PoliticalGraveyard.com
The Political Graveyard: A Database of American History
Congregationalist Politicians in Illinois
(including United Church of Christ;
Evangelical and Reformed Church;
Congregational Christian Churches)

  William Tabor Abbott (b. 1868) — also known as William T. Abbott — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill.; Evanston, Cook County, Ill. Born in Wells River, Newbury, Orange County, Vt., February 16, 1868. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1920; assistant director, U.S. Bureau of the Budget; assisted in creation of first federal budget. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Shriners. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Orrin S. Abbott and Ella J. (Tabor) Abbott; married, June 28, 1905, to Elsie Parsons Bourland.
  Jackson Leroy Adair (1887-1956) — also known as J. Leroy Adair; Jefferson Leroy Adair — of Muskogee, Muskogee County, Okla.; Quincy, Adams County, Ill. Born in Clayton, Adams County, Ill., February 23, 1887. Democrat. Lawyer; Adams County State's Attorney, 1916-20, 1924-28; member of Illinois state senate 36th District, 1929-33; U.S. Representative from Illinois 15th District, 1933-37; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1936; U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois, 1937-56; died in office 1956. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; American Bar Association; Elks; Moose; Eagles. Died in Quincy, Adams County, Ill., January 19, 1956 (age 68 years, 330 days). Interment at South Side Cemetery, Clayton, Ill.
  Relatives: Son of Henry L. Adair and Sarah Emily (Pevehouse) Adair; married to Maude E. Gruber.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — federal judicial profile — Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Edward Hall Alexander (b. 1902) — also known as Edward H. Alexander — of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill. Born in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., July 9, 1902. Republican. Farmer; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1940. Congregationalist. Member, Lions; Odd Fellows; Freemasons; Shriners. Burial location unknown.
  Orville Elbridge Atwood (1880-1939) — also known as Orville E. Atwood — of Newaygo, Newaygo County, Mich.; Fremont, Newaygo County, Mich.; Lansing, Ingham County, Mich. Born in Morgan Park (now part of Chicago), Cook County, Ill., February 23, 1880. Republican. Farmer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Newaygo County, 1919-22; member of Michigan state senate 26th District, 1923-26, 1929-30; defeated in primary, 1926; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1924; secretary of state of Michigan, 1935-36; defeated, 1936; director, Michigan Sales Tax Division, 1939. Congregationalist. English ancestry. Member, Delta Upsilon; Freemasons. While driving east on U.S. Highway 16, from Lansing to Detroit, he collided with a westbound bus, was badly injured, and died an hour later in McPherson Hospital, Howell, Livingston County, Mich., June 15, 1939 (age 59 years, 112 days). His passenger, auto executive Frank D. Longyear (1879-1939), was also killed. Four passengers on the bus were injuried, including Claud Erickson of Lansing, and State Rep. Martin R. Kronk of Detroit. Interment at Deepdale Memorial Park, Delta Township, Eaton County, Mich.
  Relatives: Son of Orville Elbridge Atwood, Sr. and Martha Elvira (Townsend) Atwood; married 1910 to Evelyn May Forman (1881-1968); married, October 1, 1910, to Evelyn May Forman (1881-1968).
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Charles W. Baker (1876-1963) — also known as "Hand Shaking Charlie" — of Monroe Center, Ogle County, Ill.; Davis Junction, Ogle County, Ill.; Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill. Born in Monroe Center, Ogle County, Ill., July 10, 1876. Republican. Farmer; cattle breeder; member of Illinois state house of representatives 10th District, 1917-25, 1927-29; member of Illinois state senate 10th District, 1929-57. Congregationalist. Member, Farm Bureau; Modern Woodmen; Elks; Moose; Freemasons; Knights Templar; Order of the Eastern Star; Grotto. Died, in St. Anthony Hospital, Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill., February 26, 1963 (age 86 years, 231 days). Interment at Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Ill.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Edna Louisa Beard (1877-1928) — also known as Edna L. Beard — of Orange, Orange County, Vt. Born in Chenoa, McLean County, Ill., July 25, 1877. School teacher; superintendent of schools; member of Vermont state house of representatives, 1921-22; member of Vermont state senate from Orange County, 1923-24. Female. Congregationalist. First woman member of the Vermont legislature. Died in Orange, Orange County, Vt., September 18, 1928 (age 51 years, 55 days). Interment at Orange Center Cemetery, Orange, Vt.
