William Walton Griest
Encyclopedia
William Walton Griest was a Republican
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
William W. Griest was born in Christiana, Pennsylvania
. He graduated from the Millersville State Normal School
in 1876. He was engaged in teaching, and was a member of the city school board of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, for twenty-four years. He was the director and an incorporator of the Pennsylvania Public School Memorial Association. From 1882 to 1888, he was engaged in newspaper work as editor of the Inquirer, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He served as chief clerk in the county commissioner’s office. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Tax Commission, and a delegate to several Republican State conventions and to every Republican National Convention
from 1896
to 1928
. He was the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
from 1899 to 1903. He served as a member of the State sinking fund commission and of the board of pardons. He also served as president of lighting and street railway companies from 1903 to 1927.
Griest was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-first
and to the ten succeeding Congresses and until his death at Mount Clemens, Michigan
. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Post Office and Post Roads during the Sixty-eighth
through the Seventieth
Congresses. He was laid to rest at Woodward Hill Cemetery
in Lancaster.
The W. W. Griest Building
in downtown Lancaster
is named in his honor.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
William W. Griest was born in Christiana, Pennsylvania
Christiana, Pennsylvania
Christiana is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,124 at the 2000 census. In 1851 it was the site of the Battle of Christiana .-Geography:...
. He graduated from the Millersville State Normal School
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA, 3 miles southwest of Lancaster. Millersville University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.-History:...
in 1876. He was engaged in teaching, and was a member of the city school board of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, for twenty-four years. He was the director and an incorporator of the Pennsylvania Public School Memorial Association. From 1882 to 1888, he was engaged in newspaper work as editor of the Inquirer, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He served as chief clerk in the county commissioner’s office. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Tax Commission, and a delegate to several Republican State conventions and to every Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from 1896
1896 Republican National Convention
The 1896 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in a temporary structure south of the St. Louis City Hall in Saint Louis, Missouri, from June 16 to June 18, 1896....
to 1928
1928 Republican National Convention
The 1928 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 12 to June 15, 1928....
. He was the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania administers the Pennsylvania Department of State of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
from 1899 to 1903. He served as a member of the State sinking fund commission and of the board of pardons. He also served as president of lighting and street railway companies from 1903 to 1927.
Griest was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-first
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
and to the ten succeeding Congresses and until his death at Mount Clemens, Michigan
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Mount Clemens is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,312. It is the county seat of Macomb County.-Early history:...
. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Post Office and Post Roads during the Sixty-eighth
66th United States Congress
The Sixty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919 to March 4, 1921, during the last two years of...
through the Seventieth
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
Congresses. He was laid to rest at Woodward Hill Cemetery
Woodward Hill Cemetery
Woodward Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Trinity Lutheran Church of Lancaster at some time between 1849 and 1852, but became a non-denominational cemetery in 1856. It is well known for being the burial place of James Buchanan, the 15th...
in Lancaster.
The W. W. Griest Building
W. W. Griest Building
The W.W. Griest Building is a historic skyscraper located in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Built in 1925 by C. Emlen Urban, the W.W. Griest Building is also the second tallest building in the city of Lancaster. It has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since June...
in downtown Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
is named in his honor.