Judson C. Clements facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judson Claudius Clements
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 7th district
In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by	William Harrell Felton
Succeeded by	Robert William Everett
4th Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission
In office December 12, 1910 – January 9, 1912
Preceded by	Martin Augustine Knapp
Succeeded by	Charles Azro Prouty
Commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission
In office March 17, 1892 – June 18, 1917
Preceded by	Walter Lawrence Bragg
Succeeded by	Robert Wickliffe Woolley
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office 1872-1876
Member of the Georgia Senate from the 44th District
In office 1877-1880
Personal details
Born	(1846-02-12)February 12, 1846 Villanow, Georgia
Died	June 18, 1917(1917-06-18) (aged 71) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Bettie Wardlaw ​ ​ (m. 1874; her death 1875)​ Lizzie Eleanor Dulaney ​ ​ (m. 1886; his death 1917)​
Parents	Adam Clements Mary Wilson Hill Parks
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1864–1865
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	First Regiment, Georgia State Troops, Stovall's Brigade
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Atlanta

Judson Claudius Clements (February 12, 1846 – June 18, 1917) was an important American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for Georgia. Later, he became a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission, which was a government group that regulated railroads. He even served as its chairman for a year. Before his political career, Clements fought as a soldier in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

Early Life and Military Service

Judson Clements was born on February 12, 1846, near Villanow, Georgia. His parents were Dr. Adam Clements and Mary Wilson Hill Parks. Judson went to local schools in his hometown.

When he was just 17, in January 1864, Judson left school to join the Confederate States Army. He served as a private and later as a first lieutenant. During the American Civil War, he was wounded in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. His father, Adam C. Clements, was also involved in politics, serving in the Georgia House of Representatives.

After the war, Judson Clements married Bettie Wardlaw. Sadly, she passed away after only a year of marriage. He remained a widower for many years.

Becoming a Lawyer and Politician

Judson Clements decided to study law. He attended Cumberland School of Law at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, and graduated in 1868. The next year, in 1869, he was allowed to practice law. He started his law career in LaFayette, Georgia, and worked there until 1887.

Clements quickly became involved in public service.

• From 1871 to 1872, he was elected as the school commissioner for Walker County.
• He then served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1872 to 1876.
• After that, he was a member of the Georgia State Senate from 1877 to 1880.

While in the Georgia General Assembly, he helped create important laws about railroads in the state.

Serving in Congress

In 1880, Clements ran for the United States House of Representatives to represent Georgia's Seventh District. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He won the election and served five terms in Congress, from March 4, 1881, to March 3, 1891. While in Congress, he played a role in writing the laws that created the Interstate Commerce Commission.

On December 2, 1886, Clements married Lizzie Eleanor Dulaney. She was the daughter of a wealthy real estate owner from Louisville, Kentucky. In 1887, Clements moved to Rome, Georgia. For a year, he worked as the president of the Chattanooga, Rome, and Columbus Railroad. He lost his bid for re-election to Congress in 1890.

Clements believed in bringing the North and South back together after the Civil War. At a meeting of war veterans in 1889, he spoke about how veterans from both sides had worked together to rebuild the South.

Helping Create a National Park

In 1891, President Benjamin Harrison asked Clements to be a special United States Attorney. His job was to buy land for the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This park was important to Clements because he had represented the Chickamauga area in Congress. He had also worked hard to get the bill passed that allowed the park to be created. Clements worked to buy land from many different owners for the park.

Work with the Interstate Commerce Commission

On March 6, 1892, President Harrison appointed Judson Clements to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The ICC was a government agency created to regulate railroads and ensure fair practices. Clements was sworn in on March 17, 1892.

He served as a commissioner for a very long time, until his death on June 18, 1917. During his time on the ICC, he was reappointed by several presidents, including Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson.

Leading the Commission

On December 12, 1910, Clements became the acting chairman of the ICC. In 1911, he was officially elected chairman for a one-year term. He was known for pushing the ICC to have more power over railroads. This effort helped lead to the passing of the Hepburn Act in 1906, which gave the Commission more authority.

Clements believed that the ICC should physically value railroads. This would help them figure out fair taxes and decide if railroads' requests to raise prices were reasonable. Even though President William Howard Taft reportedly wanted someone else, Clements was elected chairman because he was the most senior member of the Commission.

Judson Clements passed away in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 1917. He was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. He served on the Interstate Commerce Commission for 25 years, which was a record at the time. People said that none of his official opinions were ever overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States.