  Relatives: Daughter of Royal Edson Beard and Flora (Curtiss) Beard.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Suzanne K. Branding — of Lake Zurich, Lake County, Ill. Bed and breakfast operator; village president of Lake Zurich, Illinois, 2009. Female. United Church of Christ. Member, Lions. Still living as of 2009.
Orrin N. Carter Orrin N. Carter (b. 1854) — of Morris, Grundy County, Ill.; Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Jefferson County, N.Y., January 22, 1854. Republican. School teacher; lawyer; Grundy County Superintendent of Schools, 1880-82; Grundy County Prosecuting Attorney, 1882-88; Cook County Judge, 1894-1905; justice of Illinois state supreme court, 1906-24. Congregationalist. Member, American Bar Association; Union League. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Benajah Carter and Isabel (Cole) Carter; married, August 1, 1881, to Nettie J. Steven.
  Image source: Illinois Blue Book 1919
  Latham Castle (1900-1986) — of Sandwich, DeKalb County, Ill. Born in Sandwich, DeKalb County, Ill., February 27, 1900. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; lawyer; DeKalb County State's Attorney, 1928-40; Illinois state attorney general, 1953-59; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1956; Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals, 1959-80. Congregationalist. Member, American Bar Association; Phi Kappa Psi; Phi Delta Phi. Died March 10, 1986 (age 86 years, 11 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of John B. Castle and Mollie (Latham) Castle; married, May 1, 1931, to Georgiana Whitcomb.
M. J. Chaney Morris J. Chaney (1858-1940) — of Newell, Buena Vista County, Iowa; Wakonda, Clay County, S.Dak. Born in White Rock, Ogle County, Ill., October 1, 1858. Republican. Farmer; banker; member of South Dakota state house of representatives 2nd District, 1903-10; Speaker of the South Dakota State House of Representatives, 1905-10. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar. Died in Palm Springs, Palm Beach County, Fla., February 8, 1940 (age 81 years, 130 days). Interment at Bluff View Cemetery, Vermillion, S.Dak.
  Relatives: Son of Osborn Chaney and Amanda (Rice) Chaney; married 1886 to Helen McFarline.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: South Dakota Legislative Manual, 1903
Homer S. Cummings Homer Stillé Cummings (1870-1956) — also known as Homer S. Cummings — of Stamford, Fairfield County, Conn.; Greenwich, Fairfield County, Conn. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., April 30, 1870. Democrat. Lawyer; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 1900, 1904, 1920 (alternate), 1924 (member, Platform and Resolutions Committee), 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944 (member, Committee on Rules and Order of Business; speaker), 1948; member of Democratic National Committee from Connecticut, 1900-25; Chairman of Democratic National Committee, 1919-20; mayor of Stamford, Conn., 1900-02, 1904-06; candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut at-large, 1902; Vice-Chair of Democratic National Committee, 1913-19; candidate for U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1916; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1920; U.S. Attorney General, 1933-39; candidate for Presidential Elector for Connecticut. Congregationalist. Member, American Bar Association; American Judicature Society; Freemasons; Knights Templar; Odd Fellows; Elks; Eagles. Died September 10, 1956 (age 86 years, 133 days). Interment at Woodland Cemetery, Stamford, Conn.
  Relatives: Son of Uriah C. Cummings and Audie Schuyler (Stillé) Cummings; married to Cecilia Waterbury.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier
  Image source: Library of Congress
  Charles H. Davis (b. 1906) — of Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill. Born in Fairfield, Wayne County, Ill., January 7, 1906. Republican. Lawyer; chair of Winnebago County Republican Party, 1950; justice of Illinois state supreme court, 1955-60, 1970-75 (6th District 1955-60, 2nd District 1970-75); chief justice of Illinois state supreme court, 1957-58; Judge, Illinois Appellate Court 2nd District, 1964-70. Congregationalist. Member, American Bar Association; American Judicature Society; Phi Delta Phi; Freemasons; Shriners. Burial location unknown.
  Oscar Stanton De Priest (1871-1951) — also known as Oscar De Priest — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Florence, Lauderdale County, Ala., March 9, 1871. Republican. Painter; real estate broker; Cook County Commissioner, 1894-1904; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1908 (alternate), 1920, 1924 (alternate), 1928, 1932, 1936; U.S. Representative from Illinois 1st District, 1929-35; defeated, 1934, 1936, 1938. Congregationalist or Presbyterian. African ancestry. Member, Elks; Freemasons; Odd Fellows. Died in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., May 12, 1951 (age 80 years, 64 days). Interment at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Ill.
