James Ponder

James Ponder (born October 31, 1819 in Milton , Delaware ; † November 5, 1897 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of Delaware from 1871 to 1875 .

Early years and political advancement

James Ponder attended private schools in Georgetown and Lewes . He took over his father's business and expanded it to include shipbuilding, agriculture and banking. He became president of Queen's Anne Railroad and Georgetowns Farmer's Bank . James Ponder was a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1857 and 1859 he was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives for one term . From 1864 to 1869 he was a member of the State Senate and in 1870 he was elected as his party's candidate for governor of his state.

Delaware Governor

James Ponder began his four-year term on January 17, 1871. During his tenure, married women were given additional legal rights. Only hotels were allowed to sell alcohol. Another law banned all people who were not citizens of Delaware from fishing or angling in that state. The main problem in Ponder's reign, however, was the tension with the federal government and race policy. Delaware refused to ratify the 13th Amendment . This did not happen until 1901. Next, blacks were challenged to vote. In the 1870 elections, the electoral roll had been manipulated so skillfully that most African Americans were banned from voting. The result was that all seats in the Delaware House of Representatives went to the Democrats. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant sent troops to remedy these grievances. This enabled some members of the Republican Party to be elected. This created further tension in Delaware. As a result, so-called “poll tax” laws were passed, which linked the right to vote to the payment of taxes and whose purpose was to exclude the black population from the elections.

Another résumé

After the end of his tenure on January 19, 1875, Ponder withdrew from politics. He returned to his private affairs and died in November 1897. He had four children with his wife, Sallie Waples.

James Ponder was the brother-in-law of Willard Saulsbury , who had been a Senator in the US Congress from 1859 to 1871 . Saulsbury resigned from the Senate in 1871 because of alcohol problems. He was then appointed "Chancellor of Delaware" by his brother-in-law, who was still governor at the time. This appointment was controversial at the time because of the Saulsbury alcohol problem. But Saulsbury managed to overcome his problem.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Ponder, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	October 31, 1819
PLACE OF BIRTH	Milton , Delaware
DATE OF DEATH	November 5, 1897
Place of death	Milton , Delaware