Fred Gilchrist | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Cunningham |
| Succeeded by | James I. Dolliver |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's8th district | |
| In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Thurston |
| Succeeded by | Charles B. Hoeven |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's10th district | |
| In office March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 | |
| Preceded by | L. J. Dickinson |
| Succeeded by | district eliminated |
| Member of theIowa Senate | |
| In office 1923–1931 | |
| Member of theIowa House of Representatives | |
| In office 1902–1904 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fred Cramer Gilchrist (1868-06-02)June 2, 1868 California, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 10, 1950(1950-03-10) (aged 81) Laurens, Iowa, U.S |
| Resting place | Laurens Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Iowa |
| Profession | Educator and academic administrator |
Fred Cramer Gilchrist (June 2, 1868 – March 10, 1950) was an American educator who served as a seven-term RepublicanU.S. Representative fromIowa, from 1931 to 1945.
Born inCalifornia, Pennsylvania, inWashington County, Pennsylvania, Gilchrist moved with his parents toCedar Falls, Iowa, in 1871.He attended the public schools. He graduated fromState Teachers' College,Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1886. From 1886 to 1890, he was a teacher and superintendent of two school districts inPocahontas County, Iowa –Laurens, Iowa, andRolfe, Iowa.
From 1890 to 1892 he served as that County's superintendent of schools. Leaving school administration for law school, he graduated from theUniversity of Iowa College of Law at Iowa City in 1893, and wasadmitted to the bar that year. He then returned home and commenced private practice inLaurens.
He served as a member of theIowa House of Representatives for one term, in 1902-1904. He also served as president of the board of education of Laurens from 1905 to 1928. Returning to legislative service, he served theIowa Senate from 1923 to 1931.
Between 1930 and 1944, Gilchrist served seven terms as a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa. During his service, the size of Iowa's house delegation shrank from eleven (in 1931) to nine (in 1933) and then to eight (in 1943), requiring redistricting before the 1932 and 1942 elections. Thus, without ever changing addresses, Gilchrist represented three different congressional districts. In 1930, he ran for and won the seat inIowa's 10th congressional district thatL. J. Dickinson vacated in his successful run for the U.S. Senate.
Two years later, with his home county (Pocahontas) now inIowa's 8th congressional district, Gilchrist was one of three Iowa Republican House candidates to survive the Roosevelt landslide. He was re-elected four more times from that district, only once (in 1934) in a close race. In 1942, following the next redistricting, Pocahontas County was now inIowa's 6th congressional district, where Gilchrist won re-election once. However, in 1944, he was challenged for the Republican nomination byJames I. Dolliver ofFort Dodge, Iowa. In a primary election characterized by low turnout, Dolliver defeated Gilchrist,[1] and went on to win the general election. In all, Gilchrist served in Congress from March 4, 1931, to January 3, 1945.
Upon his return to Laurens, Gilchrist resumed the practice of law. He died in Laurens on March 10, 1950, and was interred in Laurens Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 10th congressional district 1931 – 1933 (obsolete district) | Succeeded by (eliminated) |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 8th congressional district 1933 – 1943 (obsolete district) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 6th congressional district 1943 – 1945 (obsolete district) | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
