John W. Gaines

This article is about the U.S. Congressman from Tennessee. For the Governor of Oregon Territory, see John P. Gaines.

John Wesley Gaines
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 6th district
In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1909
Preceded by	Joseph E. Washington
Succeeded by	Jo Byrns
Personal details
Born	August 24, 1860 (1860-08-24) Davidson County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	July 4, 1926(1926-07-04) (aged 65) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Nashville Vanderbilt University
Profession	Attorney politician

John Wesley Gaines (August 24, 1860 – July 4, 1926) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 6th congressional district of Tennessee.

Biography

Gaines was born in Wrecoe, near Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. He attended private and public schools, in which he also taught. He studied law at home, studied medicine, and graduated from the University of Nashville. He graduated from the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1882. He never practiced medicine, but the day after graduation he resumed the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced practice in Nashville in 1885.

Career

Elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and the five succeeding Congresses, Gaines served from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1909. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1908 to the 61st U.S. Congress, losing in the primary to Francis Gracey Childers. He continued to practice law in Nashville, Tennessee.

Death

On July 4, 1926, Gaines died in Nashville. He is interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

External links

• United States Congress. "John W. Gaines (id: G000007)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Works by or about John W. Gaines at the Internet Archive