James Sheakley

James Sheakley (April 24, 1829Template:SpndDecember 10, 1917) was an American Democratic politician who was the Governor of the District of Alaska from 1893 to 1897. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1877.

Background

Sheakley was born on April 24, 1829, to Moses and Susanna (Limber) Sheakley in Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the Sheakleyville common school and Meadville Academy. Sheakley was trained as a cabinet maker but worked instead as a teacher in rural schools.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7">McMullin & Walker p. 7</ref>

The California Gold Rush prompted Sheakley to head west.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/> Arriving in San Francisco on February 2, 1852, he worked as a miner for three years.<ref name="White 564">White p. 564</ref> Sheakley returned to Pennsylvania after his work in the gold fields and married Lydia Long of Greenville, Pennsylvania on December 25, 1855.<ref name="Lydia Obit">Template:Cite news</ref> The marriage would produce three children, two daughters who died as children and one son who survived to adulthood.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/>

Following his wedding, Sheakley moved to Greenville and, in 1860, established a dry goods business. Then, with the start of the Pennsylvanian oil rush, he switched industries and became a pioneer of the oil industry.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/>

Congressional career

Sheakley continued his work in the oil industry until 1874.<ref name="White 564"/> Running in a traditionally Republican area, the Democrat was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 26th congressional district.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/><ref name="1874 election">Template:Cite news</ref> He advocated passage of legislation blocking the use of rebates of freight charges during the transportation of petroleum products on the railroads.<ref name="White 564-5">White p. 564-5</ref> He pushed through an appropriation that enlarged the Bureau of Education.<ref name="White 565">White p. 565</ref> During the resolution of the 1876 U.S. presidential election, he helped lead a filibuster blocking the bill granting the Presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes.<ref name="White 565"/> He was unsuccessful during his 1876 run for reelection.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/>

Alaska

Upon the recommendation of US Secretary of the Interior Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, Sheakley was appointed a United States Commissioner for District of Alaska, a position equivalent to a U.S. Circuit Court judge, on June 23, 1887.<ref name="Commish appoint">Template:Cite news</ref> After starting this position in Wrangell, Alaska on August 9, 1887, the Commissioner of Education added to his duties by appointing his superintendent of schools for southeastern Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/><ref name="White 565"/> In 1888, Sheakley was admitted to the Alaskan bar.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 7"/>

He was one of Alaska's two delegates to the 1892 Democratic National Convention. During the convention, the Alaska delegation cast the final two votes needed to secure the party's nomination for Grover Cleveland.<ref name="White 566">White p. 566</ref>

References

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