Henry A. Moehlenpah (March 9, 1867 – November 9, 1944) was an American banker and Democratic politician who served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board from 1919 to 1920. He had previously been an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Wisconsin and U.S. House of Representatives.
Henry Moehlenpah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Federal Reserve Board | |
| In office November 10, 1919 – August 9, 1920 | |
| Appointed by | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | Frederic Adrian Delano |
| Succeeded by | David C. Wills |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 9, 1867 Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | November 9, 1944 (aged 77) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Clinton Cemetery, Clinton, Rock County, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Alice Louise Hartshorn
(m. 1896–1944) |
| Education | Northwestern University (BA) |
| Occupation | Banker |
Early life and education
editMoehlenpah was born in Joliet, Illinois, on March 9, 1867. He graduated from Northwestern University.[1]
Career
editHe entered upon the career of banking in Joliet, Ill., in 1888, removing to Clinton, Wisconsin, in 1893, where he engaged in the banking business.[1][2]
Moehlenpah was the Democratic nominee for United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in 1908, but was defeated by the incumbent Henry Allen Cooper. He subsequently sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin in 1912, but lost the primary to Harry W. Bolens,[3] who went on to lose the general election. Six years later, in the 1918 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, Moehlenpah was chosen as the Democratic nominee for Governor. He was defeated in the general election by the incumbent governor, Emanuel L. Philipp.[4]
During these years, he was also prominent in state banking affairs and was president of the state bankers' association in 1913 and 1914.[5] He was then president of the Bankers Joint Stock Land Bank from 1918 until his appointment to the Federal Reserve Board.[6] At the time of his appointment he was also president of the Citizens Bank of Clinton, Wisconsin, president of the Wisconsin Mortgage & Security Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and director of the Rock County Savings & Mortgage Co.[1]
Moehlenpah was nominated to serve on the Federal Reserve Board by President Woodrow Wilson on September 5, 1919, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. F. A. Delano. On September 23, the nomination was confirmed by the Senate. He ultimately started his term on the Federal Reserve Board on November 10, 1919, and served less than a year—he resigned on August 9, 1920.[7][8]
After resigning from the Board, Moehlenpah moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and started a new corporation, known as the Wisconsin Finance Corporation, in partnership with several other former state banking association presidents.[9] He resided in Milwaukee for the rest of his life.[6]
Personal life and family
editHenry Moehlenpah was a son of Frederick and Elizabeth Moehlenpah.[10] He married Alice Hartshorn in 1896. They had at least one daughter together, and were members of the Methodist church.
Moehlenpah died at a Milwaukee hospital on November 9, 1944. He was buried at Clinton Cemetery, in Clinton, Wisconsin.[5]
Electoral history
editU.S. House of Representatives (1908)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 3, 1908 | |||||
| Republican | Henry Allen Cooper (incumbent) | 26,728 | 60.58% | −0.52% | |
| Democratic | Henry A. Moehlenpah | 14,018 | 31.77% | −1.43% | |
| Social Democratic | William A. Jacobs | 1,791 | 4.06% | −1.60% | |
| Prohibition | J. H. Berkey | 1,576 | 3.57% | ||
| N/a | Scattering | 4 | 0.01% | ||
| Plurality | 12,710 | 28.81% | +0.91% | ||
| Total votes | 44,117 | 100.0% | +66.15% | ||
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (1912)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Primary, September 3, 1912 | |||||
| Democratic | Harry W. Bolens | 49,293 | 66.21% | ||
| Democratic | Henry A. Moehlenpah | 25,159 | 33.79% | ||
| Plurality | 24,134 | 32.42% | |||
| Total votes | 74,452 | 100.0% | |||
Wisconsin Governor (1918)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 5, 1918 | |||||
| Republican | Emanuel L. Philipp (incumbent) | 155,799 | 46.99% | −5.94% | |
| Democratic | Henry A. Moehlenpah | 112,576 | 33.95% | −3.94% | |
| Socialist | Emil Seidel | 57,523 | 17.35% | +10.29% | |
| Prohibition | William C. Dean | 5,296 | 1.60% | −0.52% | |
| N/a | Scattering | 388 | 0.12% | ||
| Plurality | 12,710 | 28.81% | +0.91% | ||
| Total votes | 44,117 | 100.0% | +66.15% | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c "New Member of Board". Federal Reserve Bulletin. United States Government Publishing Office: 918. October 1919. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via FRASER.
- ^ "Henry A. Moehlenpah". Federal Reserve History. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "Finish the Official Count". Portage Daily Register. September 23, 1912. p. 3. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Hunter, Paul F., ed. (1919). "Election Statistics". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1919 (Report). Wisconsin State Printing Board. p. 149. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "Henry A. Moehlenpah". Wisconsin State Journal. November 10, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Henry Moehlenpah Dies in Milwaukee". Green Bay Press-Gazette. November 10, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Statements and Speeches of Henry A. Moehlenpah". FRASER. December 10, 1919. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Mills takes place of Moehlenpah on U.S. Reserve Board". La Crosse Tribune. September 25, 1920. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Milwaukee". The Capital Times. November 27, 1920. p. 3. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Moehlenpah, Henry A." Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ^ "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1909 (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1909. p. 1084. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
