Joseph Withers Power (March 2, 1867 - April 5, 1926) was a Mississippi politician and the Secretary of State of Mississippi from 1901 to 1926.
Joseph Withers Power | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 29th Secretary of State of Mississippi | |
| In office September 24, 1901 – April 5, 1926 | |
| Governor | Andrew H. Longino James K. Vardaman Edmond Noel Earl L. Brewer Theodore G. Bilbo Lee M. Russell Henry L. Whitfield |
| Preceded by | John Logan Power |
| Succeeded by | Walker Wood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 2, 1867 Jackson, Mississippi |
| Died | April 5, 1926 (aged 59) Jackson, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Eva Truly m. 1896-1926, his death |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | John Logan Power (father) |
Early life
editJoseph Withers Power was born on March 2, 1867, in Jackson, Mississippi.[1][2][3] He was the son of Irish emigrant John Logan Power, who became the Mississippi Secretary of State from 1893 to 1901, and his wife, Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Power.[1][4] J. W. Power attended public schools in Jackson.[1] Then, he attended Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee.[1][2] After leaving school, he assisted his father in the publishing business and became a bookkeeper.[2]
Political career
editWhen Joseph's father, John Logan Power, was the Secretary of State of Mississippi, he was an assistant in the office of the Secretary of State of Mississippi.[2] After his father's death on September 23, 1901, Mississippi governor A. H. Longino appointed him Secretary of State of Mississippi.[2] He was re-elected in 1903, 1907, and 1911.[1][2][3] In 1923, he defeated Walker Wood in the primary election for the Democratic nomination to the office.[5]
Death
editWhile still the Secretary of State of Mississippi, Power died suddenly in Jackson on April 5, 1926.[6][5] Walker Wood was appointed to the office finish the unfinished term.[5]
Personal life
editPower was a Democrat, member of the Episcopal Church, Freemason, Odd Fellow, and a Knight of Pythias.[2] In 1896, Power married Eva Truly (1868 or 1869 - 1947); her brother Jeff became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi.[2][7] The Powers had three children: Dorothy, Mary, and Josephine Jeffrey "Jo Jeff".[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1908). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 953.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1917). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 498.
- ^ a b Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1912). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 312.
- ^ Mississippi, Royal and Select Masters (Masonic order) Grand Council in the State of (1898). Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in the State of Mississippi.
- ^ a b c "Obituary for Joseph Withers Power". The Winona Times. 1926-04-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Sullivan, Elsie Smiley (1989). Smiley Family Research Data. E. S. Sullivan. p. 162.
- ^ "Obituary for Eva Truly Power". Clarion-Ledger. 1947-01-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-03-26.