  Relatives: Son of Alexander R. De Priest and Mary (Karsner) De Priest; married, February 23, 1898, to Jessie Williams.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Find-A-Grave memorial
  John Abbot Fancher (1855-1931) — also known as John Fancher; Jack Fancher — of Espanola, Spokane County, Wash.; Spokane, Spokane County, Wash. Born in Ogle County, Ill., December 28, 1855. Farmer; postmaster; member of Washington state house of representatives, 1905-09. Congregationalist. Died in Spokane, Spokane County, Wash., April 2, 1931 (age 75 years, 95 days). Interment at Riverside Memorial Park, Spokane, Wash.
  Relatives: Son of John Fancher and Sarah (Johnson) Fancher; married, February 20, 1884, to Nellie Thompson; father of John Thomas Fancher.
  Paul Findley (1921-2019) — of Pittsfield, Pike County, Ill. Born in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., June 23, 1921. Republican. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; candidate for Illinois state senate, 1952; U.S. Representative from Illinois 20th District, 1961-83; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1972. Congregationalist. Member, American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Lions. Died in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., August 9, 2019 (age 98 years, 47 days). Burial location unknown.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — OurCampaigns candidate detail
  John W. Gaebe (1878-1945) — of Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo. Born in Addieville, Washington County, Ill., December 2, 1878. Republican. Ordained minister; farmer; member of Missouri state house of representatives from St. Francois County, 1943-45; died in office 1945. Evangelical and Reformed Church. Member, Farm Bureau. Died April 20, 1945 (age 66 years, 139 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, December 16, 1902, to Emma M. Detring.
  Buell Gordon Gallagher (1904-1978) — also known as Buell G. Gallagher — of Berkeley, Alameda County, Calif.; Granite Springs, Westchester County, N.Y. Born in Rankin, Vermilion County, Ill., February 4, 1904. Democrat. Ordained minister; college professor; president, Talladega College, 1933-43; candidate for U.S. Representative from California 7th District, 1948. Congregationalist. Member, Phi Beta Kappa; Delta Sigma Rho. Died in August, 1978 (age 74 years, 0 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Rev. Elmer David Gallagher and Elma Maryel (Poole) Gallagher; married, September 1, 1927, to June Lucille Sampson.
  John A. Graham (b. 1911) — of Barrington, Cook County, Ill. Born near Irving, Montgomery County, Ill., December 3, 1911. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; member of Illinois state senate, 1959-71, 1973-81 (3rd District 1959-71, 2nd District 1973-81). United Church of Christ. Member, Freemasons; Lions; American Legion; Moose. Burial location unknown.
  Stanley Griswold (1763-1815) — Born in Torrington, Litchfield County, Conn., November 14, 1763. Democrat. Served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; secretary of Michigan Territory, 1805-08; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1809-11; justice of Illinois territorial supreme court, 1810-15; died in office 1815. Congregationalist. Died in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Ill., August 21, 1815 (age 51 years, 280 days). Burial location unknown.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Aaron Hinman Grout (b. 1879) — also known as Aaron H. Grout — of Newport, Orleans County, Vt. Born in Rock Island, Rock Island County, Ill., January 18, 1879. Republican. Vermont secretary of civil and military affairs, 1908-10; member of Vermont state house of representatives, 1923; secretary of state of Vermont, 1923-27. Congregationalist. Burial location unknown.
  Frank Wakeley Gunsaulus (1856-1921) — also known as Frank W. Gunsaulus — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Chesterville, Morrow County, Ohio, January 1, 1856. Republican. Pastor; lecturer; offered prayer, Republican National Convention, 1888 ; president, Armour Institute of Technology, 1893-1921. Congregationalist. Suffered a heart attack and died, in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., March 17, 1921 (age 65 years, 75 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Joseph Gunsaulus and Mary (Hawley) Gunsaulus; married 1875 to Georgeanna Long.
  See also Wikipedia article
  Ulysses Samuel Guyer (1868-1943) — also known as U. S. Guyer — of Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kan. Born near Pawpaw, Lee County, Ill., December 13, 1868. Republican. School principal; superintendent of schools; lawyer; mayor of Kansas City, Kan., 1909-10; U.S. Representative from Kansas 2nd District, 1924-25, 1927-43; defeated, 1911; died in office 1943. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Odd Fellows; Knights of Pythias; Woodmen. Died in Bethesda, Montgomery County, Md., June 5, 1943 (age 74 years, 174 days). Interment at Fairview Cemetery, St. John, Kan.
