U. S. Senator and Union Leader. Born in a rural part of eastern Tennessee near Rogersville, he left home at an early age and apprenticed to a pressman in 1891. He worked his way up to president of its international union in 1907 by actively organizing and expanding the trade. In 1911, he encouraged the acquisition of the Hale Springs Resort near his boyhood home as a mineral water resort for union members suffering from consumption. The resort became the union's international headquarters. The facility had an extensive complex that included a sanitarium, hotel, post office, chapel, hydro-electric plant and trade school. The complex became known as the Pressmen's Home. During World War I, he served in the American Expeditionary Force as a major. After the war, he returned home to lead his union. He was politically active and consistently supported canidates of the Democratic party. On May 6, 1937, he was appointed to the United States Senate by the Governor of Tennessee, Gordon Browning, when Senator Nathan L. Bachman died in office. In 1938, he sought election to the Senate on his own, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Arthur Thomas Stewart. His service in the Senate ended on November 8, 1938. He continued to run the International Pressmen's Union from the Pressmen's Home until his death in 1948. He was originally buried in a mausoleum near the chapel of the Pressmen's Home, but was leter removed to the Rogers Cemetery near Rogersville then to the McKinney Cemetery in Rogersville in August of 1969.
U. S. Senator and Union Leader. Born in a rural part of eastern Tennessee near Rogersville, he left home at an early age and apprenticed to a pressman in 1891. He worked his way up to president of its international union in 1907 by actively organizing and expanding the trade. In 1911, he encouraged the acquisition of the Hale Springs Resort near his boyhood home as a mineral water resort for union members suffering from consumption. The resort became the union's international headquarters. The facility had an extensive complex that included a sanitarium, hotel, post office, chapel, hydro-electric plant and trade school. The complex became known as the Pressmen's Home. During World War I, he served in the American Expeditionary Force as a major. After the war, he returned home to lead his union. He was politically active and consistently supported canidates of the Democratic party. On May 6, 1937, he was appointed to the United States Senate by the Governor of Tennessee, Gordon Browning, when Senator Nathan L. Bachman died in office. In 1938, he sought election to the Senate on his own, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Arthur Thomas Stewart. His service in the Senate ended on November 8, 1938. He continued to run the International Pressmen's Union from the Pressmen's Home until his death in 1948. He was originally buried in a mausoleum near the chapel of the Pressmen's Home, but was leter removed to the Rogers Cemetery near Rogersville then to the McKinney Cemetery in Rogersville in August of 1969.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
Gravesite Details
He was interred at Pressmen's Home but his body was later moved to Roger's Cemetery in nearby Rogersville.
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