James A. Hemenway

James Alexander Hemenway (March 8, 1860 – February 10, 1923) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States representative from 1895 to 1905, and Senator from Indiana from 1905 to 1909.

Biography Born in Boonville, Indiana, he attended the common schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in Boonville in 1885.

Early career He was prosecuting attorney for the second judicial circuit of Indiana from 1886 to 1890.

U.S. House of Representatives He was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the five succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1895, until his resignation, effective March 3, 1905, at the close of the Fifty-eighth Congress, having been elected Senator. While in the House of Representatives, he was chairman of the Committee on Appropriations (Fifty-eighth Congress).

U.S. Senate Hemenway was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles W. Fairbanks and served from March 4, 1905, to March 3, 1909; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on University of the United States (Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth Congresses).

Later career After the Senate, he resumed the practice of law in Boonville. He donated generously to the Old Presbyterian Church in Boonville, which his family had attended for generations.

Death and burial He died in Miami, Florida; interment was in Maple Grove Cemetery, Boonville.

Hemenway is the namesake of the community of Hemenway, Missouri.