William Walton Griest

William Walton Griest

William Walton Griest (born September 22, 1858 in Christiana , Lancaster County , Pennsylvania , †  December 5, 1929 in Mount Clemens , Michigan ) was an American politician . Between 1909 and 1929 he represented the state of Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives .

Career

William Griest attended the public schools of his home country and then until 1876 the Millersville State Normal School . After that he taught himself as a teacher. He served on the Lancaster City School Board for 24 years . He was also the director of the Pennsylvania Public School Memorial Association . In addition, Griest was active in the newspaper business: Between 1882 and 1888 he published the Inquirer newspaper in Lancaster . From 1887 to 1899 he served as bureau chief with the Lancaster County County Council. He was also a member of his state's tax committee. Politically, he joined the Republican Party . He was a delegate to several regional party conventions in Pennsylvania. Between 1896 and 1928 he also took part in all Republican National Conventions . In the years 1899 to 1903 he held the office of executive officer ( Secretary of the Commonwealth ) of Pennsylvania. Griest was also a member of his state's pardon committee. Between 1903 and 1927, also during his time as a congressman, he was president of several electrical and tram companies.

In the congressional elections of 1908 Griest was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the ninth constituency of Pennsylvania , where he succeeded Henry B. Cassel on March 4, 1909 . After ten re-elections, he could remain in Congress until his death on December 5, 1929 . Since 1923 he represented the tenth district of his state there. From 1923 he also headed the Postal Committee. During Griest's time as a congressman, the First World War and the ratification of the 16th , 17th , 18th and 19th amendments to the Constitution took place .

Web links

• William Walton Griest in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• William Walton Griest in the database of Find a Grave (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
Henry B. Cassel	United States House Representative for Pennsylvania (9th constituency) March 4, 1909 - March 3, 1923	Henry Winfield Watson
Charles Robert Connell	United States House Representative for Pennsylvania (10th Constituency) March 4, 1923 - December 5, 1929	J. Roland Kinzer