William Allan Oldfield (1874 - 1928)

Born 4 Feb 1874 in Franklin, Izard, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Fannie Pearl (Peden) Oldfield — married 1 Jun 1901 in Jackson, Arkansas, United States

Died 19 Nov 1928 at age 54 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

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Biography

William Oldfield is Notable.

First Lieutenant William Oldfield served with the United States Army during the Spanish-American War.
Service Started: 1898
Unit(s): 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry
Service Ended: Feb 22, 1899

William Allan Oldfield is a notable figure for his distinguished career in American politics, serving as a U.S. Congressman for the Second Arkansas Congressional District. His contributions mark his legacy to legislative committees and his influential roles as the chairman of the Committee on Patents and the minority whip for multiple Congresses. Furthermore, his untimely passing and the subsequent election of his wife, Pearl, to succeed him in Congress as one of the first women elected nationally, add to his historical significance. Oldfield's dedication to public service, his commitment to his constituents, and the trailblazing path he and his wife paved in American politics make him a noteworthy and memorable figure in the annals of U.S. political history.^[1][2]

William Allan Oldfield was born on February 4, 1874, in Franklin, Izard County, Arkansas, to parents Milton Tinsley Oldfield^[3] and Mary Ann Matheny Oldfield.^[1] He was the youngest child of the blacksmith Milton Oldfield and had three older sisters. His early education was in the local public schools of Franklin and Myron in Izard County. In the 1880 census, the Oldfield family lived in Franklin Township, Izard County, Arkansas.^[1][2][4][5]

After completing high school, William Oldfield pursued higher education at Arkansas College, now known as Lyon College, located in Batesville, Independence County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1896. Following his undergraduate studies, he took on teaching roles in Melbourne and LaCrosse. He also served as a principal at Richmond in Little River County for a two-year period. It was during this time that he began to study and explore the field of law.^{[1][2][4][5][6]}

With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, William Oldfield enlisted as a private in Company M, 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment. He demonstrated strong leadership skills and was promoted to first sergeant within the same company, and later advanced to the rank of first lieutenant before being mustered out of service in March 1899.^{[1][2][4][5][7]}

Following his military discharge, Oldfield resumed his legal education. He attended Cumberland University School of Law in Lebanon, Tennessee, during the fall of 1900, earning his LLB degree. That same year, he was admitted to the bar and initiated his private law practice in Batesville, Arkansas.^[1][2]

On June 1, 1901, William Oldfield married Fannie Pearl Peden in Jackson County, Arkansas^[8], and the couple would have two children together.

In 1902, Oldfield entered the political arena by being elected the prosecutor for Independence County, a position he held until 1906. During his tenure as prosecutor, he had a significant impact on the local legal landscape. However, in 1906, he decided to take his political ambitions further and ran for the United States House of Representatives. Although unsuccessful in his initial attempt, he returned in the subsequent election cycle and secured victory in the Second Arkansas Congressional District in 1908, officially taking office on March 4, 1909.^[1][2][4][9]

During his time in Congress, Oldfield established a reputation for being well-liked and effective. He served as the chairman of the Committee on Patents for both the Sixty-second and Sixty-third Congresses, and held the role of minority whip for the Sixty-seventh through the Seventieth Congresses. Additionally, he was a member of the influential Ways and Means Committee, contributing to key legislative decisions.^[1][2][4][5]

In the 1910 census, William Oldfield's residence was listed as Main Street, Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, while serving as a U.S. Congressman and residing in Washington, D.C.^[10][11]

Tragedy struck in 1920 when the Oldfield family home in Batesville, Arkansas, was consumed by fire. However, this setback did not deter William Oldfield from his public service duties.^[1]

Unfortunately, in the midst of a successful political career, William Allan Oldfield's life was cut short due to health issues. After securing a tenth term in the Seventy-first Congress, he underwent gall bladder surgery. Tragically, he passed away at the age of fifty-four on November 19, 1928, in Washington, D.C.^[1][5] He was laid to rest at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas.^[12] Following his death, his wife, Pearl, was elected to complete his term in the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first woman from Arkansas to hold such a position, and one of the early women elected nationally. William Allan Oldfield's legacy continues to be remembered and celebrated in both Arkansas and the United States Congress.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Goss, Kay C., Alexandria, Virginia, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated 24 Jun 2023. "William Allan Oldfield (1874–1928)." Accessed 2 Oct 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Wikipedia contributors, "William A. Oldfield," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_A._Oldfield&oldid=1177683913 (accessed October 2, 2023).
3. ↑ U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Special Passport Applications, 1914-1925; Volume #: Volume 21: Military,Civilian, Federal Employees and Dependents Ancestry Record 1174 #1802028
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Reynolds, Clifford P.. Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788 and the Congress of the United States, from the First to the Eighty-sixth Congress, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 1961, Inclusive. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961. "Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961." Accessed 2 Oct 2023.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} Newspaper Clipping, Evening Star, Washington, District of Columbia, 19 Nov 1928, Mon. - Page 1. "Democratic 'WHIP' Oldfield is Dead." Accessed 2 Oct 2023.
6. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census: Year: 1880; Census Place: Franklin, Izard, Arkansas; Roll: 47; Page: 356D; Enumeration District: 082 Ancestry Record 6742 #4767428
7. ↑ U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940: Ancestry.com. U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT. USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019. Original data: United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2019. Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917 - 9/16/1940. NAI 76193916. Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007. National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Ancestry Record 61861 #4973366
8. ↑ Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957: Ancestry.com. Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2011. "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957," database, FamilySearch; from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. Ancestry Record 2548 #476942
9. ↑ U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959: Ancestry.com. U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. Official Register of the United States, Containing a List of the Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Digitized books (77 volumes). Oregon State Library, Salem, Oregon. Ancestry Record 2525 #189595
10. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Batesville Ward 2, Independence, Arkansas; Roll: T624_52; Page: 18b; Enumeration District: 0041; FHL microfilm: 1374065 Ancestry Record 7884 #555515
11. ↑ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918: Registration State: Arkansas; Registration County: Independence County Ancestry Record 6482 #25590187
12. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6727730/william-allan-oldfield: accessed 02 October 2023), memorial page for William Allan Oldfield (4 Feb 1874–19 Nov 1928), Find A Grave: Memorial #6727730, citing Oaklawn Cemetery, Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
13. ↑ Women in Congress, 1917-2006. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2006. "Women in Congress, 1917-2006." Accessed 2 Oct 2023.

See Also

• Wikidata: Item Q1535555