James S. Golden

James S. Golden
Golden in 1953
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955
Preceded byJoe B. Bates
Succeeded byEugene Siler
Constituency8th district
In office
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Preceded byWilliam Lewis
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
Constituency9th district
Personal details
BornJames Stephen Golden
(1891-09-20)September 20, 1891
DiedSeptember 6, 1971(1971-09-06) (aged 79)
PartyRepublican
Alma materUnion College
University of Kentucky (AB)
University of Michigan (LLB)
ProfessionLawyer, politician

James Stephen Golden (September 20, 1891 – September 6, 1971) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky.

Biography

Golden was born on September 20, 1891, in Barbourville, Kentucky, to Benjamin Bristow Golden and Elizabeth (née Davis) Golden.[1] He attended public schools in Barbourville. He studied at Union Commonwealth University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Michigan; he graduated from Kentucly in 1912 and from Michigan in 1916. Also in 1916, he was admitted to the bar, after which he practiced in Barbourville.[2] He was a lawyer in murder trials and civil disputes, favoring the latter in his later career. He also represented the United Mine Workers of America.[1]

A Republican, Golden served as attorney of Knox County, Kentucky from 1918 to 1922.[2] During his campaign for county attorney, he was accused by a journalist of marrying into a "Democrat family".[3] He moved to Pineville, Kentucky.[1]

Golden was a member of the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1949, to January 3, 1955. From January 3, 1949, to January 3, 1953, he represented the 9th district, and from January 3, 1953, to January 3, 1955, represented the 8th district.[2] He was part of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads. He championed economic reforms, such as bettering social security and providing flood protection to south Kentucky citizens.[1][4] In the midst of his tenure, he was a delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention.[2]

After serving in Congress, Golden continued practicing law.[2] In 1915, he married to Ruth Decker.[5] He had two children.[1] He died on September 6, 1971, aged 79, in Pineville.[6] He is buried at Pineville Memorial Cemetery.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Services Held for Rep. Golden of Kentucky". Knoxville News Sentinel. 8 September 1971. p. 27. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Golden, James Stephen". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  3. ^ "Steele a Squaw Man". The Mountain Advocate. 27 July 1917. p. 10. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  4. ^ "Former Congressman, Attorney Dies". The Pineville Sun. 9 September 1971. p. 10. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  5. ^ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Gojack to Goldis". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  6. ^ "James S. Golden". The New York Times. 9 September 1971. p. 46. Retrieved 2026-02-07.