D’EWART, Wesley Abner, Congress, MT (1889-1973)

D’EWART, Wesley Abner, a Representative from Montana; born in Worcester, Mass., October 1, 1889; attended the public schools of Worcester, Mass., and Washington State College at Pullman; moved to Wilsall, Park County, Mont., in 1910 and engaged in the Forest Service; stockman, farmer, and businessman in Park County, Mont.; served in the State house of representatives 1937-1939; member of the State senate 1941-1945; elected as a Republican to the Seventy-ninth Congress, by special election, June 5, 1945, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James F. O’Connor; reelected to the four succeeding Congresses and served from June 5, 1945, to January 3, 1955; was not a candidate for renomination in 1954, but was unsuccessful for election to the United States Senate; assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., from January 1955 to September 1955; assistant secretary, Department of the Interior, from October 1955 to July 1956; special representative to Secretary of Agriculture from August 1956 to October 1958; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Montana in 1960; member, Western States Water Council, 1966-1969; was a director of the National Water Resources Association; resided in Wilsall, Mont.; died in Livingston, Mont., September 2, 1973; interment in Mountain View Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present