Works, John D. (John Downey), 1847-1928

John Downey Works, born 29 March 1847 in Indiana, served in the Civil War and in 1868 was admitted to the Indiana bar. He served one term in the Indiana House of Representatives before moving to southern California as a result of bad health. Works served as a superior court judge in San Diego County (1886-1887) and as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of California (1888-1891). In 1911, he was nominated for U.S. Senator by the Progressive Republicans of the Lincoln-Roosevelt League, was elected, and served in Congress until 1917. Works died 6 June 1928.

From the description of John Downey Works papers, 1906-1928. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86130214

BIOGRAPHY

John Downey Works was born March 29, 1847 on a farm in Ohio County, Indiana. Educated in the common schools of the state until 1861, he then served eighteen months with the U. S. Volunteers in the Civil War. In 1868, he married Alice Banta, was admitted to the bar, and began a law practice in Vevay, Indiana which lasted for fifteen years. In 1879, he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives for one term. Forced to leave Indiana in l883 due to ill health, Works and his family journeyed West and settled in southern California where, from 1886-87, he served as Judge of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Los Angeles. In 1888, he was appointed to fill a vacancy as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of California and shortly thereafter, was elected to fill out the term. Works returned to a private legal partnership in 1891 and remained so engaged until 1910 when he served for a brief time as President of the City Council of Los Angeles. In 1911, he was nominated by the Progressive Republicans of the Lincoln-Roosevelt League for the position of U. S. Senator, was subsequently elected, and served in Congress until 1917 when he returned once again to private life and practice. Works died on June 6, 1928.

Among Works' publications are: Indiana Pleading and Practice (1883) Water and Water Rights (1890) Courts and their Jurisdiction (1894) What's Wrong With the World (1922) Man's Duty to Man (1923) Juridical Reform (1924)

From the guide to the John Downey Works Papers, 1911-1928, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)

Biography

John Downey Works was born in Indiana, March 29, 1847, and attended public schools there. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the 10th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry of the Union Army and served the duration of the war. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1868 and began his practice in Indiana. In 1883 he moved to San Diego, California, and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the Superior Court of San Diego County, 1886-1887, and as associate justice of the Supreme Court of California, 1888-1891. He moved to Los Angeles in 1896 and became president of the city council in 1910. In November of that year he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate, serving from 1911 to 1917. Deciding not to be a candidate for re-election, he resumed his practice of law, and died in Los Angeles, June 6, 1928.

From the guide to the John D. Works Papers, 1910-1917, (The Bancroft Library)