James Luther Slayden
Encyclopedia
James Luther Slayden uncle of Fontaine Maury Maverick and maverick in politics; United States
Representative
from Texas
; son of Thomas A. and Letitia E. (Beadles) Slayden, was born in Mayfield
, Graves County
, Kentucky
, on June 1, 1853. Upon the death of his father in 1869 he moved with his mother to New Orleans, Louisiana
; where he worked for two years and attended common schools before attending Washington and Lee University
, Lexington
, Virginia
, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall
.
He moved to San Antonio, Texas
, in 1876; became a cotton merchant and rancher; elected to House of Representatives in 1892 in the Twenty-third legislature; declined to be a candidate for renomination; engaged in agricultural pursuits and mining; married Ellen Maury, of Charlottesville
, Virginia
in 1883. In 1896 he was elected to represent Texas as a Democrat
in the 55th United States Congress
.
He was appointed by Andrew Carnegie
as one of the original trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
in October 1910. For several years he was president of the American Peace Society
; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1919); declined renomination in 1918; managed an orchard in Virginia
, a ranch in Texas, and mines in Mexico
.
As a legislator and later as a congressman, Slayden promoted the growth of the railroad system in Texas. In the United States Congress
, while a member of the Committee on Military Affairs, he encouraged the expansion of Fort Sam Houston
and was instrumental in making San Antonio a military center.
He was also chairman of the American group of the Interparliamentary Union. After his retirement from Congress in 1919, Slayden divided his business interests between his orchard in Virginia, his ranch in Texas, and a mine in Mexico
.
Slayden was an Episcopalian, a Freemason, an Elk , a member of St. Anthony Hall
, and an Odd Fellow. Washington and Lee University
honored him with the Phi Beta Kappa Key. Slayden, Texas, was named in his honor. He died in San Antonio on February 24, 1924, and was buried in Mission Park Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Representative
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...
from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; son of Thomas A. and Letitia E. (Beadles) Slayden, was born in Mayfield
Mayfield, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,349 people, 4,358 households, and 2,667 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.8 people per square mile . There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 734.8 per square mile...
, Graves County
Graves County, Kentucky
Graves County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was formed in 1824. As of 2000, the population was 37,028. Its county seat is Mayfield. The county is named for Major Benjamin Franklin Graves, soldier in the War of 1812...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, on June 1, 1853. Upon the death of his father in 1869 he moved with his mother to New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
; where he worked for two years and attended common schools before attending Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
, Lexington
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
.
He moved to San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in 1876; became a cotton merchant and rancher; elected to House of Representatives in 1892 in the Twenty-third legislature; declined to be a candidate for renomination; engaged in agricultural pursuits and mining; married Ellen Maury, of Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1883. In 1896 he was elected to represent Texas as a 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...
in the 55th United States Congress
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
.
He was appointed by Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
as one of the original trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
in October 1910. For several years he was president of the American Peace Society
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society is a pacifist group founded upon the initiative of William Ladd, in New York City, May 8, 1828. It was formed by the merging of many state and local societies, from New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, of which the oldest, the New York Peace Society, dated...
; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1919); declined renomination in 1918; managed an orchard in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, a ranch in Texas, and mines in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
As a legislator and later as a congressman, Slayden promoted the growth of the railroad system in Texas. In the United States Congress
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....
, while a member of the Committee on Military Affairs, he encouraged the expansion of Fort Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
and was instrumental in making San Antonio a military center.
He was also chairman of the American group of the Interparliamentary Union. After his retirement from Congress in 1919, Slayden divided his business interests between his orchard in Virginia, his ranch in Texas, and a mine in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Slayden was an Episcopalian, a Freemason, an Elk , a member of St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
, and an Odd Fellow. Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
honored him with the Phi Beta Kappa Key. Slayden, Texas, was named in his honor. He died in San Antonio on February 24, 1924, and was buried in Mission Park Cemetery.