Harris Ellsworth
Encyclopedia
Mathew Harris Ellsworth (September 17, 1899 – February 7, 1986) was a Republican
U.S. congressman
from Oregon
.
, Ellsworth moved together with his parents to Eugene, Oregon
and later to nearby Wendling
, where he attended public schools. In 1922, he graduated with a journalism
degree from the University of Oregon
. He worked in the newspaper and lumber industries in the 1920s, and was an associate professor of journalism at the University of Oregon in 1928 and 1929. While serving as manager of the Oregon Newspaper Association, in 1929, he purchased an interest in The Roseburg
News-Review
, eventually becoming its editor and publisher. Ellsworth helped to bring a Veteran's Administration hospital to Roseburg
, which provided construction jobs to the area hard-hit by the Great Depression
. In 1936, he was instrumental in bringing KRNR radio on the air, one of Oregon's first radio stations based outside of Portland
.
. In 1942, Ellsworth was elected to the United States House of Representatives
, representing Oregon's 4th congressional district
, which had just been established after the 1940 census
. He served seven terms, and sat on the House Appropriations Committee and House Rules Committee. In the 1956 election, he was narrowly defeated by Democrat
Charles O. Porter
, whom Ellsworth had defeated two years earlier.
After losing the election, Ellsworth was appointed by President Eisenhower
to a two-year term as chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission
, serving until February 28, 1959.
. He retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico
in the 1970s, where he lived until his death on February 7, 1986. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Early life
Born in Hoquiam, WashingtonHoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
, Ellsworth moved together with his parents to Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and later to nearby Wendling
Wendling, Oregon
Wendling is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States, located northeast of Marcola. Wendling's post office operated from 1899 to 1952. It was named for X. Wendling, a local lumberman....
, where he attended public schools. In 1922, he graduated with a journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
degree from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. He worked in the newspaper and lumber industries in the 1920s, and was an associate professor of journalism at the University of Oregon in 1928 and 1929. While serving as manager of the Oregon Newspaper Association, in 1929, he purchased an interest in The Roseburg
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
News-Review
The News-Review
The News-Review is a six-day-a-week community newspaper published in Roseburg, Oregon, United States. The circulation area covers most of Douglas County including Canyonville, Glide, Myrtle Creek, Oakland, Roseburg, Sutherlin, Winston, and many other small communities.Circulation is estimated to be...
, eventually becoming its editor and publisher. Ellsworth helped to bring a Veteran's Administration hospital to Roseburg
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, which provided construction jobs to the area hard-hit by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In 1936, he was instrumental in bringing KRNR radio on the air, one of Oregon's first radio stations based outside of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Political career
In 1941, Ellsworth was appointed to the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
. In 1942, Ellsworth was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
, which had just been established after the 1940 census
United States Census, 1940
The Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7.3 percent over the 1930 population of 123,202,624 persons. The census date was April 1, 1940...
. He served seven terms, and sat on the House Appropriations Committee and House Rules Committee. In the 1956 election, he was narrowly defeated by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Charles O. Porter
Charles O. Porter
Charles Orlando Porter was a politician from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Frank Porter and Ruth Peterson, he graduated from high school in Eugene, Oregon and then went on to graduate from Harvard University with a B.S. in 1941...
, whom Ellsworth had defeated two years earlier.
After losing the election, Ellsworth was appointed by President Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to a two-year term as chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission
United States Civil Service Commission
The United States Civil Service Commission a three man commission was created by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which was passed into law on January 16, 1883...
, serving until February 28, 1959.
After Congress
Ellsworth left politics and resumed his newspaper business and became a real estate brokerReal estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
. He retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
in the 1970s, where he lived until his death on February 7, 1986. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque.
External links
- Papers of Harris Ellsworth, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
- Biography from Roseburg News-Review, 10/20/02