Moses Jones Wentworth (1848–1922) was an American lawyer and politician from Chicago, who served as a member of the 29th, 30th, and 31st General Assemblies in the Illinois House of Representatives, from the 1st District.[1][2] He was elected as a member of the short-lived Illinois Opposition Party.

Moses J. Wentworth
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1875–1882
Constituency1st District
Personal details
Born
Moses Jones Wentworth

(1848-05-09)May 9, 1848
Sandwich, New Hampshire
DiedMarch 12, 1922(1922-03-12) (aged 73)
Chicago, Illinois
Resting placeRosehill Cemetery
Political party
Spouse
Lizzie Shaw Hunt
(m. 1891)
Children2
Education
OccupationLawyer, politician

Biography

edit

Moses J. Wentworth was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire on May 9, 1848. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1863, and from Harvard College in 1868. He moved to Chicago later that year.[2][3]

 
At Harvard, c. 1868

He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Chicago Law School, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1871.[2][3]

 
Wentworth's grave (front, center) at Rosehill Cemetery

While in the Illinois General Assembly, Wentworth introduced the successful statute which required compulsory school attendance in Illinois.[4]

By 1896 he was associated with the Democratic Party, and was a gold Democrat delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention.[5]

He married Lizzie Shaw Hunt on December 7, 1891, and they had two sons. He was the nephew of "Long John" Wentworth, mayor of Chicago, and handled his uncle's business affairs and estate.[2]

Moses J. Wentworth died at his home in Chicago on March 12, 1922, and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Illinois Legislative Manual for 1875, Roster of the Illinois House of Representatives, p. 88
  2. ^ a b c d e "Capitalist and Pioneer Expires at 74". Chicago Tribune. March 12, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved April 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Harvard College Class of 1868 Fortieth Anniversary Secretary's Report No. 8. Boston: E. O. Cockayne. 1908. pp. 159–162. Retrieved April 21, 2023 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Editorial: "Compulsory Schooling in Illinois" Skandinaven April 22, 1879
  5. ^ "Silver Men Confident; Have No Doubt They Will Control the Chicago Convention; Talk Like Wild Fanatics". The New York Times. Chicago (published June 30, 1896). June 29, 1896. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved April 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.