Member Biography

William Henry Keyser Sr.

Member
Sessions Office Position District Party
1901-1902       3 Republican
1903-1904       3 Republican
1905-1906       3 Republican
1907-1908       5 Republican
1909-1910       5 Republican
1911-1912       5 Republican

COUNTIES: Philadelphia  


Biography

05/19/1855 - 02/15/1917


William Henry Keyser, Sr., (R3) Philadelphia County 1901-1906 (R5) Philadelphia County 1906-1912

Early Life:

William Henry Keyser, Sr., born, May 19, 1855, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of Andrew J and Sarah Keyser; clerk, Leary’s Bookstore; proprietor, William H. Keyser and Company, wholesale school book dealer; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1885- resigned, January 28, 1901; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, Special Election, February 19, 1901-1912; unsuccessful campaign, Special Election, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1913; married, Eva Bayles Keyser, (d.1895), children, Clara L. Keyser, Andrew Ellwood Keyser, William Henry Keyser, Jr.; died, February 15, 1917, (aged 61), Wynnewood, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; interment, West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives as a in 1885- resigned, from the House, January 28, 1901; championed, Sheriff’s Bill, 1887; a bill to allow foreign steamboat pilots to own property in Pennsylvania; measure granting right-of-way to street railroad engineers.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, Special Election, 3rd district, February 19, 1901-1906; vacancy, Francis A. Osbourne, death; committee assignments, Appropriations, City Passenger Railways (Chairman), Education, Finance, Insurance, Judiciary Special, Law and Order, Legislative Apportionment, Municipal Affairs.

Unsuccessful campaign, Special Election, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1913.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=3419

Cited:

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1912). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1003, 1010-1013, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 982.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89351608/william-henry-keyser