Representative Fred Cramer Gilchrist View All Years

FRED C. GILCHRIST, SR.

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Fred C. Gilchrist, Sr., of Laurens, Pocahontas County, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following:

Fred Cramer Gilchrist, teacher, lawyer, Iowa legislator and United States Congressman, died at his home in Laurens, Iowa, March 10, 1950, at the age of 81. He was born June 2, 1868, in California, Washington County, Pennsylvania, the son of Professor James C. and Hannah Cramer Gilchrist. He lived in Pennsylvania and West Virginia until 1876 at which time he moved with his parents to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where his father established and was the first president of the Iowa Normal School, now known as Iowa State Teachers College. Mr. Gilchrist was graduated from the Iowa Normal School in 1887 and he then moved to a farm southeast of Laurens, Iowa. He taught rural school near Laurens and was principal of the Laurens School for one year. He also was the principal of the Rolfe, Iowa, Public School for two years. At the age of 21 he was elected county superintendent of schools, the youngest official of this kind in the state. He served in this capacity for two years. He entered Law School at the State University from which he was graduated and then admitted to the Bar in 1893. He returned to Laurens and practiced law continually for 57 years.

In 1901 Mr. Gilchrist was elected State Representative from Humboldt and Pocahontas Counties serving in the Twenty-ninth General Assembly. He was elected State Senator for the Fortieth General Assembly. In 1922 he was elected State Senator for the fiftieth senatorial district and served until 1930. He was then elected to serve in the Seventy-fourth Congress as United States Congressman from the then tenth Congressional District later known as the sixth and now known as the eighth district, and served six consecutive terms for a period of 14 years until January 1, 1945.

During his years in Congress Mr. Gilchrist was the sponsor of the Iowa Corn Warehousing Act which was later used by the United States Department of Agriculture in the corn sealing program throughout the United States.

He was also the author of the Gilchrist Amendment to the Iowa Constitution limiting the number of representatives and senators to that body.

He was married in 1896 to Ellen Louise Hurley and to this union three children were born: Frances G. Hakes, Fred Cramer Gilchrist, Jr., and Morris G. Allen, all of Laurens, who together with his wife survive him.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-fourth. General Assembly: That in the passing of the Honorable Fred C. Gilchrist, the state has lost an able and honored citizen and the Senate tenders, by this resolution the sincere sympathy to the surviving members of his family in their sorrow.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary be directed to forward enrolled copies to the members of the family of the deceased.

R. J. OLTMAN,

FRANK C. BYERS,

DEVERE WATSON,

Committee.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.