John Frederick Parish (1878-1937) was an attorney in the U.S. State of Arkansas who is most notable for having served in that state's senate from 1933 to 1937 after serving in local offices.
J. Fred Parish | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 29th district | |
| In office January 9, 1933 – January 4, 1937 | |
| Preceded by | R. A. Nelson[1] |
| Succeeded by | Lucien E. Coleman[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Frederick Parish October 24, 1878 Jackson County, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | January 26, 1937 Newport, Arkansas, United States[3] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Blanche Effie Raney[4] |
| Profession | Attorney |
Early life and career
editParish was born to John Wesley and Sarah Elizabeth Parish in 1878 in Jackson County, Arkansas. A few years after his birth, his father served in the Arkansas House of Representatives.[5] He became an attorney, largely practicing in the community of Newport, Arkansas, and argued a few cases in the Arkansas Supreme Court. He also engaged with fraternal organizations such as the freemasons.[6]
Political career
editParish ran in his first election in 1916 when he successfully became Jackson County clerk.[7] In 1922, he ran for and was elected to the position of county judge where he served for two terms.[8][9][3]
In 1932, Parish ran for Arkansas state senate for the 29th district, which at the time covered Jackson, Poinsett, and Mississippi Counties, in the Democratic primaries for the office. His platform called for removal of the poll tax, addition of a second runoff for primaries, and reapportionment of senate seats in the region to remove Mississippi County from the 29th district.[10] The results of the primary, in which incumbent R. A. Nelson also ran, were hotly contested by Nelson on allegations that over 2,000 more votes were cast in Poinsett County than people who had paid the poll tax.[11] Lower courts ruled in favor of Parish. Nelson appealed the case all the way to the state supreme court which upheld the lower ruling.[1] Parish won the general election, going to an assembly that was entirely Democratic and served two terms.[2][3]
Death
editParish died of pneumonia, a complication from influenza that occurred in January 1937. He died in Newport a few weeks after he left his seat in the Arkansas Senate.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Nelson Contest Case Set For October 24th". The Courier News. October 11, 1932.
- ^ a b "Arkansas Senate Composites Pictures". Arkansas State Senate. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Ex-Senator John Fred Parish Victim of Pneumonia". Arkansas Gazette. January 27, 1937. p. 6.
- ^ "Marriage Licenses". Newport Daily Independent. June 9, 1904.
- ^ Dawson, D. W. (1881). "1881 House of Representatives composite photo of the Twenty-Second General Assembly of the State of Arkansas". Arkansas General Assembly Composite Images, 1866–2011. Department of Arkansas Heritage. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ "Attend Masonic Meet". Arkansas Democrat. November 17, 1920.
- ^ "Jackson County Politics". Daily Arkansas Gazette. January 11, 1916.
- ^ "(No title)". Arkansas Democrat. August 9, 1922.
- ^ "Eastern Star Anniversary". The Commercial Appeal. June 26, 1927. p. 19.
- ^ "J. Fred Parish in Senate Race". The Courier News. July 27, 1932.
- ^ "Parish Defeats Senator Nelson". The Courier News. August 13, 1932.