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John D. Works

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"Senator Works" redirects here. For the New York State Senate member, see Samuel Works.
John D. Works
United States Senator
from California
In office
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917
Preceded byFrank P. Flint
Succeeded byHiram Johnson
Member of the Los Angeles City Council for the at-large district
In office
December 10, 1909 – March 22, 1910
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byFrederick J. Whiffen
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
October 2, 1888 – January 5, 1891
Appointed byRobert Waterman
Preceded byElisha W. McKinstry
Succeeded byRalph C. Harrison
Judge of the San Diego County Superior Court
In office
1886–1887
Appointed byGeorge Stoneman
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from Ohio County and Switzerland County
In office
January 9, 1879 – January 6, 1881
Preceded byWilliam Freeman
Succeeded byStephen H. Stewart
Personal details
Born
John Downey Works

(1847-03-29)March 29, 1847
Rising Sun, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJune 6, 1928(1928-06-06) (aged 81)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Alice Banta
​
(m. 1868)​
Signature
Military service
Branch/serviceUnion Army
Unit10th Indiana Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

John Downey Works (March 29, 1847 – June 6, 1928) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1911 to 1917, and an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from October 2, 1888, to January 5, 1891.

Biography

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Works in 1909

Works was born in Ohio County, Indiana, and attended public schools there.[1] During the American Civil War, he served as a member of the 10th 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 the Indiana 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 to San Diego, California, where he became active in the Republican Party, and rose in California politics. In September 1886, he ran on the Republican ticket, and prior to the election was appointed by Governor Robert 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 of Elisha 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 to Los Angeles, California.[17] On December 7, 1909, he was elected as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, and chosen as its president, but he resigned shortly after on March 22, 1910.

In 1911, 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.[18] In February 1917, he and other Progressive Senators, under the moniker "twelve willful men," blocked by filibuster legislation empowering President Woodrow Wilson to arm merchant vessels prior to the United States entering World War I.[19][20]

Works did not seek renomination to his Senate seat in 1916. The Seventeenth 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) and What's Wrong With the World? (1922).

On June 6, 1928, he died in Los Angeles and his ashes were placed in Inglewood Park Cemetery.[21]

Personal life

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On November 7, 1868, he married Alice Banta, in Vevay, 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 the Court of Appeal, Second Division;[22][23] as well as five daughters: Josephine (who died as an infant), Ida, Laura, Ethel and Isabel.[24][25] He is said to have been a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist.[26]

Notes

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  1. ^ Johnson, J. Edward (1963). History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1850–1900, vol 1 (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bender Moss Co. pp. 156–161. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "About the Courts". Indianapolis Journal. Vol. 2, no. 100. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 6 May 1873. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017. John D. Works [was] admitted to practice in the Superior Court
  3. ^ "Personal". Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 4 June 1873. p. 3. Retrieved September 11, 2017. John D. Works [was] yesterday admitted to practice in the Civil Circuit Court
  4. ^ "The Legislature". Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 13 March 1879. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "Just published: Practice, Pleading and Forms". Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 18 June 1883. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "County Tickets". Daily Alta California. Vol. 41, no. 13528. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 12 September 1886. p. 5. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "State News". Indianapolis News. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 13 October 1886. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2017. 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.
  8. ^ "Superior Court: Judge Parker Takes His Seat-Complimentary Resolutions to Judge Works". Coronado Mercury. No. 109. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 September 1887. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "State Republicans". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 59, no. 137. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 1 August 1888. p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  10. ^ "Young Republicans". Coronado Mercury. No. 70. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 August 1888. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Fourth Ward Republicans". Coronado Mercury. No. 72. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 August 1888. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Local Brevities". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 60, no. 97. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 12 December 1888. p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2017. 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.
  13. ^ "The Returns". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 31, no. 36. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 November 1888. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  14. ^ "Pacific Coast News". Sausalito News. Vol. 6, no. 50. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 23 January 1891. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  15. ^ "A Pert Petition". San Francisco Call. Vol. 74, no. 157. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 November 1893. p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  16. ^ "Gossip of the Hotels". San Francisco Call. Vol. 74, no. 38. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 July 1893. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2017. 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.
  17. ^ "Festivities at San Diego". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 45, no. 112. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 January 1896. p. 9. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  18. ^ "Latest News". Hammond Times. Vol. 5, no. 174. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 12 January 1911. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  19. ^ "Extra Session of Congress Seems Probable". Richmond Palladium (Daily). Vol. 42, no. 100. Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 9 March 1917. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  20. ^ Graham, Katherine (2009). Katharine Graham's Washington. New York, NY: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0307421517. Retrieved September 11, 2017. Diary entry for March 1, 1917
  21. ^ "Former California Solon Dies in L.A." San Bernardino Sun. Vol. 62, no. 99. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 June 1928. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  22. ^ "Judge Lewis of San Diego County Dead After Week's Illness". San Bernardino Sun. Vol. 48, no. 121. California Digital Newspaper Collection. UPI. 31 December 1920. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  23. ^ "Justice Finlayson Draws Long Term". Los Angeles Herald. No. 51. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 December 1920. p. B13. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  24. ^ "Personal". San Bernardino Sun. Vol. 2, no. 23. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 March 1895. p. 3. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  25. ^ "L. A. Girl to Marry Tax Expert". Los Angeles Herald. No. 152. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 April 1920. p. A1. Retrieved September 11, 2017. 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.
  26. ^ The Political Graveyard: Christian Scientist Politicians at politicalgraveyard.com

Selected publications

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Downey Works.
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 the Supreme Court of California
1888–1891 		Succeeded by
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