Joseph Withers Power (March 2, 1867 - April 5, 1926) was a Mississippi politician and the Secretary of State of Mississippi from 1901 to 1926.

Early life

Joseph Withers Power was born on March 2, 1867, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was the son of Irish emigrant John Logan Power, who became the Mississippi Secretary of State from 1893 to 1901, and his wife, Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Power. J. W. Power attended public schools in Jackson. Then, he attended Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee. After leaving school, he assisted his father in the publishing business and became a bookkeeper.

Political career

When Joseph's father, John Logan Power, was the Secretary of State of Mississippi, he was an assistant in the office of the Secretary of State of Mississippi. After his father's death on September 23, 1901, Mississippi governor A. H. Longino appointed him Secretary of State of Mississippi. He was re-elected in 1903, 1907, and 1911. In 1923, he defeated

Walker Wood Walker Wood (April 23, 1874 - February 3, 1957) was an American journalist and politician from Mississippi. He was the 30th Secretary of State of Mississippi, serving from 1926 to 1948. Early life Walker Wood was born on April 23, 1874, in Vi ...

in the primary election for the

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

nomination to the office.

Death

While still the Secretary of State of Mississippi, Power died suddenly in Jackson on April 5, 1926.

was appointed to the office finish the unfinished term.

Personal life

Power was a Democrat, member of the Episcopal Church,

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, and a Knight of Pythias. In 1896, Power married Eva Truly ( - 1947); her brother Jeff became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi. The Powers had three children: Dorothy, Mary, and Josephine Jeffrey "Jo Jeff".

References

1867 births 1926 deaths Politicians from Jackson, Mississippi Mississippi Democrats Secretaries of State of Mississippi {{DEFAULTSORT:Power, Joseph Withers Bookkeepers