An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representative

WASHINGTON, Joseph Edwin, a Representative from Tennessee; was born on the family homestead, “Wessyngton,” near Cedar Hill, Robertson County, Tenn., November 10, 1851; received his early instruction at home; was graduated from Georgetown College, Washington, D.C., June 26, 1873; studied law with the first law class organized at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., in 1874, and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced; engaged in agricultural pursuits; member of the State house of representatives, 1877-1879; elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1887-March 3, 1897); chairman, Committee on Territories (Fifty-second Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1896; appointed road commissioner and had charge of the road construction work of Robertson County; member of the board of trustees of Vanderbilt University; director of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis and Nashville & Decatur Railroads; resumed agricultural pursuits upon the family homestead, “Wessyngton,” in Robertson County, Tenn., where he died August 28, 1915; interment in the family burying ground on his estate.