John G. Utterback
Encyclopedia
John Gregg Utterback was a U.S. Representative
from Maine
, and cousin of Hubert Utterback
.
Born in Franklin, Indiana
, Utterback attended the public schools of his native city.
He was employed in a carriage factory 1889-1892.
He engaged as a traveling salesman 1892-1905, during which time he resided in Jackson, Michigan
, Rochester, New York
, and Winchester, Massachusetts
.
He finally settled in Bangor, Maine
, in 1905, where he engaged in the retail sale of carriages, and later automobiles.
Utterback served as a Bangor city councilman in 1912-1913, alderman in 1913-1914, and as Mayor of Bangor in 1914-1915. He was Chairman of the Maine Motor Vehicle Conference Committee in 1930, and served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1932.
Utterback was elected as a Democrat
to the Seventy-third United States Congress (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1935), defeating Republican Owen Brewster
by only 324 votes. Brewster bitterly contested the result following his defeat, claiming voter fraud in the French-Canadian districts of Aroostook County, but Utterback prevailed. Utterback was helped by a lack of sympathy for Brewster among the Republican 'old guard'. Out-going Republican Governor William Tudor Gardiner
declared "preposterous" the idea, suggested by Brewster, that he personally go to Aroostook County to investigate the alleged fraud.
Fittingly for a candidate from 'wet' Bangor, Utterback made his first congressional speech in support of the repeal of Prohibition
, around which he'd built his campaign. Bangor's saloons had been a major target of the Maine's prohibition law (in force for 75 years), the oldest in the nation. The Maine law
was widely supported in rural districts but not in the city itself. Brewster, from the nearby town of Dexter
(but whose law office was also in Bangor), continued to stand for prohibition even though the national Republican Party now favored repeal.
The Utterback-Brewster contest was rejoined in 1934 and this time Utterback lost. One issue was Congress' failure to support a planned tidal power
project in Passamaquoddy Bay
, which would have been a major job-creator in Utterback's district. As consolation, he was appointed a United States Marshal for the district of Maine in 1935 by Gov. Brann, and served until his resignation in 1944. He then resumed the automobile business as president of the Utterback Corp.. He died in Bangor, Maine
, July 11, 1955, and is interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and cousin of Hubert Utterback
Hubert Utterback
Hubert Utterback served very briefly on the Iowa Supreme Court, then was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, serving only one term.-Personal background:...
.
Born in Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
, Utterback attended the public schools of his native city.
He was employed in a carriage factory 1889-1892.
He engaged as a traveling salesman 1892-1905, during which time he resided in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
.
He finally settled in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, in 1905, where he engaged in the retail sale of carriages, and later automobiles.
Utterback served as a Bangor city councilman in 1912-1913, alderman in 1913-1914, and as Mayor of Bangor in 1914-1915. He was Chairman of the Maine Motor Vehicle Conference Committee in 1930, and served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1932.
Utterback was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Seventy-third United States Congress (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1935), defeating Republican Owen Brewster
Owen Brewster
Ralph Owen Brewster was an American politician from Maine. Brewster, a Republican, was solidly conservative...
by only 324 votes. Brewster bitterly contested the result following his defeat, claiming voter fraud in the French-Canadian districts of Aroostook County, but Utterback prevailed. Utterback was helped by a lack of sympathy for Brewster among the Republican 'old guard'. Out-going Republican Governor William Tudor Gardiner
William Tudor Gardiner
William Tudor Gardiner was an American politician and the 55th Governor of Maine.- Early life :Gardiner was born in Newton, Massachusetts on June 12, 1892. He studied at the Groton School. He went to Harvard University for his higher studies and completed his law degree in 1917.- First World War...
declared "preposterous" the idea, suggested by Brewster, that he personally go to Aroostook County to investigate the alleged fraud.
Fittingly for a candidate from 'wet' Bangor, Utterback made his first congressional speech in support of the repeal of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, around which he'd built his campaign. Bangor's saloons had been a major target of the Maine's prohibition law (in force for 75 years), the oldest in the nation. The Maine law
Maine law
The Maine law, passed in 1851 in Maine, was one of the first statutory implementations of the developing temperance movement in the United States.-History:Temperance activist Neal Dow helped craft this law...
was widely supported in rural districts but not in the city itself. Brewster, from the nearby town of Dexter
Dexter, Maine
Dexter is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bangor, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
(but whose law office was also in Bangor), continued to stand for prohibition even though the national Republican Party now favored repeal.
The Utterback-Brewster contest was rejoined in 1934 and this time Utterback lost. One issue was Congress' failure to support a planned tidal power
Tidal power
Tidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power - mainly electricity....
project in Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Most of the bay lies within Canada, with its western shore bounded by Washington County, Maine. The southernmost point is formed by...
, which would have been a major job-creator in Utterback's district. As consolation, he was appointed a United States Marshal for the district of Maine in 1935 by Gov. Brann, and served until his resignation in 1944. He then resumed the automobile business as president of the Utterback Corp.. He died in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, July 11, 1955, and is interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
.