| Joseph Withers Power | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 29th Secretary of State of Mississippi | |
| In office September 24, 1901 – April 5, 1926 | |
| Governor | Andrew H. Longino James K. Vardaman Edmond Noel Earl L. Brewer Theodore G. Bilbo Lee M. Russell Henry L. Whitfield |
| Preceded by | John Logan Power |
| Succeeded by | Walker Wood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1867-03-02)March 2, 1867 Jackson, Mississippi |
| Died | April 5, 1926(1926-04-05) (aged 59) Jackson, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Eva Truly m. 1896-1926, his death |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | John Logan Power (father) |
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 in the primary election for the Democratic nomination to the office.
Death
While still the Secretary of State of Mississippi, Power died suddenly in Jackson on April 5, 1926. Walker Wood was appointed to the office finish the unfinished term.
Personal life
Power was a Democrat, member of the Episcopal Church, Freemason, Odd Fellow, and a Knight of Pythias. In 1896, Power married Eva Truly (1868 or 1869 - 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
- ^ Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1908). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 953.
- ^ Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1917). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 498.
- ^ Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1912). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 312.
- Mississippi, Royal and Select Masters (Masonic order) Grand Council in the State of (1898). Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in the State of Mississippi.
- ^ "Obituary for Joseph Withers Power". The Winona Times. 1926-04-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- Sullivan, Elsie Smiley (1989). Smiley Family Research Data. E. S. Sullivan. p. 162.
- "Obituary for Eva Truly Power". Clarion-Ledger. 1947-01-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
| Secretaries of state of Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of Territory (1798-1816) | |
| Secretary of State (since 1817) | |