Background
Jorgensen, Joseph was born on February 11, 1844 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Jorgensen, Joseph was born on February 11, 1844 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jorgensen graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1865.
He served as a cadet surgeon in the United States Army in the latter part of the Civil War, from 1864 to 1865, rising to acting assistant surgeon, in mid-1865, and again serving from 1867 to 1870. He moved to St. Petersburg, Virginia. He was appointed postmaster of St. Petersburg, Virginia, May 21, 1874 – June 8, 1877, when he resigned, having been elected to Congress.
Jorgensen was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth and to the two succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Mileage (Forty-seventh Congress). He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880.
He was appointed register of the land office at Walla Walla, Washington, by President Arthur February 27, 1883, and served until removed by President Cleveland in 1886. He died on January 21, 1888, in Portland, Oregon
He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery, Walla Walla, Washington.
1876. Jorgensen was elected to the United States. House of Representatives with 51.91% of the vote, defeating Democrat William East. Hunton and Independent Republican Mont Rose De Mortie. 1878; Jorgensen was re-elected with 60.71% of the vote, defeating Democrat William East. Hinton, Junior.
1880.
Jorgensen was re-elected with 70.1% of the vote, defeating Democrat Samuel F. Coleman and Independent William Ewan Cameron.
He served as a member of the Virginia house of delegates from Prince Edward County from 1872 to 1873.