Biography

01/16/1836 - 08/31/1918

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, 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.

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

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

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=3191

Legacy:

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

At the time was known as the “Father of the House”

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

Cited:

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.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96117321/henry-gransback