  Relatives: Son of Joseph H. Guyer and Sarah (Lewis) Guyer; married to Alice Daugherty.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Richard B. Hassell (1852-1942) — of Everett, Snohomish County, Wash. Born in Illinois, November 3, 1852. Congregationalist minister; mayor of Everett, Wash., 1912. Congregationalist. Died in Everett, Snohomish County, Wash., September 26, 1942 (age 89 years, 327 days). Burial location unknown.
  Harry Hermann (1872-1964) — of Laurium, Houghton County, Mich. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., June 9, 1872. Republican. Plumber; steamfitter; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1939-44, 1947-54 (Houghton County 1st District 1939-44, Houghton District 1947-54); defeated, 1936 (Houghton County 1st District), 1944 (Houghton District), 1954 (Houghton District). Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Odd Fellows. Died in 1964 (age about 92 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, November 19, 1902, to Theresa Kasper.
Samuel Insull Samuel Insull (1859-1938) — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill.; Kenilworth, Cook County, Ill.; near Libertyville, Lake County, Ill. Born in London, England, November 11, 1859. Republican. Associate of Thomas Edison and executive of electric utilities; one of the founders of the company that became General Electric; also had major holdings in railroads; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1904; when his utility holding company collapsed, wiping out the stockholders, he fled the country; indicted in 1932 on fraud and embezzlement charges; ultimately extradited from Turkey in 1934; tried in Chicago and found not guilty. Congregationalist. Member, Union League. Died from a heart attack, in the Place de la Concorde station on the Paris Métro subway system, Paris, France, July 16, 1938 (age 78 years, 247 days). Interment at Putney Vale Cemetery, London, England.
  Relatives: Son of Samuel Insull and Emma (Short) Insull; married, May 24, 1899, to Margaret A. Bird.
  Cross-reference: Forest A. Harness
  See also Wikipedia article
  Image source: Time Magazine, November 29, 1926
  Byron Lindberg Johnson (1917-2000) — also known as Byron L. Johnson — of Denver, Colo. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., October 12, 1917. Democrat. Economist; university professor; member of Colorado state house of representatives, 1955-56; U.S. Representative from Colorado 2nd District, 1959-61; defeated, 1956, 1960, 1972; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1960, 1968. Congregationalist. Member, American Economic Association; American Political Science Association; American Association of University Professors; Phi Kappa Phi; Delta Sigma Rho. Died in Englewood, Arapahoe County, Colo., January 6, 2000 (age 82 years, 86 days). Interment at Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colo.
  Relatives: Married, October 22, 1938, to Catherine Elizabeth Teter.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Find-A-Grave memorial
  John Hume Kedzie (1815-1903) — also known as John H. Kedzie — of Evanston, Cook County, Ill. Born in Stamford, Delaware County, N.Y., September 8, 1815. Republican. Lawyer; real estate developer; member of Illinois state house of representatives 7th District, 1877-78. Congregationalist. Scottish ancestry. Died in Evanston, Cook County, Ill., April 9, 1903 (age 87 years, 213 days). Interment at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Ill.
  Kedzie Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois, is named for him.  — Kedzie Street, in Evanston, Illinois, is named for him.
  See also Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Fred L. Kircher (1891-1960) — of Lansing, Ingham County, Mich. Born in Cissna Park, Iroquois County, Ill., November 18, 1891. Republican. Railway yardmaster; oil business; real estate business; candidate for mayor of Lansing, Mich., 1932, 1933, 1934, 1941 (primary); member of Michigan state house of representatives from Ingham County 1st District, 1939-46; defeated in primary, 1946, 1950, 1952, 1954; candidate for Michigan state senate 14th District, 1957. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Eagles; Odd Fellows. Died in 1960 (age about 68 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Brother of Samuel W. Kircher; married 1918 to Ada P. Maher.
Frank Knox William Franklin Knox (1874-1944) — also known as Frank Knox — of Manchester, Hillsborough County, N.H.; Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Mass., January 1, 1874. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; newspaper reporter; newspaper editor; major in the U.S. Army during World War I; delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1920 (member, Committee on Rules and Order of Business); candidate for nomination for Governor of New Hampshire, 1924; candidate for Vice President of the United States, 1936; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1940; U.S. Secretary of the Navy, 1940-44; died in office 1944. Congregationalist. Member, American Legion. Died, following a series of heart attacks, in Washington, D.C., April 28, 1944 (age 70 years, 118 days). Interment at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
  Relatives: Married to Annie Reid.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: New York Red Book 1936
  Alfred Collins Lockwood (1875-1951) — also known as Alfred C. Lockwood — of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Born in Ottawa, La Salle County, Ill., July 20, 1875. Democrat. School teacher; lawyer; superior court judge in Arizona, 1913-24; justice of Arizona state supreme court, 1925-43; chief justice of Arizona Supreme Court, 1929-31, 1935-37, 1941-43. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Elks. Died in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz., October 29, 1951 (age 76 years, 101 days). Interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Calif.
