John S. McGroarty
American poet (1862–1944) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American poet (1862–1944) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Steven McGroarty (August 20, 1862 – August 7, 1944) was a poet, Los Angeles Times columnist, and author who also served two terms as a Democratic Congressman from California from 1935 to 1939.
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John Steven McGroarty | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 11th district | |
In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1939 | |
Preceded by | William E. Evans |
Succeeded by | John Carl Hinshaw |
Personal details | |
Born | August 20, 1862 Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
Died | August 7, 1944 81) Los Angeles, California | (aged
Political party | Democratic |
Profession | Politician, Journalist, Author, Poet |
Born at Buck Mountain, in Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (near Wilkes-Barre), McGroarty was the youngest of 12 children. He was educated at public schools and Harry Hillman Academy in Wilkes-Barre, and was employed as treasurer of Luzerne County from 1890 to 1893. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1894. He practiced in Wilkes-Barre.
McGroarty moved to Montana and held an executive position with the Anaconda Copper Mining Company at Butte and Anaconda from 1896 to 1901. Afterward, he moved to Los Angeles, California in 1901 and worked as a journalist. In 1909, McGroarty edited a Los Angeles Times centenary edition of Lincoln's birth with an introspective on black people in Los Angeles. He became a "beloved figure in black Los Angeles" for his broad-minded views.[1]
McGroarty authored numerous books and dramas, one of his best-known works being The Mission Play (1911), a three-hour pageant describing the California Missions from their founding in 1769 through secularization in 1834, ending with their "final ruin" in 1847. The play opened on April 29, 1912. McGroarty also penned California: Its History and Romance in 1911 and Mission Memories in 1929. In his book the California Plutarch, 1935, he detailed the lives and histories of Northern and Southern California's early pioneers such as the Crocker, Carrillo, Van Nuys, Stanford, Avila, Estrada, Sepulveda, Baldwin and Mulholland families. Besides, he was also the long-time editor of West Coast Magazine.[2]
McGroarty was designated poet laureate of California by the state legislature in 1933. He served in the 74th Congress from January 3, 1935, to January 3, 1937, where he played a significant role in introducing the Townsend Bill to the legislature. McGroarty was reelected to the 75th Congress from January 3, 1937, to January 3, 1939. In 1937, he introduced a successful bill that enabled the federal government to purchase a large timber holding from the Yosemite Lumber Company, bringing the land within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park.[3]
In 1938 McGroarty left his seat to run for California Secretary of State; he was defeated in the Democratic primary by incumbent Republican Frank C. Jordan. After his brief stint in politics, McGroarty resumed the profession of journalism in Tujunga, California. McGroarty died in St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles, California on August 7, 1944, at the age of 81, and was interred at Calvary Cemetery.
He lived in Tujunga, California, in a house known as Chupa Rosa, that he built himself and completed in 1923 in what was at the time the unincorporated community of Sunland. It became a part of the City of Los Angeles in 1932.[4][5][6] The building, located at 7570 McGroarty Terrace, is now Historic Cultural Monument No. 63 of the City of Los Angeles and is known as the McGroarty Arts Center.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John S. McGroarty | 66,999 | 53.5 | |||
Republican | William E. Evans (Incumbent) | 56,350 | 45.0 | |||
Socialist | William E. Stephenson | 1,814 | 1.5 | |||
Total votes | 125,163 | 100.0 | ||||
Turnout | ||||||
Democratic gain from Republican |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John S. McGroarty (Incumbent) | 69,679 | 50.5 | |
Republican | John Carl Hinshaw | 54,914 | 39.8 | |
Progressive | Robert S. Funk | 12,340 | 8.9 | |
Communist | William Ingham | 1,041 | 0.8 | |
Total votes | 137,974 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | ||||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank C. Jordan | 479,264 | 47.52% | |
Democratic | John S. McGroarty | 211,856 | 21.01% | |
Democratic | Leo Gallagher | 125,051 | 12.40% | |
Democratic | Marye Shannon Harrington | 79,799 | 7.91% | |
Democratic | Arthur A. Allen | 73,502 | 7.29% | |
Democratic | Milton Bryan | 39,114 | 3.88% | |
Total votes | 1,008,586 | 100.00% |
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