James Hutchinson WOODWORTH, Congress, IL (1804-1869)
WOODWORTH, James Hutchinson, a Representative from Illinois; born in Greenwich, N.Y., December 4, 1804; received a limited schooling; moved to Fabius, Onondaga County, N.Y., and taught school; engaged in mercantile pursuits in 1823; inspector of the common schools in 1826; moved to Erie, Pa., in 1827; justice of the peace 1829-1832; moved to Chicago, Ill., in 1833 and engaged in the dry-goods business; served in the State senate 1839-1842; member of the State house of representatives 1842-1847; owner and manager of the Chicago Hydraulic Flouring Mills for ten years; member of the Chicago City Council 1845-1848; mayor of Chicago 1848-1850; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1857); retired to private life until appointed by Governor Yates to serve on the board of auditors on war claims; served as president of the Merchants & Mechanicsâ Bank of Chicago and was president of the Treasury Bank of Chicago at the time of his death; one of the founders of Chicago University; died in Highland Park, Ill., March 26, 1869; interment in Oakland Cemetery, Chicago, Ill.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present