  Relatives: Son of Walter Chichester Lockwood and Elizabeth Will (Peers) Lockwood; married, June 11, 1902, to Daisy Maude Lincoln; fourth great-grandnephew of Abraham Davenport (1715-1789); first cousin thrice removed of Thaddeus Betts; first cousin five times removed of John Davenport and James Davenport; second cousin thrice removed of Hanford Nichols Lockwood; second cousin four times removed of Abraham Davenport (1767-1837) and Theodore Davenport; second cousin five times removed of John Hart; third cousin twice removed of James Lockwood Conger and Homer Nichols Lockwood; third cousin thrice removed of Daniel Lockwood.
  Political families: Conger family of New York; Kellogg-Adams-Seymour-Chapin family of Connecticut and New York; Lockwood-Lanning family of New Jersey (subsets of the Four Thousand Related Politicians).
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  John Arthur Love (1916-2002) — also known as John A. Love — of Denver, Colo. Born in Gibson City, Ford County, Ill., November 29, 1916. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; member of Colorado Republican State Central Committee, 1960; Governor of Colorado, 1963-73; delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1964. Congregationalist. Member, American Bar Association; Rotary; American Legion; Omicron Delta Kappa; Sigma Phi Epsilon. Died January 21, 2002 (age 85 years, 53 days). Cremated.
  Relatives: Son of Arthur C. Love and Mildred (Shaver) Love; married, October 23, 1942, to Ann Daniels.
  See also National Governors Association biography — NNDB dossier — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Owen Lovejoy (1811-1864) — of Princeton, Bureau County, Ill. Born in Albion, Kennebec County, Maine, January 6, 1811. Republican. Minister; member of Illinois state house of representatives, 1854-56; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1856 (speaker); U.S. Representative from Illinois, 1857-64 (3rd District 1857-63, 5th District 1863-64); died in office 1864. Congregationalist. Died in Brooklyn, Kings County, N.Y., March 25, 1864 (age 53 years, 79 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Princeton, Ill.; cenotaph at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
  Relatives: Son of Elizabeth Gordon (Pattee) Lovejoy and Rev. Daniel Lovejoy; brother of Elijah Parish Lovejoy; married 1843 to Eunice Conant (Storrs) Denham; cousin *** of Nathan Allen Farwell; third cousin twice removed of John H. Lovejoy.
  Political family: Lovejoy-Farwell family of Rockland, Maine.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Will Leonard Lowrie (1869-1944) — also known as Will L. Lowrie — of Illinois. Born in Adrian, Lenawee County, Mich., March 8, 1869. Newspaper correspondent; U.S. Vice & Deputy Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, 1899-1901; U.S. Consul in Hobart, 1906; Weimar, 1906-08; Erfurt, 1908-09; Carlsbad, 1909-12; U.S. Consul General in Lisbon, 1912-20; Athens, 1920-22; Wellington, as of 1926-29; Frankfort, as of 1931-32. Congregationalist. Member, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Died April 2, 1944 (age 75 years, 25 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of A. H. Lowrie and Mattie Beckwith (Pease) Lowrie; married, September 18, 1907, to Amy W. Alden.
  Floyd J. Mattheeussen (1930-2005) — of Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., March 29, 1930. Democrat. School teacher and principal; fruit farmer; member of Michigan state house of representatives 44th District, 1965-66; defeated, 1966. United Church of Christ. Member, American Federation of Teachers; NAACP. Died August 26, 2005 (age 75 years, 150 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married to Barbara Marie Schindler.
  George Wilson Mead (1871-1961) — also known as George W. Mead — of Grand Rapids (now Wisconsin Rapids), Wood County, Wis.; Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County, Wis. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., February 22, 1871. Republican. Paper manufacturer; banker; mayor of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 1926-32; delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1932. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Theta Delta Chi; Union League. Died in Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County, Wis., October 2, 1961 (age 90 years, 222 days). Interment at Forest Hill Cemetery, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
  Relatives: Son of Darius Raymond Mead and Abigail Crane (Spare) Mead; married, October 18, 1899, to Ruth Emily Witter.
