Biography

07/08/1873 - 04/09/1929

Edward Ensinger Beidleman (R15) Dauphin County 1913-1919

Early Life:

Edward Ensinger Beidleman, born July 8, 1873, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; son of Thomas and Susan Ensinger Beidleman; public school education; Harrisburg High School, 1892; Keystone Business College; employed, labor foreman, Lochiel Iron Works; assistant, Lochiel Merchandise Company; studied law, admitted, Dauphin County bar, 1898; attorney, private law practice, 1898-1916; law partnership, Beidleman and Hull; married, Katherine Nissley Beidleman, daughter, Katherine; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1905-1908, not a candidate for reelection, 1908; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1913-1918, elected, Senate President Pro Tempore,  1916-1917; elected, Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, 1919-1923; elected, delegate, Republican National Convention, 1924; unsuccessful campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1928; heart attack, Edison Junior High School, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1929; died, April 9, 1929, Polyclinic Hospital, third floor, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; interment, Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Studied law under former Senate of Pennsylvania Pro Tempore, Samuel John Milton McCarrell, who sponsored him before the Dauphin County bar on January 28, 1898. Private law practice. Formed law partnership with Arthur H. Hull, Beidleman and Hull, 15 South 3rd Street, Harrisburg. Able to practice before the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. 

 Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Pennsylvania State and Dauphin County Bar Associations; director, Union Trust Company of Harrisburg; held a seat, Harrisburg Board of Trade; engaged, Dauphin County’s fraternal organizations, Robert Burns Lodge No. 464 Free and Accepted Masons; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Thirty-second Degree Freemasonry; Zembo Temple; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Knights of Macabees; Knights of Pythias; Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Royal Arcanum; Loyal Order of Moose.  Local community associations, Harrisburg Club, Harrisburg Republican Club, West End Republican Club, Presbyterian Church.

Two-time president, Pennsylvania State Fireman’s Association, declined third term citing wouldn’t have enough time to devout to the office. Active firefighter, Mount Pleasant Fire Company, No.8.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1905-1908; not a candidate for reelection, 1908. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 15th district, Dauphin County, 1913-1918; committee assignments, Appropriations, Banks and Building and Loan Associations (Chairman), City Passenger Railways, Judiciary General, Public Grounds and Buildings, Public Roads and Highways; elected, Senate President pro tempore, 1916-1917, ex-oficio, of all senate committees while president pro tempore; resigned, Senate, January 20, 1919.

Elected, Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, under Governor William Cameron Sproul, 1919-1923.  

Elected, delegate, Republican National Convention, 1924. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1928.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

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

Legacy: 

Last words “I guess, I’ll turnover and get some sleep.”

The second Pennsylvania State Senator, President pro tempore to become lieutenant governor. 

John Peter Shindel Gobin, Pennsylvania State Senate, Lebanon County 1885-1899, Senate President Pro Tempore, 1891-1892; 7th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania,  Governor William Alexis Stone, 1899-1903. 

John Peter Shindel Gobin  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

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

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1916). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1116, 1123-1126, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1093.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1917). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 868. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1126.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1921-1922). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Biographical Sketch of Lieutenant Governor, page 318. 

The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) Tuesday, April 09, 1929, page 1.

Edward Ensinger Beidleman (1873-1929) - Find a Grave Memorial