Member Biography

Biography

Harry Gransback, Sr. (R2) Philadelphia (Part) County 1901-1906

Early Life:

Harry Gransback, Sr., born January 16, 1836, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of George Ofert and Sarah Glading Gransback; public school education until age, 13; married, Elizabeth Walker, 1856, children, Samuel Glading Gransback, Mary Gransback, Harry Gransback, George Gransback, James Madison Gransback, James Madison Gransback, Warner Gransback; private, Company C, 20th Regiment, Pennsylvania Emergency Militia, Civil War, 1862; re-enlisted, Pennsylvania Emergency Militia, Civil War, 1863, honorably discharged; iron moldering trade (5 years); assistant assessor, Internal Revenue Department, Philadelphia, 1864-1865; foundry and scrap iron business; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1895-1900, resigned; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, special election, 1901-1902; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1903-1906; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1909-1918; died, August 31, 1918, (aged 83), in office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1895-1900, resigned, elected, Pennsylvania State Senate.  

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2nd district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1901-1902; special election, vacancy, death, George Holzworth, May 13, 1900, elected, November 6, 1900.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2nd district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1903-1906; standing committee assignments, Senate of Pennsylvania, extraordinary and regular session, 1906, Elections, Insurance, Law and Order, Legislative Apportionment, Municipal Affairs, Public Health and Sanitation. 

Extraordinary session, legislation accomplished by the Senate, 1906, personal registration law, direct primary legislation, enacted; up until this legislation candidates were chosen at conventions.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1909-1918, died in office. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy: 

Died, house he was born in, 119 Fairmont Avenue, Philadelphia. 

At the time of his death was known as the “Father of the House”.

Not sure if there is a relation to Gransback Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19134.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Cox, Harold. Senate1790-1869 (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1906) Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 823, 829-834, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 802.

Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Saturday, August 31, 1918, page 1.

Henry Gransback (1835-1918) - Find a Grave Memorial