Born in
Preston, England, Newsham immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1839, settling in
Monroe County, Illinois. He received an academic education, was employed in a
mercantile establishment for two years, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1860, commencing practice in
Edwardsville, Illinois.
Civil War During the
Civil War, he served as
adjutant of the
32nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the
Union Army, resigning in 1864 on account of disabling injuries received in action on July 4 of that year.
Move to Louisiana Newsham moved to
Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in 1864 where he was clerk of the fourth judicial district court of the
Parish of Ascension and was admitted to the
Louisiana bar in 1865, commencing practice in Donaldsonville. He moved to
St. Francisville, Louisiana, in 1867 and was a member of the
Louisiana Constitutional Convention in 1867 and 1868.
Congress Upon
Louisiana's being admitted back into the
Union, Newsham was elected a
Republican to the
U.S. House of Representatives in 1868 from
Louisiana's 3rd congressional district and served until 1869. He established the
Feliciana Republican in 1868 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1870, this time from
Louisiana's 4th congressional district, and served for that district until 1871. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1870 and thus left office when the term ended in 1871. Afterward, he worked as a
planter and
merchant in
St. Francisville, Louisiana until his retirement in 1913.
Death and burial Newsham died in St. Francisville on October 22, 1919, and was interred in
Grace Church Cemetery in St. Francisville. ==Notes==