Fred Cramer Gilchrist was a seven-term Republican United States. Representative from Iowa, from 1931 to 1945.
Education
He attended the public schools. He graduated from State Teachers" College, Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1886. Leaving school administration for law school, he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law at Iowa City in 1893, and was admitted to the bar that year.
Career
From 1886 to 1890, he was a teacher and superintendent of two school districts in Pocahontas County, Iowa — Laurens, Iowa and Rolfe, Iowa. From 1890 to 1892 he served as that County"s superintendent of schools. He then returned home and commenced private practice in Laurens.
He also served as president of the board of education of Laurens from 1905 to 1928.
Returning to legislative service, he served the Iowa Senate from 1923 to 1931. Between 1930 and 1944, Gilchrist served seven terms as a Republican United States. Representative from Iowa.
During his service, the size of Iowa"s house delegation shrank from eleven (in 1931) to nine (in 1933) and then to eight (in 1943), requiring redistricting before the 1932 and 1942 elections. Thus, without ever changing addresses, Gilchrist represented three different congressional districts.
Two years later, with his home county (Pocahontas) now in Iowa"s 8th congressional district, Gilchrist was one of three Iowa Republican House candidates to survive the Roosevelt landslide.
He was re-elected four more times from that district, only once (in 1934) in a close race. However, in 1944, he was challenged for the Republican nomination by James I. Dolliver of Fort Dodge, Iowa. In all, Gilchrist served in Congress from March 4, 1931 to January 3, 1945.
Upon his return to Laurens, Gilchrist resumed the practice of law.
He died in Laurens on March 10, 1950, and was interred in Laurens Cemetery.
Membership
He served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives for one term, in 1902-1904.