Flora Morris Vare (July 26, 1873 – May 27, 1962) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 1st District from 1925 to 1928. She was married to Edwin Vare; he and his brothers William Scott Vare and George Vare were known as the "Dukes of South Philadelphia" for their decades-long political control of the South Philadelphia ward leadership.[1] She was the first woman to serve in the Pennsylvania Senate.[2]
Flora M. Vare | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 1st district | |
| In office 1925–1928 | |
| Preceded by | William Scott Vare |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence E. McCrossin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26, 1873 New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | May 27, 1962 (aged 88) Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Edwin Vare |
| Residence(s) | Ardmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Early life
editVare was born in New London, Connecticut.[3]
Career
editVare was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the 1st Senatorial District for the seat vacated by her brother in law William Scott Vare and served from 1925 to 1928.[4]
She proposed legislation for a Pennsylvania constitutional amendment to provide everyone over the age of 65 with a dollar a day pension, however the legislation was not passed.[5]
She lost reelection to Lawrence E. McCrossin and the state senate seat that had been held by a member of the Vare family since 1894.[6]
She died in Lankenau Medical Center[3] and was interred at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[7]
Personal life
editFlora was married to Edwin Vare and her sister Ida Morris was married to Edwin's brother, William Scott Vare.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Closed for Business". www.digitalhistory.hsp.org. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ Martin, Mart (2001). The Almanac of Women and Minorities in Politics 2002. New York: Routledge. p. 1982. ISBN 0-8133-9817-7. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ a b "Flora Morris Vare". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Senate Members "V"". www.staffweb.wilkes.edu. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Governor John Stuchell Fisher". www.phmc.state.pa.us. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ Weigley, Russell Frank (1982). Philadelphia: A 300 Year History. New York - London: WW Norton & Company. p. 585. ISBN 0-393-01610-2. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
flora vare.
- ^ "West Laurel Hill Cemetery & Funeral Home Records". www.westlaurelhill.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Dubin, Murray (1996). South Philadelphia: Mummers, Memories and the Melrose Diner. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. p. 86. ISBN 1-56639-429-5. Retrieved January 5, 2019.