  Mead Park, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is named for him.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Albinus Nance (1848-1911) — of Osceola, Polk County, Neb.; Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb. Born in La Fayette, Stark County, Ill., March 30, 1848. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; lawyer; member of Nebraska state house of representatives, 1875-78; Speaker of the Nebraska State House of Representatives, 1877-78; delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1876; Governor of Nebraska, 1879-83; president, Osceola Bank and Stromsburg Bank, 1879-88. Congregationalist. Died in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., December 6, 1911 (age 63 years, 251 days). Interment at Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Neb.
  Relatives: Son of Dr. Hiram Nance and Sarah R. (Smith) Nance; married, September 30, 1875, to Sarah White.
  Nance County, Neb. is named for him.
  See also National Governors Association biography — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Barack Hussein Obama Jr. (b. 1961) — also known as Barack Obama; "The Messiah"; "Renegade"; "The Loin King" — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Honolulu, Island of Oahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, August 4, 1961. Democrat. Lawyer; member of Illinois state senate 13th District, 1997-2004; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 2004 (speaker), 2008; U.S. Senator from Illinois, 2005-08; resigned 2008; President of the United States, 2009-17; received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. United Church of Christ. Kenyan ancestry. Still living as of 2020.
  Relatives: Son of Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. and Stanley Ann (Dunham) Obama; married, October 18, 1992, to Michelle LaVaughn Robinson.
  Cross-reference: Joe Wilson — Philip J. Berg — Rod Blagojevich — Timothy W. Jones
  Barack Obama Elementary School (formerly J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School; renamed 2018), in Richmond, Virginia, is named for him.
  Campaign slogan (2008): "Yes We Can!"
  Campaign slogan (2008): "Change We Can Believe In."
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile — OurCampaigns candidate detail
  Books by Barack Obama: Dreams from My Father : A Story of Race and Inheritance (2004) — The Audacity of Hope : Thoughts on Reclaimig the American Dream (2006)
  Books about Barack Obama: Steve Dougherty, Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama — David Mendell, Obama: From Promise to Power — John K. Wilson, Barack Obama: This Improbable Quest — Shelby Steele, A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win — Joseph Vogel, The Obama Movement: Why Barack Obama Speaks to America's Youth — Jodi Kantor, The Obamas — David Maraniss, Barack Obama: The Making of the Man — Jonathan Alter, The Promise: President Obama, Year One — Pete Souza, The Rise of Barack Obama — Jonathan Alter, The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies — Chuck Todd, The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House
  Critical books about Barack Obama: Webster Griffin Tarpley, Obama - The Postmodern Coup: Making of a Manchurian Candidate — Gordon Heslop, The Hope of Audacity: Barack Obama, A Bad Choice — Edward Klein, The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House — Michelle Malkin, Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies — David Limbaugh, The Great Destroyer: Barack Obama's War on the Republic — David Limbaugh, Crimes Against Liberty: An Indictment of President Barack Obama — Dinesh D'Souza, The Roots of Obama's Rage — David Freddoso, Gangster Government: Barack Obama and the New Washington Thugocracy — Stanley Kurtz, Radical-in-Chief: Barack Obama and the Untold Story of American Socialism — Jerome R. Corsi, The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality — Jack Cashill, Deconstructing Obama: The Life, Loves, and Letters of America's First Postmodern President — Kate Obenshain, Divider-in-Chief: The Fraud of Hope and Change — Dinesh D'Souza, Obama's America: Unmaking the American Dream — Dinesh D'Souza, The Roots of Obama's Rage — Phyllis Schlafly & George Neumayr, No Higher Power: Obama's War on Religious Freedom
  Frank Edward Packard (1880-1961) — of North Dakota; Oak Park, Cook County, Ill. Born in Renwick, Humboldt County, Iowa, November 18, 1880. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; newspaper reporter; lawyer; North Dakota state tax commissioner, 1911-18; North Dakota state attorney general, 1918-20; attorney for Standard Oil Company, 1921-46. Congregationalist. Died February 9, 1961 (age 80 years, 83 days). Interment at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, Ill.
  Relatives: Son of Frank D. Packard and Harriet (Olden) Packard; married, September 16, 1903, to Bulah Richardson.
  William Proxmire (1915-2005) — of Madison, Dane County, Wis. Born in Lake Forest, Lake County, Ill., November 11, 1915. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; member of Wisconsin state assembly from Dane County 2nd District, 1951-52; candidate for Governor of Wisconsin, 1952, 1954, 1956 (Democratic); alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1952 (member, Credentials Committee); U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, 1957-89. United Church of Christ. Member, Americans for Democratic Action; Chi Psi. Died, from Alzheimer's disease, in Sykesville, Carroll County, Md., December 15, 2005 (age 90 years, 34 days). Interment at Lake Forest Cemetery, Lake Forest, Ill.
