Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2020/Spring/Section25/Jimmy Lea

Benjamin James Lea (born June 23, 1887) was a farmer and state senator from Yanceyville, North Carolina. He was the son of the Confederate captain Jeremiah Alexander Lea. Lea studied law at Harvard and later psychology at the Sorbonne in Paris. He inherited multiple plantations from his father but mismanaged them, leaving him financially destitute. He also served in the North Carolina State Senate. His later life was marked by struggles with alcoholism, and he was financially supported by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in his later years. He died on January 15, 1932.

Early Life
Benjamin James “Jim” Lea was born on June 23, 1887 in Caswell County, North Carolina to Captain Jeremiah Alexander Lea, a Confederate captain, and Harriet Rebecca Graves, the daughter of a farmer. His father served in the 6th regiment of the Confederate States army. Lea studied law at Harvard and later psychology at the Sorbonne in Paris. Lea was briefly engaged to Jane Carwell, but she died of typhoid before they were married. Lea described his engagement to Carwell as the only period of his life were he “didn’t touch a drop” of alcohol.

Father’s Plantation
Lea inherited seven plantations, about 11,000 acres, as well as $45,000 and $20,000 in railroad shares, from his father shortly after graduating from Harvard. Lea authorized George Ducolt to look over the land while he traveled through Europe and studied in Paris. Ducolt transferred many of the properties to himself and his wife.

Murder
Lea shot and killed Ducolt for misappropriating Lea’s funds. Lea was acquitted by the jury, likely due to his connection to his late father.

River Plantation
Lea managed a river plantation after losing his initial inheritance. However, Lea “wasn’t interested” in the farm, and his tenants took most of his earnings.

State Senate term
Lea served in the North Carolina General Assembly. Lea claimed that because “the presiding officer of the Senate didn't assign me to the committees I [Lea] wished”, his term in Senate was “one long, lasting drinking bout”.

Alcoholism/homelessness
Lea’s alcoholism drew ire from the local community, and many viewed him as an “example horrible” of the effects of alcoholism. Lea’s actions were condemned by local religious leaders, and many tried to reform him. Lea became an atheist later in life. Lea did not work and received money from both the welfare office and the local United Daughters of the Confederacy chapter.

Welfare in the South during the Great Depression
During the Great Depression, rampant poverty was addressed through domestic projects aimed at improving welfare2. President Franklin D. Roosevelt coined the term “New Deal” during his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination in 19322. “New Deal” programs, like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the National Recovery Administration (NRA) aimed to address the effects of poverty