Virginia Jenckes

Virginia Jenckes served as a U.S. Representative for Indiana's Sixth Congressional District from 1933 until 1939. A member of the Democratic Party, she was notable for being the first woman from Indiana elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the second woman from the Midwest to serve in Congress. Her tenure was marked by her advocacy for flood control measures, support for the repeal of Prohibition, and her opposition to communism. Jenckes was also recognized for her role in securing significant federal funding for flood control projects in her home state. After her congressional career, she dedicated more than two decades to volunteer work with the American Red Cross.

Early life and career

Virginia Jenckes was born Virginia Ellis Somes on November 6, 1877, in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was the daughter of James Ellis Somes, a pharmacist, and Mary Oliver Somes. Jenckes attended public schools in Terre Haute, including Wiley High School, where she became the youngest student in the school's history when she enrolled at the age of eleven. She later left high school to pursue her education at Coates College for Women, completing two years of coursework.

In 1912, at the age of thirty-four, Jenckes married Ray Greene Jenckes, a farmer and grain dealer from Terre Haute, who was significantly older than her at sixty-eight years old. Together, they managed a 1,300-acre farm along the Wabash River in western Indiana. Following her husband's death in 1921, Jenckes inherited the farm and the grain business, taking on full responsibility for their management. The couple had one daughter, Virginia, who tragically died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-two in 1936.

Jenckes had been actively involved in farming since her marriage and was acutely aware of the challenges posed by flooding in the region. Her farm experienced significant flooding multiple times during the 1920s, which prompted her to engage in flood-control efforts. In 1926, she became involved with the Wabash-Maumee Valley Improvement Association, where she served as secretary until 1932. Her advocacy for flood control gained momentum when she was one of two women from the Terre Haute area who attended the Democratic National Convention in Houston, Texas, in 1928. There, she successfully lobbied for the inclusion of a flood-control plank in the Democratic Party's national platform. Additionally, she gained national recognition as the secretary of the National Rivers and Harbors Congress in the same year.

House tenure

Virginia Jenckes made history in 1932 when she became the first woman from Indiana elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Her election came during a period of significant political change, as the redistricting of Indiana established the Sixth Congressional District, which encompassed ten counties along the Wabash River in western Indiana. The district was predominantly rural and extended from Vigo County to Warren County. Jenckes campaigned extensively, delivering over two hundred speeches with the assistance of her teenage daughter, who served as her chauffeur. Her campaign focused on key issues such as the repeal of Prohibition, which she believed was adversely affecting grain prices, as well as her previous efforts related to flood control.

In the Democratic primary, Jenckes faced off against the incumbent, Courtland C. Gillen, and emerged victorious. She then defeated Fred S. Purnell, an eight-term Republican congressman, in the general election, securing approximately 54 percent of the vote. Jenckes's election was part of a broader Democratic landslide in 1932, and she won in seven of the ten counties within her district.

Jenckes began her congressional service on March 4, 1933, and continued until January 3, 1939, serving three consecutive terms. Despite her early successes, she faced challenges in securing committee assignments. She expressed a desire to serve on the Agricultural Committee or the Rivers and Harbors Committee but was instead assigned to the Mines and Mining, Civil Service, and District of Columbia committees. Throughout her congressional career, she maintained her positions on the Civil Service and District of Columbia committees, while leaving the Mines and Mining committee after the 74th Congress.

Legislative focus and committees

During her time in Congress, Virginia Jenckes was an advocate for the New Deal policies championed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She supported various initiatives aimed at economic recovery and social welfare, aligning herself with the Democratic majority on many issues. However, Jenckes was known for her independent stance and did not always conform to the party line, particularly in her later years when she expressed concerns about what she perceived as the threats of communism.

One of Jenckes's most significant achievements during her tenure was her successful effort to secure an $18 million appropriation for flood control in the Wabash River basin. This funding was a critical step in addressing the flooding issues that had long plagued her constituents and demonstrated her commitment to the needs of her district.

In 1937, Jenckes made history again by becoming the first American woman appointed as a U.S. delegate to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Paris, France. This appointment underscored her growing influence and recognition on the national and international stage.

After retiring from Congress in 1939, Jenckes continued her public service as a volunteer with the American Red Cross for over twenty years. Her humanitarian efforts included notable actions during the Hungarian uprising of 1956, where she gained national attention for her role in assisting five Catholic priests escape from Hungarian prisons to the United States. In 1969, she returned to Indiana, where she spent her remaining years until her passing on January 9, 1975. Virginia Jenckes's legacy as a pioneering female politician and advocate for her constituents remains significant in the history of Indiana and the U.S. Congress.