Biography

07/01/1859 - 09/14/1938

John Galen Homsher, (R13) Lancaster (Part) County, 1908-1938

Early Life:

John Galen Homsher, born July 1, 1859, East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; son of Jacob and Rachel Groff Homsher; attended, Millersville State Normal School (now Millersville University of Pennsylvania); teacher; traveling salesman, A.W. Wright; surveyor and conveyancer; elected, justice of the peace, 1883-1899; married Harriet Viola Eager, 1884, three children, Pennsylvania State Senator Frederick Lloyd Homsher, 1939-1950, John E. Homsher and Mary Elizabeth Homsher Ressler; printer; publisher, Justice of the Peace; publisher, legal blanks; publisher, Strasburg Weekly News, 1898-1938; elected, delegate, Republican State Convention, 1897-1898; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1900-1908; not a candidate for reelection, 1908; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1908-1938; elected, Senate President Pro Tempore, 1923, elected, Senate President Pro Tempore, 1935; died while in office of the Senate, September 13, 1938, Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; interment, Strasburg Mennonite Cemetery, Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Justice of the Peace, 1883-1899.

Printer; publisher, Justice of the Peace; publisher, legal blanks; publisher, Strasburg Weekly News, 1898-1938.

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

Member, Lancaster General Hospital, board of directors; member, Millersville State Teachers College board.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, delegate, Republican State Convention 1897-1898.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1900-1908, not a candidate for reelection, 1908.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 13th district, Lancaster (Part) County, 1908-1938; elected, Senate President Pro Tempore, 1923, elected, Senate President Pro Tempore, 1935; chaired, Canals and Inland Navigation Committee, 1909-1910; Congressional Apportionment Committee, 1911-1914; City Passenger Railways Committee, 1915-1920, 1931-1934; Agriculture Committee, 1921-1922; Elections Committee, 1923-1924; Corporations Committee, 1927-1930; and Banks Committee, 1933-1934.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

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

Legacy: 

A Homsher family member served the 13th senatorial district, 1908-1950.

Son, Frederick Lloyd Homsher, Lancaster (Part) County, 1939-1950. 

Frederick Lloyd Homsher  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

At the time of his death, was the oldest member to have ever served in the state legislature, at age 79.

Homsher to Rothman linage:  

William Gregory Rothman, Pennsylvania State Senator, Senate District 34, 2023 - Grandmother Georgia Jamieson was a “Homsher”.  

Senator Greg Rothman - PA State Senate

Anton Homsher was the common ancestor of John Homsher (his son Fred). John Homsher descended from Anton’s son David Homsher, (Rothman) descend from Anton’s son Daniel Homsher.

Related as, John Homsher 3rd Cousins Thrice Removed, Fred Homsher 4th Cousins Twice Removed. 

Cited:  

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

Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster), September 14, 1938; Senate Journal, April 11, 1935

Smull’s Legislative Handbook (1935-1936) Biographical Sketches of Senators, pages 257 and 285. 

John Galen Homsher (1859-1938) - Find a Grave Memorial