James D. Yeomans

Who was James D. Yeomans?

James Dallas Yeomans was an American politician and railway executive, who served from 1894 to 1905 as a commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Born in Bennington, New York, and educated there, Yeomans worked as a railwayman from age 17, rising to the position of general superintendent. After spending time building railways, he moved to Iowa, where was elected to the State Senate. He became head of a manufacturer's association, and was appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland. Yeomans was reappointed by President William McKinley and then by Theodore Roosevelt. He retired from the commission in 1905 and spent time pursuing his business interests until he died in Washington DC in 1906.