  Relatives: Son of Theodore Stanley Proxmire and Adele (Flanigan) Proxmire; married 1946 to Elsie Rockefeller (third cousin of John Davison Rockefeller IV and Winthrop Paul Rockefeller); married 1956 to Ellen Hodges Sawall.
  Political family: Rockefeller family of New York City, New York (subset of the Four Thousand Related Politicians).
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Thomas Fisher Railsback (b. 1932) — also known as Tom Railsback — of Moline, Rock Island County, Ill. Born in Moline, Rock Island County, Ill., January 22, 1932. Republican. Lawyer; member of Illinois state house of representatives, 1963-66; U.S. Representative from Illinois 19th District, 1967-83; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1972. Congregationalist. Member, Phi Delta Phi; Jaycees; Elks. Still living as of 1998.
  Cross-reference: Ray H. LaHood
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Harold E. Rainville (b. 1907) — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., January 30, 1907. Republican. Public relations executive; campaign manager in many elections for U.S. Sen. Everett M. Dirksen; also special assistant to the Senator; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1952, 1964. Congregationalist. Member, Sigma Delta Chi; Pi Kappa Alpha. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of William Van Buren Rainville and Agnes Marie (Ward) Rainville; married, August 6, 1932, to Mariann Rita Pack.
  Howard Hyde Russell (1855-1946) — of Kansas City, Jackson County, Mo.; Chicago, Cook County, Ill.; Westerville, Franklin County, Ohio. Born in Stillwater, Washington County, Minn., October 21, 1855. Lawyer; Adams County Superintendent of Schools, 1878-84; minister; founder (1895) and national superintendent (1895-1903) of the Anti-Saloon League; Dry candidate for delegate to Ohio convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933. Congregationalist. Member, Anti-Saloon League; Sons of the American Revolution. Died June 30, 1946 (age 90 years, 252 days). Interment at Otterbein Cemetery, Westerville, Ohio.
  Relatives: Son of Rev. Joseph A. Russell and Sarah (Parker) Russell; married, July 17, 1880, to Lillian Davis.
  See also Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  George Edward Sangmeister (1931-2007) — also known as George E. Sangmeister — of Mokena, Will County, Ill. Born in Frankfort, Will County, Ill., February 16, 1931. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict; Will County State's Attorney, 1964-68; member of Illinois state house of representatives, 1973-77; member of Illinois state senate, 1977-87; candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, 1986; U.S. Representative from Illinois, 1989-95 (4th District 1989-93, 11th District 1993-95). Congregationalist. Member, American Legion; Lions. Died, of leukemia, in Silver Cross Hospital, Joliet, Will County, Ill., October 7, 2007 (age 76 years, 233 days). Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Ill.
  Relatives: Married to Doris M. Hinspeter.
  Cross-reference: Daniel Lipinski
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier
  Mark Ashton Saunders (1883-1974) — also known as Mark A. Saunders — of Kewanee, Henry County, Ill. Born in Bradford, Stark County, Ill., September 6, 1883. Republican. Mayor of Kewanee, Ill., 1935-43; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1936, 1940 (alternate), 1948. Congregationalist. Member, Odd Fellows. Died in Kewanee, Henry County, Ill., April 26, 1974 (age 90 years, 232 days). Interment at Pleasant View Cemetery, Kewanee, Ill.
Fred E. Sterling Frederick E. Sterling (b. 1869) — also known as Fred E. Sterling — of Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill. Born in Dixon, Lee County, Ill., June 29, 1869. Republican. Newspaper editor and publisher; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1912, 1920 (member, Credentials Committee); member of Illinois Republican State Central Committee, 1914-16; Illinois Republican state chair, 1916; Illinois state treasurer, 1919-21; Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, 1921-33. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Scottish Rite Masons; Shriners; Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows; Modern Woodmen; Moose; Kiwanis; Elks; Royal League. Burial location unknown.
  Image source: Illinois Blue Book 1919
  Thomas Sterling (1851-1930) — of Springfield, Sangamon County, Ill.; Redfield, Spink County, S.Dak.; Vermillion, Clay County, S.Dak. Born near Amanda, Fairfield County, Ohio, February 20, 1851. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to South Dakota state constitutional convention, 1889; member of South Dakota state senate 30th District, 1889-90; dean, college of law, University of South Dakota, 1901-11; U.S. Senator from South Dakota, 1913-25; delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1916. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Shriners; Odd Fellows; Ancient Order of United Workmen; American Bar Association; American Political Science Association. Died in 1930 (age about 79 years). Interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Md.
