James Sheakley (April 24, 1829December 10, 1917) was an American Democratic politician who was the Governor of the District of Alaska from 1893 to 1897. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1877.
Background
Sheakley was born on April 24, 1829, to Moses and Susanna (Limber) Sheakley in Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the Sheakleyville common school and Meadville Academy. Sheakley was trained as a cabinet maker but worked instead as a teacher in rural schools.
The California Gold Rush prompted Sheakley to head west. Sheakley returned to Pennsylvania after his work in the gold fields and married Lydia Long of Greenville, Pennsylvania on December 25, 1855. The marriage would produce three children, two daughters who died as children and one son who survived to adulthood. He advocated passage of legislation blocking the use of rebates of freight charges during the transportation of petroleum products on the railroads. He pushed through an appropriation that enlarged the Bureau of Education. During the resolution of the 1876 U.S. presidential election, he helped lead a filibuster blocking the bill granting the Presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes. After starting this position in Wrangell, Alaska on August 9, 1887, the Commissioner of Education added to his duties by appointing his superintendent of schools for southeastern Alaska.