a move toSan Diego, California, where he became active in theRepublican Party, and rose in California politics. In September 1886, he ran on the Republican ticket, and prior to the election was appointed by GovernorRobert Waterman as a judge of the San Diego County Superior Court.[6][7] In September 1887, he resigned to return to private practice, and Governor Waterman appointed Edwin Parker to fill the vacant seat.[8]
In 1888, Governor Waterman appointed Works as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court to fill a vacancy after the resignation ofElisha W. McKinstry.[9][10][11] In August 1888, the Republican Party nominated Works and he was elected to the remaining portion of McKinstry's term ending January 5, 1891.[12][13] In 1891, after stepping down from the bench, Works became president of the San Diego Sun company, and then returned to private practice with his son in the firm of Works & Works in San Diego.[14][15][16]
In January 1896, Works moved toLos Angeles, California.[17] In 1903, Works served as President of theLos Angeles County Bar Association.[18] On December 7, 1909, he was elected as a member of theLos Angeles City Council, and chosen as its president, but he resigned shortly after on March 22, 1910.
In1911, Works was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served on the committee on Expenditures in the War Department (Sixty-second United States Congress) and the Committee on Fisheries.[19] In February 1917, he and other Progressive Senators, under the moniker "twelve willful men," blocked byfilibuster legislation empowering PresidentWoodrow Wilson to arm merchant vessels prior to the United States enteringWorld War I.[20][21]
Works did not seek renomination to his Senate seat in 1916. TheSeventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for U.S. senators to be elected by the people instead of state legislatures, had been adopted in 1913 but allowed senators serving at the time to finish their terms. Works was the last U.S. senator from California to be elected by the Legislature.
After retiring from the Senate he wrote two books:Duty to Man: A Study of Social Conditions and How They May Be Improved (1919) andWhat's Wrong With the World? (1922).
On June 6, 1928, he died inLos Angeles and his ashes were placed inInglewood Park Cemetery.[22]
On November 7, 1868, he married Alice Banta, inVevay, Indiana, and they had two sons, Thomas L. and Louis R., who became an attorney and practiced with his father, and later the presiding justice of theCourt of Appeal, Second Division;[23][24] as well as five daughters: Josephine (who died as an infant), Ida, Laura, Ethel and Isabel.[25][26] He is said to have been a member of theChurch of Christ, Scientist.[27]
John D. Works [was] admitted to practice in the Superior Court
John D. Works [was] yesterday admitted to practice in the Civil Circuit Court
John D. Works, a former Vevay lawyer, has been appointed superior judge of San Diego, Cal., by the governor, being already the republican candidate for that position at the next election.
Yesterday the Governor issued a certificate of election to John D. Works as Associate Justice for the term expiring January, 1891, vice E. W. McKinstry, resigned.
Judge John D. Works, ex-Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California, Is at the Palace Hotel. Judge Works lives In San Diego, where he has a lucrative legal practice and extensive real estate Interests. He has no desire for political or judicial honors, and declined the nomination three years ago as Chief Justice of the State.
Miss Darling, who graduated from the Los Angeles high school almost three years ago, spent the winter of 1917–18 In Washington, when her grandfather was In the senate, and enjoyed a very brilliant social success.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Office established | President of the Los Angeles City Council 1909–1910 | Succeeded by |
| Los Angeles City Council Member 1909–1910 | Succeeded by Frederick J. Whiffen | |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 1) from California 1911–1917 Served alongside:George C. Perkins,James D. Phelan | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Associate Justice theSupreme Court of California 1888–1891 | Succeeded by |
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| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
