William Price ELMER, Congress, MO (1871-1956)

ELMER, William Price, a Representative from Missouri; born in Robertsville, Franklin County, Mo., March 2, 1871; attended the public schools and Wingo Law School, Salem, Mo.; was admitted to the bar in 1892 and commenced practice in Salem, Mo.; prosecuting attorney for Dent County, Mo., in 1895 and 1896 and again in 1905 and 1906; member of the State house of representatives in 1903, 1904, 1921, 1922, and 1929-1933, serving as temporary speaker and floor leader in 1929; city attorney of Salem, Mo., 1920-1930; delegate or alternate to the Republican National Conventions in 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1920; chairman of the Republican county committee 1908-1944; member of the 1929 commission to revise Missouri laws; unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1940; elected as a Republican to the Seventy-eighth Congress (January 3, 1943-January 3, 1945); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1944 to the Seventy-ninth Congress; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for United States Senator in 1946; resumed the practice of law; director of First National Bank of Salem; member of board of curators of University of Missouri 1949-1955; died in Salem, Mo., May 11, 1956; interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present