Joseph Bosworth (Kentucky politician)

Joseph F. Bosworth was born to Benjamin Bosworth and Mary Cloud on October 3, 1866, in Fayette County, Kentucky. He grew up on his father's farm and received his early education from a rural school taught by novelist James Lane Allen. For three years, he attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and then enrolled in the University of Virginia, where he studied law. He married Elizabeth Veal in 1890, in Tazewell, Tennessee, they had two children, Joseph F. Jr., and Eleanora.^[1][2]

After graduating, Bosworth began studying as an apprentice under Joe D. Hunt, a lawyer from Lexington. In 1889, Bosworth was admitted to the bar. Afterward, he traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, where he stayed for a short time. In September 1889, he settled in Middlesboro, Kentucky, where for about ten years, he maintained a successful law practice.^[1]

Bosworth served as director of the Yellow Creek Coal Company, which operated in Bell County, Kentucky. He served as vice-president and director of the Mingo Coal and Coke Company. The company owned and operated several coal mines in Claiborne County, Tennessee, and produced over 800 tons of coal a day. Bosworth also served as director of the Middlesboro Coal Land Owning and Leasing Company, which owned over 5,000 acres (20 km²) of land in Bell County.^[1]

Political career

Bosworth's political career started in 1890 when he was elected to serve on the Middlesboro city council for two years. In 1893, he was elected judge of Middlesboro, Kentucky. He was re-elected as judge in 1897 and served until 1902, when he was elected city attorney, a position he held until 1903.^[1][2]

In 1905, Bosworth was elected Kentucky state representative from the 94th district, which comprised Bell, Harlan, Leslie, and Perry counties. He served until 1908. In 1907, was elected state senator from the 17th district, which comprised Bell, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Pulaski, and Rockcastle counties. He was re-elected as state senator in 1911 and served until 1916.^[1]

In 1919, Bosworth was again elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing the 84th district, which consisted of Bell County. This same election cycle, Republicans won a majority in the state house and his peers chose Bosworth to be speaker, the first Republican to hold the office. He served as speaker for two years from 1920 to 1922 until Republicans lost their majority.^[1][3] He was the last Republican speaker until the election of Jeff Hoover in 2017. He served as a representative until 1940.^[4][5][6]

During his time in office, Bosworth made several amendments to the constitution of Kentucky. Over eight years, he introduced several amendments to improve the quality of roads in Kentucky, earning him the nickname "The Father of Good Roads". The amendments permitted the state to loan its funds and credit to supplement the undertaking of road districts and the building of highways. He also helped Middlesboro become a third-class city instead of a fourth-class city, thus allowing it to have a circuit court. Bosworth helped secure a law allowing all third-class cities to maintain a city commission government. He helped passed a bill creating the 33rd and 34th judicial districts. Other bills pioneered by Bosworth include the Kentucky Pure Food and Drug Law, and the appropriation law, which completed the current Kentucky State Capitol Building.^[1][2][5][7]

Bosworth left office in 1940. On April 26, 1941, at the age of 74, he died in Middlesboro, Kentucky, after a short illness. Before he died, he filed to run for mayor of Middlesboro. He was buried in the Middlesboro Cemetery in Middlesboro.^[2]