Joseph Parkinson Newsham (May 24, 1837 – October 22, 1919) was a 19th-century politician, lawyer, merchant and planter from

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

, who served two non-consecutive terms in 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 ...

Biography

Born in Preston, England, Newsham immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1839, settling in

Monroe County, Illinois Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 34,962. Its county seat and largest city is Waterloo. Monroe County is included in the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statis ...

. He received an academic education, was employed in a

mercantile Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exchan ...

establishment for two years, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1860, commencing practice in

Edwardsville, Illinois Edwardsville is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Illinois, and is a suburb of St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri ...

. During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, he served as

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

of the

32nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry Service The 32nd Missouri Infantry Regiment was organized at Benton Barracks October 18 through December 8, 1862. The regiment was attached to District of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Department of the Missouri, to December 1862. 1st Brigade, 11th D ...

in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

, resigning in 1864 on account of disabling injuries received in action on July 4 of that year. Newsham moved to

Donaldsonville, Louisiana Donaldsonville (historically french: Lafourche-des-Chitimachas) is a city in, and the parish seat of Ascension Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located along the River Road of the west bank of the Mississippi River, it is a part of the Bat ...

, in 1864 where he was clerk of the fourth judicial district court of the Parish of Ascension and was admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1865, commencing practice in Donaldsonville. He moved to St. Francisville, Louisiana, in 1867 and was a member of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention in 1867 and 1868. Upon

's being admitted back into the

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

, Newsham was elected a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

to the

in 1868 from

Louisiana's 3rd congressional district Louisiana's 3rd congressional district is a United States congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district covers the southwestern and south central portion of the state, ranging from the Texas border to the Atchafalaya River. ...

and served until 1869. He established the ''Feliciana Republican'' in 1868 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1870, this time from

Louisiana's 4th congressional district Louisiana's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district is located in the northwestern part of the state and is based in Shreveport-Bossier City. It also includes the cities of Minden, De ...

, and served for that district until 1871. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1870 and thus left office when the term ended in 1871. (retrieved on 2008 February 14). Afterward, he worked as a planter and

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

in St. Francisville, Louisiana until his retirement in 1913.

Death

Newsham died in St. Francisville on October 22, 1919, and was interred in Grace Church Cemetery in St. Francisville.

Notes

1837 births 1919 deaths American newspaper people Illinois lawyers Louisiana lawyers People from Edwardsville, Illinois English emigrants to the United States People of Missouri in the American Civil War Union Army officers American planters Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana 19th-century American politicians Journalists from Illinois People from Donaldsonville, Louisiana People from St. Francisville, Louisiana 19th-century American lawyers Military personnel from Illinois {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub