James Franklin McCool (February 24, 1853 - March 2, 1919) was an American Democratic politician and jurist. He was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1882 to 1886 and from 1896 to 1900, and was its Speaker during the latter term.
James F. McCool | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1896 – January 1900 | |
| Preceded by | James K. Vardaman |
| Succeeded by | A. J. Russell |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the Attala County district | |
| In office January 1896 – January 1900 | |
| In office January 1882 – January 1886 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 24, 1853 Fayette County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 1919 (aged 66) Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Biography
editJames Franklin McCool was born in Fayette County, Alabama, on February 24, 1853.[1] His mother, Elender Gray McCool, died when James was young, and James's father, Lafayette McCool, died in the Confederate Army in the Civil War.[1][2][3] McCool then traveled to Mississippi on foot, and made money to get an education.[2] He received his education at Slate Springs College in Calhoun County, Mississippi.[1] He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Laws in 1879.[1][4][3] For five years, he was a teacher in schools in Calhoun and Attala counties.[1][2] He then practiced law in Kosciusko, Attala County, Mississippi.[1][4][5]
Political career
editMcCool was elected to represent Attala County as a Democrat in the Mississippi House of Representatives for the 1882 session.[6][7] He was re-elected for the 1884 session.[5][7] In 1883, the town of McCool, Mississippi, was named after him.[3] McCool was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1888.[2] McCool was re-elected again to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1895 for the 1896–1900 term.[7] He served as the Speaker for this term.[2][7][3] McCool then decided to run for the office of Governor of Mississippi, but withdrew in 1899 before the convention in Jackson.[2] He then was a presidential elector in the 1900 election.[2][3] In January 1903, McCool was appointed Chancellor of Mississippi's 6th Chancery Court district.[1][2][3]
Later life
editMcCool died on March 2, 1919, in Kosciusko, Mississippi.[1]
Personal life
editMcCool married Mary Niles, the daughter of Jason Niles, in 1881.[1][3] They had one son, named Jason Niles McCool.[1][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Clipped From The Star-Herald". The Star-Herald. 1976-09-09. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Article from 7 Jan 1903 issue of The Clarion Ledger (Jackson Ms) about J F McCool". Clarion-Ledger. 1903-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Rowland, Dunbar (1907). Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. Southern Historical Publishing Association. pp. 571–572. ISBN 978-0-87152-223-8.
- ^ a b University of Mississippi (1894). Catalogue of the Officers and Students of the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, Mississippi. The University. pp. 84, 86.
- ^ a b "1884 House · Mississippi State University Libraries". msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ "1882 House · Mississippi State University Libraries". msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ a b c d Rowland, Dunbar (1917). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. pp. 249, 188.