James W. Singleton

Who was James W. Singleton?

James Washington Singleton was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born in Paxton, Virginia, Singleton attended Winchester Academy. He moved to Mount Sterling, Illinois, in 1834. He studied medicine and practiced. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1838 and commenced practice in Mount Sterling. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Singleton was elected brigadier general of the Illinois Militia in 1844 and took a conspicuous part in the so-called Mormon War. He served as delegate to the State constitutional conventions in 1847 and 1861. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1850-1854. He moved to Quincy, Illinois, in 1854. He was again a member of the State house of representatives in 1861. He was appointed in 1862 by Governor Yates as a member of the commission to confer with the British and Canadian authorities on the establishment of continuous water communication between the United States and Canada. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1868 to the Forty-first Congress. Constructed the Quincy & Toledo and the Quincy, Alton & St. Louis Railroads and served as president of both companies.