James Washington Singleton

Education

Born in Paxton, Virginia, Singleton attended Winchester (Virginia) Academy. He studied medicine and practiced. He studied law.

Career

He moved to Mount Sterling, Illinois, in 1834. He was admitted to the bar in 1838 and commenced practice in Mount Sterling. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.

He served as delegate to the State constitutional conventions in 1847 and 1861.

He moved to Quincy, Illinois, in 1854. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1868 to the Forty-first Congress.

Constructed the Quincy & Toledo and the Quincy, Alton & Saint Louis Railroads and served as president of both companies. Singleton was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1883).

He returned to his farm near Quincy, Illinois, and engaged in farming.

He moved to Baltimore, Maryland, about 1891, and died there on April 4, 1892. He was interred in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.

Membership

He served as member of the State house of representatives 1850-1854. He was again a member of the State house of representatives in 1861. He was appointed in 1862 by Governor Yates as a member of the commission to confer with the British and Canadian authorities on the establishment of continuous water communication between the United States and Canada.

Connections

Father:

General James Singleton

Mother:

Judith Throckmorton (Ball) Singleton

Spouse:

probably Catherine McDaniel

Spouse:

Ann Craig