  Relatives: Son of Charles Sterling and Anna (Kessler) Sterling; brother of John Allen Sterling; married to Anna Dunn and Emma R. Rowe-Thayer.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  William Ellery Sweet (1869-1942) — also known as William E. Sweet — of Denver, Colo. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., January 27, 1869. Investment banker; Governor of Colorado, 1923-25; defeated (Republican), 1924; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1924; Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Colorado, 1926, 1936 (primary). Congregationalist. Member, Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Psi. Died in Denver, Colo., May 9, 1942 (age 73 years, 102 days). Interment at Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colo.
  Relatives: Son of Channing Sweet; married 1892 to Joyeuse L. Fullerton.
  See also National Governors Association biography
  Frederick H. Wagener (1898-1982) — of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb. Born in O'Fallon, St. Clair County, Ill., November 27, 1898. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; lawyer; secretary of Nebraska Republican Party, 1936-37; secretary to U.S. Sen. Kenneth S. Wherry, 1943-46; Lancaster County Attorney, 1947; delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1948. Congregationalist. Member, Beta Theta Pi; Phi Delta Phi; American Legion; Lions; Elks; Optimist Club; Freemasons; Scottish Rite Masons; Shriners. Died in 1982 (age about 83 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of John A. F. Wagener and Hester (Rable) Wagener; married, October 25, 1925, to Ella E. Hardin.
  Eugene Gilkison Wanger (b. 1933) — also known as Eugene G. Wanger; Gil Wanger — of Lansing, Ingham County, Mich. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., May 16, 1933. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Ingham County 1st District, 1961-62; candidate for Michigan state senate 24th District, 1966. Congregationalist. Member, Jaycees; Phi Alpha Delta; Delta Sigma Rho; Theta Xi; Toastmasters. Still living as of 1982.
  Relatives: Son of Eugene Wanger and Roka Gilkison Wanger; married to Marilyn Rose Morris.
"Enjoy the hospitable entertainment of a political graveyard."
Henry L. Clinton, Apollo Hall, New York City, February 3, 1872
The Political Graveyard

The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. Founded in 1996, it is the Internet's most comprehensive free source for American political biography, listing 320,919 politicians, living and dead.
 
  The coverage of this site includes (1) the President, Vice President, members of Congress, elected state and territorial officeholders in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories; and the chief elected official, typically the mayor, of qualifying municipalities; (2) candidates at election, including primaries, for any of the above; (3) all federal judges and all state appellate judges; (4) certain federal officials, including the federal cabinet, diplomatic chiefs of mission, consuls, U.S. district attorneys, collectors of customs and internal revenue, members of major federal commissions; and political appointee (pre-1969) postmasters of qualifying communities; (5) state and national political party officials, including delegates, alternate delegates, and other participants in national party nominating conventions; (6) Americans who served as "honorary" consuls for other nations before 1950. Note: municipalities or communities "qualify", for Political Graveyard purposes, if they have at least half a million person-years of history, inclusive of predecessor, successor, and merged entities.  
  The listings are incomplete; development of the database is a continually ongoing project.  
  Information on this page — and on all other pages of this site — is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. Users are advised to check with other sources before relying on any information here.  
  The official URL for this page is: https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/IL/congregationalist.html.  
  Links to this or any other Political Graveyard page are welcome, but specific page addresses may sometimes change as the site develops.  
  If you are searching for a specific named individual, try the alphabetical index of politicians.  
Copyright notices: (1) Facts are not subject to copyright; see Feist v. Rural Telephone. (2) Politician portraits displayed on this site are 70-pixel-wide monochrome thumbnail images, which I believe to constitute fair use under applicable copyright law. Where possible, each image is linked to its online source. However, requests from owners of copyrighted images to delete them from this site are honored. (3) Original material, programming, selection and arrangement are © 1996-2023 Lawrence Kestenbaum. (4) This work is also licensed for free non-commercial re-use, with attribution, under a Creative Commons License.
Site information: The Political Graveyard is created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, who is solely responsible for its structure and content. — The mailing address is The Political Graveyard, P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106. — This site is hosted by HDL. — The Political Graveyard opened on July 1, 1996; the last full revision was done on March 8, 2023.

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