James Alfred Taylor (September 25, 1878 – June 9, 1956) was an American

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

, a member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

from

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

. Taylor was born near Ironton, ( Lawrence County,

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

), where he attended the public schools. After graduating, he worked in a printing office in Ironton, before he moved to Alderson, West Virginia, where he also engaged in the newspaper business. In 1905 he moved from Greenbrier County to Fayette County. Taylor served as a non-commissioned officer in the West Virginia National Guard from 1908 to 1911. His political career began in 1916, when he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. Taylor served in this body until 1918 and later again twice (1920–22 and 1930–32). He eventually rose to Speaker during his last term. in 1922 he was elected to the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from West Virginia's 6th District (now defunct). He served two terms (re-elected in 1924) from March 4, 1923, to March 3, 1927. He was defeated in his bid for a third term by Republican candidate

Edward T. England Edward Theodore England (September 29, 1869 – September 9, 1934) was a lawyer and politician from West Virginia. He served in the West Virginia Senate, as List of Attorneys General of West Virginia, Attorney General of West Virginia, and a ...

. Taylor resumed the newspaper publishing business and was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

in 1928. During his later career he served on the West Virginia Liquor Commission (1941–45) and was elected to the Fayette County Board of Education in 1946 for a six-year term. He died in Montgomery, West Virginia and was interred in Huse Memorial Park in Fayetteville.

External links

Congressional biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, J. Alfred 1878 births 1956 deaths American newspaper publishers (people) American Presbyterians Democratic Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates People from Alderson, West Virginia People from Fayette County, West Virginia People from Lawrence County, Ohio School board members in West Virginia Speakers of the West Virginia House of Delegates West Virginia National Guard personnel Military personnel from West Virginia Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia Journalists from Ohio 20th-century West Virginia politicians