Charles Stewart Voorhees

Voorhees was born in Covington, Indiana on June 4, 1853, a son of Anna Hardesty Voorhees and Daniel Wolsey Voorhees, who served in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate from Indiana.[1] He attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and in 1873 he graduated from Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., June 26, 1873.[1]

After graduating from college, Voorhees studied law. He attained admission to the bar in 1875 and commenced practice in Terre Haute, Indiana.[1] In 1882, Voorhees moved to Washington Territory with his friend John L. Wilson, and settled in Colfax to establish a law practice.[1] From 1882 to 1886 he served as prosecuting attorney of Whitman County.[1]

A Democrat, in 1884 Voorhees was elected as Washington's territorial delegate.[1] He was reelected in 1886 and served in the 49th and 50th Congresses (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889).[1] During the 50th Congress, the U.S. House and Senate passed the Enabling Act of 1889, which provided the process for Washington Territory to achieve statehood.[2]

In 1888, Voorhees lost reelection to Republican John B. Allen, who served as delegate until Washington joined the Union as a state in November 1889.[2] After leaving Congress, Voorhees resumed the practice of law in Colfax.[1] He later moved to Spokane, where he continued the practice law.[1] He died in Spokane on December 26, 1909.[1] Voorhees was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane.[2]

In 1888, Voorhees married Frances "Fanny" Belle Vajen, the daughter of a prominent Indianapolis businessman.[1] They were the parents of a daughter, Anna Belle.[1]

• United States Congress. "Charles Stewart Voorhees (id: V000115)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Charles Stewart Voorhees at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.