Representative James Benjamin Aswell

James Benjamin Aswell Sr. (December 23, 1869 – March 16, 1931) was a prominent educator and Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana, whose congressional service extended from 1913 until his death in 1931. He was born in the Vernon community in rural Jackson Parish in north Louisiana to Benjamin W. Aswell and Elizabeth A. (Lyles) Aswell. Raised in a largely agrarian setting, he emerged from modest rural beginnings to become one of Louisiana’s leading educational administrators in the early twentieth century and later a long-serving federal legislator.

Aswell pursued an extensive formal education that prepared him for both his educational and political careers. He graduated with teaching credentials in 1892 from Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, an institution then known for training teachers for the South. In 1893, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nashville. He continued his studies at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in 1894. Demonstrating a continued commitment to professional advancement, he later returned to the University of Arkansas and obtained a law degree there in 1907, adding legal training to his background in education.

Before entering national politics, Aswell built a distinguished career as a state educational leader in Louisiana. He first served as a state school administrator, gaining experience in the organization and improvement of public education. In 1900, he was selected to be president of the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, now Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. He held that position until 1904, when he resigned after being elected Louisiana Superintendent of Education. As superintendent, beginning in 1904, he played a central role in shaping statewide educational policy. In 1908, he resigned from that office to become president of the Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State University, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, an institution devoted to the training of teachers. He remained in that post until 1911, when he resigned to seek higher office.

In 1911, Aswell entered statewide electoral politics by running for governor of Louisiana in the 1912 Democratic primary. He was unsuccessful in that effort, losing to Luther E. Hall, who subsequently served as governor from 1912 to 1916. Later in 1912, however, Aswell turned his attention to federal office. That same year he was elected as a Democratic representative to the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana’s newly created 8th congressional district, which was based around Natchitoches and Alexandria in central Louisiana. His election marked the beginning of a long tenure in Congress during a period of significant political and social change in the United States.

James Benjamin Aswell served as a Representative from Louisiana in the United States Congress from March 4, 1913, until his death on March 16, 1931. A member of the Democratic Party, he contributed to the legislative process during 10 terms in office. As a member of the House of Representatives, Aswell participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in the 8th district. He was reelected nine times, reflecting sustained support from voters in central Louisiana. During the 1920s, he rose to become the ranking minority member of the House Committee on Agriculture, a position that gave him significant influence over agricultural policy at a time when farming and rural issues were central to the economic life of his district and the nation.

Aswell’s congressional service occurred during a significant period in American history, spanning the Progressive Era, World War I, the 1920s, and the onset of the Great Depression. He worked closely with Louisiana naturalist Caroline Dormon to help establish the Kisatchie National Forest in his district, an initiative that advanced both conservation and regional development. Through this and other efforts, he sought to balance the needs of rural constituents with broader national priorities, using his committee assignments and seniority to shape legislation affecting agriculture, forestry, and public lands.

James Benjamin Aswell died in office in Washington, D.C., on March 16, 1931, twelve days into his tenth term in Congress. His death brought to a close nearly two decades of continuous service in the House of Representatives. He was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Remembered as both an influential educator and a long-serving legislator, Aswell’s career reflected a sustained commitment to public service in Louisiana and at the national level, particularly in the fields of education, agriculture, and conservation.