Robert Crosser (June 7, 1874 – June 3, 1957) was an American lawyer and politician who served 19 terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio. He remains the longest-serving member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Ohio, serving from 1911 to 1919, then again from 1923 until 1955.

Robert Crosser
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio
In office
March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1919
Preceded byinactive
Succeeded byJohn J. Babka
ConstituencyAt Large (1913-1915)
21st district (1915-1919)
In office
March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1955
Preceded byHarry C. Gahn
Succeeded byCharles Vanik
Constituency21st district
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the Cuyahoga County district
In office
January 2, 1911 – January 5, 1913
Serving with 9 others
Preceded by11 others
Succeeded by13 others
Personal details
Born(1874-06-07)June 7, 1874
Holytown, Lanarkshire, Scotland
DiedJune 3, 1957(1957-06-03) (aged 82)
Bethesda, Maryland
Resting placeHighland Park Cemetery, Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseIsabelle Dargarvel Hogg

Life and career edit

Born in Holytown, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Crosser emigrated to the United States in 1881 with his parents and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. He moved to Salineville, Ohio, the same year and attended the public schools. He graduated from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, in 1897. He studied law at Columbia Law School in New York City and graduated from Cincinnati Law School in 1901. He was admitted to the bar in 1901 and commenced practice in Cleveland, Ohio. He taught law at Baldwin-Wallace Law School in 1904 and 1905. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1911 and 1912. He served as member of the fourth constitutional convention in 1912. At the convention, he was the author of the Initiative and referendum amendment adopted by the voters in 1912.[1]

Congress edit

Robert Crosser was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third, Sixty-fourth, and Sixty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1919). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Commerce (Sixty-fifth Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1918 and for election in 1920.

Crosser was elected to the Sixty-eighth and to the fifteen succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1955). He served as chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Eighty-first and Eighty-second Congresses).

He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1954. In that race, he was defeated in the primary by Charles Vanik in a field of candidates that also included African-American challenger John Holly, founder of the Negro Future Outlook League.[2][3]

Death edit

He resided in Bethesda, Maryland, until his death there on June 3, 1957. He was interred in Highland Park Cemetery, Warrensville, Ohio.

Robert Crosser was married to Isabelle Dargarvel Hogg.[1]

Crosser was a member of Phi Delta Phi.[1]

Election results edit

Year Democratic Republican Other
1952 Robert Crosser: 100,340 Lawrence O. Payne: 45,896  
1950 Robert Crosser: 66,341 William Hodge: 21,588  
1948 Robert Crosser: 72,417 Harry W. Mitchell: 22,932  
1946 Robert Crosser: 49,111 James S. Hudee: 27,657  
1944 Robert Crosser: 77,525 Harry C. Gahn: 22,288  
1942 Robert Crosser: 35,109 William J. Rogers: 19,137 Arnold S. Johnson: 744
1940 Robert Crosser: 79,602 J. E. Chizek: 23,658  
1938 Robert Crosser: 53,180 J. E. Chizek: 24,240  
1936 Robert Crosser: 70,596 Harry C. Gahn: 23,811  
1934 Robert Crosser: 47,540 Frank W. Sotak: 25,253 E. C. Greenfield (C): 1,684
1932 Robert Crosser: 49,436 Gerard Pilliod: 25,527 Joseph Schiffer (C): 672
Eugene F. Cheeks: 204
1930 Robert Crosser: 30,722 George H. Bender: 29,081 Gustave F. Ebding: 96
1928 Robert Crosser: 39,090 Joseph F. Lange: 26,267  
1926 Robert Crosser: 17,819 Harry C. Gahn: 10,733  
1924 Robert Crosser: 24,889 Harry C. Gahn: 21,629 John Brahtin (W): 272
1922 Robert Crosser: 18,645 Harry C. Gahn: 14,024 Henry Kuhlman (S): 997
Frank Kalcec (SL): 185

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Neff, William B, ed. (1921). Bench and Bar of Northern Ohio History and Biography. Cleveland: The Historical Publishing Company. p. 346.
  2. ^ "VANIK, CHARLES ALBERT". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Retrieved 2016-11-16. Vanik defeated long-time Congressman ROBERT CROSSER in the Democratic Primary in 1954.
  3. ^ "22 Negroes Win Primary Nominations". Jet. Chicago: Johnson Publishing Company. 1954-05-20. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 2014-07-04. Young, active in civic affairs, will face Charles A. Vanik, a white municipal court judge, who edged out John Holly, founder of the Negro Future Outlook League, in the Democratic primary.

Sources edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
District inactive
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's at-large congressional district

1913-1915
Succeeded by
District inactive
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 21st congressional district

1915-1919
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 21st congressional district

1923-1955
Succeeded by