James Zacharie Spearing (April 23, 1864 – November 2, 1942) was an American attorney and politician, who served as a U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district from 1924 to 1931.

James Z. Spearing
Spearing in 1924
Member of the
United States House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 2nd district
In office
April 22, 1924 – March 3, 1931
Preceded byHenry Garland Dupré
Succeeded byPaul H. Maloney
Member of the Orleans Parish School Board
In office
1908–1912
In office
1916–1920
Member of the Louisiana State Board of Education
In office
1912–1916
Personal details
Born
James Zacharie Spearing

(1864-04-23)April 23, 1864
Alto, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 1942(1942-11-02) (aged 78)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Resting placeMetairie Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materTulane University Law School
OccupationLawyer

Born in Alto in Cherokee County, Texas,[1] Spearing moved with his parents in 1866 to New Orleans, where he attended public schools. He left school and went to work in 1877. In 1886, he obtained a degree from Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans. That same year, he was admitted to the bar and began his legal practice in New Orleans.

He served as member of the Orleans Parish School Board from 1908 to 1912 and again from 1916 to 1920 and as president in 1919 and 1920. Between the parish school board terms, he was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Education from 1912 to 1916. He was an alternate delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention, which nominated the Wilson-Marshall ticket, which handily won the electoral votes of Louisiana.

Spearing was elected to the Sixty-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of H. Garland Dupré. He was reelected to the 69th, 70th, and 71st Congress and served from April 22, 1924, to March 3, 1931. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1930. Thereafter, he resumed the practice of law in New Orleans, where he died and is interred at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Vexler, Robert I. (1978). Chronology and Documentary Handbook of the State of Louisiana. Oceana Publications. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-379-16143-4.
  2. ^ "Spearing, James Zacharie". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 12 Nov 2024.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by U.S. Representative for
Louisiana's 2nd congressional district

1924–1931
Succeeded by
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