John Motley Morehead II
American politician and businessman (1866–1923)
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John Motley Morehead II (July 20, 1866 – December 13, 1923) was an American politician and businessman. A Republican, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina.
John Motley Morehead II | |
|---|---|
Harris & Ewing portrait of Morehead, taken between 1905 and 1923 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911 | |
| Preceded by | William W. Kitchin |
| Succeeded by | Charles M. Stedman |
| Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party | |
| In office August 17, 1910 – 1916 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 20, 1866 |
| Died | December 13, 1923 (aged 57) Charlotte, North Carolina, US |
| Party | Democratic (until 1908) Republican (from 1908) |
| Children | 3, including John |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
Early life and education
Morehead was born on July 20, 1866, in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of four children born to John Lindsay Morehead and Sarah (née Phifer) Morehead.[1] His grandfathers were John Motley Morehead I and William Fulenwider Phifer.[2]
Educated at public schools, he attended the Bingham Military School and studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating from the latter in 1886 with a Bachelor of Arts.[2] He also completed a business course at Bryant & Stratton College.[3] He lived in Spray.[4]
Career
For two years, Morehead was the collecting teller of the First National Bank of Charlotte, then for the following two years was a tobacco merchant in Durham.[2] He also had interests in the agricultural and manufacturing industries.[3] In 1893 or 1894, he founded the James T. Morehead Company, a textile manufacturer created in the aftermath of the James T. Morehead Company, a compant owned by his father and uncle.[2] Until 1908, Morehead was a Democrat, afterwards being a Republican.[2] He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, from March 4, 1909, to March 3, 1911, representing North Carolina's 5th district. He refused to run for the following election.[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1918 United States Senate election in North Carolina.[4]
From August 17, 1910,[5] to 1916, Morehead was chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, and from 1916 to until his resignation in 1922, was a member of the Republican National Committee.[3] Ideologically, he leaned conservative.[6]
Following his political career, Morehead participated in the manufacturing industry, particularly that of wooden goods.[3]
Personal life and death
On April 5, 1893, Morehead married Mary Josephine Garrett; they had three children together, including John Lindsay Morehead. He was Presbyterian. He was also related to John Motley Morehead III.[2] He died on December 13, 1923, aged 57, in Charlotte, from pneumonia,[1] and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery, in Charlotte.[3]