Paul Nesbitt (April 3, 1872 – July 22, 1950) was an American politician, who served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He also served as a secretary for Governor Charles N. Haskell and as a Cabinet member for Governor John C. Walton. Educated at Chicago Medical College, he was a doctor and newspaperman before his entry into Oklahoma politics.
Paul Nesbitt | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office 1917–1919 | |
| Preceded by | A. McCrory |
| Succeeded by | Tom Waldrep |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office 1915–1919 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 3, 1872 Milford, Iowa |
| Died | July 22, 1950 (aged 78) Talihina, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ida May Corber |
| Occupation | doctor, newspaperman, politician |
Nesbitt died July 22, 1950, in Talihina, Oklahoma.
Early life
editNesbitt was born April 3, 1872, at Milford, Iowa, the son of James and Evaline Nesbitt.[1] His father was a first lieutenant in the United States Army and his grandfather was an Irish immigrant who served under George Washington in the American Revolutionary War.[1]
Growing up in Nebraska, he was educated at Chicago Medical College and practiced medicine in Vinton, Iowa, El Dorado Springs, Missouri, and finally in Watonga, a town in Oklahoma Territory, in 1899.[1] Nesbitt briefly owned the Watonga Herald.[2] He abandoned his practice in 1904 and went to St. Louis, Missouri, to apprentice as a cub reporter and later worked for the Joplin Globe.[1]
In 1906, he returned to Oklahoma to direct the publicity campaign for the Democratic candidates wanting to serve as delegates to the Oklahoma constitutional convention.[2] He did not support the nomination of Charles N. Haskell in the Democratic primary, but ended up serving as secretary for Oklahoma's first governor.[1][3] and helped carry the state seal from Guthrie, Oklahoma, to Oklahoma City in 1910.[1]
Political career
editNesbitt represented Pittsburg County in the Oklahoma Legislature during the sessions of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Oklahoma Legislature legislatures.[4]
He supported John C. Walton for governor and served as a Cabinet member under Walton.[1]
Death
editNesbitt died July 22, 1950, in Talihina, Oklahoma, of a cerebral hemorrhage.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Paul Nesbitt, Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. 30, p. 245-246. (accessed July 19, 2013)
- ^ a b Thoburn, Joseph B. History of Oklahoma, p. 1420.] (accessed July 19, 2013)
- ^ Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol 14, p. 189. (accessed July 18, 2013)
- ^ Historic Members Archived 2013-06-22 at WebCite, Oklahoma House of Representatives Archived 2013-06-22 at the Wayback Machine. (accessed July 19, 2013)