Evening star., 1947-07-12
Representative Mansfield Dies,
'OIdest Member of Conqress
Texon, IS, Here 30
Years, Kept Active
In Wheel Chair

Representative Joseph J. Mans
field, at S6, the oldest member of
Congress. died early today in Be-
thesda Naval Hospital.
Serving his 30th year at the Capt.
tol. the Texas Democrat was active
until three months ago despite an
af1liction that compelled him to
attend sessions in a wheel chair
the past quarter of century.
Mr.. Mansfield entered the hospital
April 9 with circulatory ailment.
At 6:15 am. yesterday he called
members of the family to the bed
side and during the day planned
his funeral services. He died at
lao am. today.
In accordance with his wishes,
Masonic rites will be held at his
home town in Columbus, Tex. and
burial will be in the family lot nesr
Eagle Lake. Tex, where he settled
in 1881 and begand so years of
public office. He was Grand Master
of Texas Masons in 1912 and 1918.
Arrangements we're incomplete,
but brief services probably will be
held here tomorrow afternoon.
At the bedside were a son. Bruce
y. Mansfield, an engineer with the
War Department Board of Rivers
and Harbors. with whom Mr.. Mans
field lived at 2l0l New. Hampshire
avenue NV. and a daughter, Mrs.
Margaret Dorsey of Baltimore.
Former 1t. Gov. Walter Woodul
Of Texas, whose father -in-law was
a roommate Of Mr.. Mansfield in the
early days at Eagle Lake. also was
at the bedside. Mr.. Mansfield Is
survived by another daughter, Mrs.
Jacqueline Schmidt OF Kingsbury.
Tex. His wife. the former Annie
Scott of Eagle Lake, whom he mar
ried in 1888, died several years ago
Mr.. Mansfield's district, which
runs along the Texas gulf coast
and includes Galveston. elected him
for 18th term last fall.
Special Place in Senate.
Known benevolently as THE Sage
of the Wheelchair," he seldom abb
sented himself from congressional
sessions. A special place was pro-
vided for his chair TO the right of
the Speakers dias on the Democra-
tic side.
Whimsical and kindly when he
did speak, he seldom engaged in
debate. But once warming to
subject, he pounded his cane on the
floor for emphasis.
Mr.. Mansfield's greatest love was
the old Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee which he headed from 1890
to this year, when he became rank
ing minority member of the Public
Works Committee.
His chief interest was waterways,
national navigation projects and
flood control. One Of his most Wig
orous fights was waged last year
in the Seventy-ninth Congress in
behalf OF a pollution bill defeated
by filibuster.
This interest he attributed to
boyhood incident near his BIRTH
place, Wayne, w. Va. which at that
time was a part Of Virginia.
1t was winter and the fanily's
supply OF corn meal had given out.
Young Mansfield started for the mill
IS miles away on horseback. pack
ing two bushels of corn. On the
way the horse slipped on a block
of ice and plunged boy and cargo
into a river that had overfiowed its
banks. Scrambling to the bank for
his life. the lad never forgot the
treachery of rivers.
$ Went by Steamboat to Texas.
Mr.. Mansfield was 20 in 1881 when
he moved to Eagle Lake in Colorado
County. Texas. Part of the trip
was by steamboat down the Ohio
and Mississippi Rivers. For while
he worked in. q nursery, as baggage
man and railroad telegrapher and
on a farm while studying law.
He was at Eagle Lake early enough
to write its charter and to become
it's Mayor in 1889, three years after
being admitted to the bar. After
term as county attorney in 1892, he
served 10 terms as county judge.
Later he established a newspaper
at Eagle Lake before becoming edi-
tor of a newspaper at Columbus.
Tex, his home at the time Of his
death.
Mr.. Mansfield's erect. attentive