Ralph E. Church

Ralph Edwin Church (May 5, 1883 – March 21, 1950) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1917 to 1932 and then represented the northern suburbs of Chicago in the United States House of Representatives for seven terms. He died in office in 1950 while testifying at a congressional hearing.

Ralph E. Church
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois
In office
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1941
Preceded byJames Simpson, Jr.
Succeeded byGeorge A. Paddock
Constituency10th district
In office
January 3, 1943 – March 21, 1950
Preceded byGeorge A. Paddock
Succeeded byMarguerite S. Church
Constituency10th district (1943–49)
13th district (1949–50)
Personal details
Born(1883-05-05)May 5, 1883
Vermilion County, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1950(1950-03-21) (aged 66)
Washington D.C., U.S.
Resting placeSkokie, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
​
(m. 1918)​
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Northwestern University

Early life and career

Church was born on a farm near Catlin, Illinois in Vermillion County, Illinois. He went to Danville High School in Danville, Illinois. He received his bachelor's degree from University of Michigan and his master's and law degrees from Northwestern University. Church was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1909 and practiced law in Chicago, Illinois. He lived with his wife Marguerite S. Church and their family in Evanston, Illinois. He served in the United States Navy during World War I.

Political career

Church served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1917 to 1932 as a Republican. Church then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1935 to 1941 and from 1943 until his death in 1950.[1][2][3] Church died suddenly while giving testimony before a Congressional House committee about expenditures.[4] His wife Marguerite was elected in a special election to succeed her husband in the United States House of Representatives.[5]

See also

References
  1. 'Illinois Blue Book 1931-1932,. Biographical Sketch of Ralph E. Church, pg. 224-225
  2. 'Illinois Blue Book 1949-1950,' Biographical Sketch of Ralph E. Church, pg. 72-73
  3. History, Art & Archives-United States House of Representatives-Ralph Erwin Church
  4. 'Rep. R. Church Collapses, Dies While Before Congress Committee,' Belvidere Daily Republican (Illinois), March 21, 1950, pg 1
  5. 'Marguerite Church. Ex-Congresswoman,' The Chicago Tribune, Kerry Tuft, May 27, 1990
  • United States Congress. "CHURCH, Ralph Edwin (id: C000390)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Memorial services held in the House of Representatives of the United States, together with remarks presented in eulogy of Ralph Edwin Church, late a representative from Illinois frontispiece 1950"


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