James William Stokes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromSouth Carolina's7th district | |
| In office November 3, 1896 – July 6, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Asbury F. Lever |
| In office March 4, 1895 – June 1, 1896 | |
| Preceded by | George W. Murray |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Member ofSouth Carolina Senate | |
| In office 1890 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1853-12-12)December 12, 1853 |
| Died | July 6, 1901(1901-07-06) (aged 47) Orangeburg, South Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Washington and Lee University Vanderbilt University |
| Profession | teacher,farmer |
James William Stokes (December 12, 1853 – July 6, 1901) was aU.S. representative fromSouth Carolina.
Born nearOrangeburg, South Carolina, Stokes attended the common schools and was graduated fromWashington and Lee University,Lexington, Virginia, in 1876. He taught school for 12 years.
He was graduated in medicine fromVanderbilt University,Nashville, Tennessee. He engaged in agricultural pursuits in 1889. He served as president of the StateFarmers' Alliance.
He served as member of theSouth Carolina Senate in 1890. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892.
He was defeated by the African-AmericanGeorge W. Murray for election in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress, but was successful in the 1894 election. He presented credentials as aDemocratic Member-elect to the Fifty-fourth Congress and served from March 4, 1895, to June 1, 1896, when the seat was declared vacant.[further explanation needed]
Stokes was elected as Democrat in a special election to fill the vacancy thus caused. In 1895, South Carolina ratified a new constitution thatdisfranchised black voters. It became a one-party, Democratic state, with contests settled in the primaries. This situation continued until passage of federal civil rights legislation in the 1960s.
Stokes was re-elected as aDemocrat to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses and served from November 3, 1896, until his death inOrangeburg, South Carolina, July 6, 1901. He was interred in Sunnyside Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromSouth Carolina's 7th congressional district 1895–1901 | Succeeded by |
