Paul Nesbitt

American politician

Paul Nesbitt

Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office
1917–1919
Preceded by| A. McCrory
Succeeded by| Tom Waldrep
Member of the
Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office
1915–1919
Personal details
Born| (1872-04-03)April 3, 1872
Milford, Iowa
Died| July 22, 1950(1950-07-22) (aged 78)
Talihina, Oklahoma
Nationality| American
Political party| Democratic
Spouse| Ida May Corber
Occupation| doctor, newspaperman, politician

Paul Nesbitt (April 3, 1872 - July 22, 1950) was an American politician, who served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He also served as a secretary for Governor Charles N. Haskell and as a Cabinet member for Governor John C. Walton. Educated at Chicago Medical College, he was a doctor and newspaperman before his entry into Oklahoma politics.

Nesbitt died July 22, 1950, in Talihina, Oklahoma.

## Early life[edit]

Nesbitt was born April 3, 1872, at Milford, Iowa, the son of James and Evaline Nesbitt.[1] His father was a first lieutenant in the United States Army and his grandfather was an Irish immigrant who served under George Washington in the American Revolutionary War.[1]

Growing up in Nebraska, he was educated at Chicago Medical College and practiced medicine in Vinton, Iowa, El Dorado Springs, Missouri, and finally in Watonga, a town in Oklahoma Territory, in 1899.[1] Nesbitt briefly owned the Watonga Herald.[2] He abandoned his practice in 1904 and went to St. Louis, Missouri, to apprentice as a cub reporter and later worked for the Joplin Globe.[1]

In 1906, he returned to Oklahoma to direct the publicity campaign for the Democratic candidates wanting to serve as delegates to the Oklahoma constitutional convention.[2] He did not support the nomination of Charles N. Haskell in the Democratic primary, but ended up serving as secretary for Oklahoma's first governor.[1][3] and helped carry the state seal from Guthrie, Oklahoma, to Oklahoma City in 1910.[1]

## Political career[edit]

Nesbitt represented Pittsburg County in the Oklahoma Legislature during the sessions of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Oklahoma Legislature legislatures.[4]

He supported John C. Walton for governor and served as a Cabinet member under Walton.[1]

## Death[edit]

Nesbitt died July 22, 1950, in Talihina, Oklahoma, of a cerebral hemorrhage.[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Paul Nesbitt, Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. 30, p. 245-246. (accessed July 19, 2013)
2. ^ a b Thoburn, Joseph B. History of Oklahoma, p. 1420.] (accessed July 19, 2013)
3. ^ Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol 14, p. 189. (accessed July 18, 2013)
4. ^ Historic Members Archived 2013-06-22 at WebCite, Oklahoma House of Representatives Archived 2013-06-22 at the Wayback Machine. (accessed July 19, 2013)

* v
* t
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Speakers of the Oklahoma House of Representatives

* Murray
* Wilson
* Durant
* Maxey
* McCrory
* Nesbitt
* Waldrep
* Schwabe
* Gibbons
* McBee
* Harper
* Stovall
* Nance
* Weaver
* Anglin
* Phillips
* Daniel
* Welch
* Blumhagen
* Freeman
* Lansden
* Hill
* Hinds
* Board
* Billingsley
* Bullard
* Nance
* Harkey
* Livingston
* McCarty
* Privett
* Willis
* Draper
* Barker
* Lewis
* Johnson
* Benson
* Adair
* Hiett
* Cargill
* Benge
* Steele
* Shannon
* Hickman
* McCall

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