US Congressman. Born in the Vernon community in rural Jackson Parish in north Louisiana to Benjamin W. Aswell and the former Elizabeth A. Lyles. He attended local schools and graduated with teaching credentials in 1892 from Peabody College, a division of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1893, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the former University of Nashville. In 1894, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; in 1907, he obtained his law degree from the same institution. James began his educational career as a teacher in country schools and high schools. He was a state school administrator before he was tapped from 1900 to as the third president of Louisiana Tech University (formerly Louisiana Polytechnic Institute) in Ruston in Lincoln Parish. He resigned from Tech in 1904 upon his election as the Louisiana state superintendent of education. James was superintendent until 1908, during which time he worked to reorganize public schools. From 1908 to 1911, he was the president of Northwestern State University (then Louisiana State Normal School) in Natchitoches. James was elected to represent Louisiana's 8th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1913 until his death in 1931. He was twice married first to the former Mary Lee Wright by whom he had his daughter Corinne, and second to the former Ella Foster of Mineral Wells, Texas, and thereafter Shreveport, by whom he had his son, James B. Aswell, Jr.
US Congressman. Born in the Vernon community in rural Jackson Parish in north Louisiana to Benjamin W. Aswell and the former Elizabeth A. Lyles. He attended local schools and graduated with teaching credentials in 1892 from Peabody College, a division of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1893, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the former University of Nashville. In 1894, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; in 1907, he obtained his law degree from the same institution. James began his educational career as a teacher in country schools and high schools. He was a state school administrator before he was tapped from 1900 to as the third president of Louisiana Tech University (formerly Louisiana Polytechnic Institute) in Ruston in Lincoln Parish. He resigned from Tech in 1904 upon his election as the Louisiana state superintendent of education. James was superintendent until 1908, during which time he worked to reorganize public schools. From 1908 to 1911, he was the president of Northwestern State University (then Louisiana State Normal School) in Natchitoches. James was elected to represent Louisiana's 8th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1913 until his death in 1931. He was twice married first to the former Mary Lee Wright by whom he had his daughter Corinne, and second to the former Ella Foster of Mineral Wells, Texas, and thereafter Shreveport, by whom he had his son, James B. Aswell, Jr.
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