James Benjamin Aswell

James Benjamin Aswell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 8th district
In office March 4, 1913 – March 16, 1931
Preceded by	district created
Succeeded by	John H. Overton
President of Louisiana Tech University
In office 1900–1904
Preceded by	W. C. Robinson
Succeeded by	W. E. Taylor
Louisiana Superintendent of Education
In office 1904–1908
Succeeded by	T. H. Harris
President of Northwestern State University
In office 1908–1911
Preceded by	Beverly C. Caldwell
Succeeded by	Victor L. Roy
Personal details
Born	(1869-12-23)December 23, 1869 Vernon, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	March 16, 1931(1931-03-16) (aged 61) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Rock Creek Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Peabody College University of Nashville University of Arkansas University of Arkansas School of Law
Occupation	Teacher; lawyer; politician

James Benjamin Aswell Sr. (December 23, 1869 – March 16, 1931) was a prominent educator and a Democratic U.S. representative from Louisiana, who served from 1913 until his death, which occurred twelve days into his tenth term.

Life and career

Aswell was born in the Vernon community in rural Jackson Parish in north Louisiana to Benjamin W. and Elizabeth A. (Lyles) Aswell . He graduated with teaching credentials in 1892 from Peabody College. In 1893, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nashville, and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville the following year. In 1907, he obtained his law degree from the same institution.

He was a state school administrator before he was selected to be president of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, now Louisiana Tech University, in 1900. He resigned in 1904 after being elected as Louisiana Superintendent of Education in 1904. He resigned his position in 1908 to be president of Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State University. Aswell resigned his position in 1911 to run unsuccessfully for governor in the 1912 Democratic primary. He was defeated by Luther E. Hall, who served in the state's highest office from 1912 to 1916.

Later that year, Aswell was elected to the U.S. House from the newly created 8th congressional district, based around Natchitoches and Alexandria. Aswell was reelected nine times. During the 1920s, he was the ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee. He worked with the Louisiana naturalist Caroline Dormon to establish the Kisatchie National Forest in his district.

He died in Washington, D.C., and is interred there in Rock Creek Cemetery.