Member Biography

Biography

Horace Walker Schantz, Sr. (R16) Lehigh County 1915-1930

Early Life:

Horace Walker Schantz, Sr., born July 31, 1875, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; son of Ambrose and Emma Backenstoe Schantz; Emaus High School; Perkiomen Seminary, Princeton, law, 1902; admitted, Lehigh County bar; attorney; county justice of the peace, deputy register of wills; appointed solicitor, Board of Prison Inspectors, County Auditors, Lehigh district attorney, 1904; elected, Republican Pennsylvania State Senate, 1915-1930, elected, President Pro Tempore, 1927-1929; married, Mamie Hartman Schantz, children, Linn Hartman Schantz, Marguerite Schantz Rothermel, Joe Hartman Schantz, Vernon Hartman Schantz, Glenn Hartman Schantz, Horace W. Schantz; died, January 28, 1937 (age 61) influenza, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; internment Upper Milford Mennonite Church Cemetery, Zionsville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career: 

County justice of the peace, deputy register of wills, borough of Macungie, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Appointed, solicitor, Board of Prison Inspectors, County Auditors, becoming the GOP’s first Lehigh district attorney in 1904. Admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme and Superior Courts. Chaired, Lehigh County Republican Committee, 1912-1934. During World War I, involved in Lehigh County’s Liberty Loan drive; served, president, Lehigh County Blind Association. 

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

Member, Public Charities Association of Pennsylvania; vice president, member board of trustees, Perkiomen School; president, Macungie Bank; chaired, Lehigh County Historical Society’s advisory board; member, alumni of Princeton University; Allentown Aerie No. 110 Fraternal Order of Eagles; Vera Cruz Castle, No. 409, Knights of Golden Eagle; Allentown, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Allentown Nest, No. 72 Order of Owls; Lehigh Lodge, No. 326 Free and Accepted Mason; Allen Council No.28 Royal and Select Master Mason; Lehigh Consistory Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Of Freemasonry; Allentown Forest, No. 41, Tall Cedars of Lebanon; Emaus Relief Association Allen Royal Arch Masonry Chapter 203; Allentown, Lodge, No. 129, Loyal Order of Moose; Allentown Commendary No.20 Knights Templar; Mary Conclave No.5 Knights of Red Cross of Constantine. Lecha Wonk Tribe No.21 Improved Order of Red Men. 

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Republican Pennsylvania State Senate, 16th district, Lehigh County, 1915-1930, elected, president pro tempore, 1927-1929, defeated, Henry L. Snyder, 1930; committee assignments, chaired Library Committee, 1915-1916, Agriculture Committee, 1917-1918, 1927-1928; Railroads Committee, 1919-1922; Appropriations Committee, 1923-1926, Agriculture Committee, 1927-1928, member, Congressional Apportionment, Education, Elections, Judicial Apportionment, Judiciary General, Law and Order, Legislative Apportionment, Municipal Affairs, Public Roads and Highways. 

Legacy:

First Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, elected, 16th district, Lehigh County.  

Cited: 

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

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1923-1924). Whitmore, R.E., (Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 983, 989, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 964.

The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Friday January 29, 1937, Pages 5, 23. 

Senator Horace Walker Schantz Sr. (1875-1937) - Find a Grave Memorial