Harris Ellsworth

Mathew Harris Ellsworth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 4th district
In office January 3, 1943-January 3, 1957
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	Charles O. Porter
Personal details
Born	September 17, 1899 Hoquiam, Washington
Died	February 7, 1986 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Political party	Republican
Occupation	journalist

Mathew Harris Ellsworth (September 17, 1899 – February 7, 1986) was a Republican U.S. congressman from Oregon.

Early life

Born in Hoquiam, Washington, Ellsworth moved together with his parents to Eugene, Oregon and later to nearby Wendling, where he attended public schools.^[1] In 1922, he graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Oregon.^[1] He worked in the newspaper and lumber industries in the 1920s, and was an associate professor of journalism at the University of Oregon in 1928 and 1929.^[1] While serving as manager of the Oregon Newspaper Association, in 1929, he purchased an interest in The Roseburg News-Review, eventually becoming its editor and publisher. Ellsworth helped to bring a Veteran's Administration hospital to Roseburg, which provided construction jobs to the area hard-hit by the Great Depression. In 1936, he was instrumental in bringing KRNR radio on the air, one of Oregon's first radio stations based outside of Portland.^[2]

Political career

In 1941, Ellsworth was appointed to the Oregon State Senate.^[1] In 1942, Ellsworth was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Oregon's 4th congressional district, which had just been established after the 1940 census.^[1] He served seven terms,^[1] and sat on the House Appropriations Committee and House Rules Committee. In the 1956 election, he was narrowly defeated by Democrat Charles O. Porter, whom Ellsworth had defeated two years earlier.

After losing the election, Ellsworth was appointed by President Eisenhower to a two-year term as chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission, serving until February 28, 1959.^[1]

After Congress

Ellsworth left politics and resumed his newspaper business and became a real estate broker.^[1] He retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the 1970s, where he lived until his death on February 7, 1986.^[1] He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Ellsworth, Mathew Harris." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Text from this public-domain source has been incorporated into this article.
2. ^ "Hall of Achievement". University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. http://jcomm.uoregon.edu/awards/hoa/ellsworth.html. Retrieved 2007-03-15. 
3. ^ Guide to the Harris Ellsworth papers at the University of Oregon

External links

• Papers of Harris Ellsworth, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
• Biography from Roseburg News-Review, 10/20/02

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by none (district created by 1940 census)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 4th congressional district 1943-1957	Succeeded by Charles O. Porter

Persondata
Name	Ellsworth, Harris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 17, 1899
Place of birth	Hoquiam, Washington
Date of death	February 7, 1986
Place of death	Albuquerque, New Mexico