John Joseph McGRATH, Congress, CA (1872-1951)

1872-1951

McGRATH, John Joseph, a Representative from California; born in Limerick, Ireland, July 23, 1872; attended the national schools and Christian Brothers College in Cork; immigrated to the United States when seventeen and located in Chicago, Ill.; studied law for two years; engaged as a salesman for two years and as a sales manager for eighteen years; naturalized July 25, 1896; postmaster of San Mateo, Calif., 1916-1925; justice of the peace of San Mateo County 1928-1932; president of Tri-City Chamber of Commerce for four years; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1939); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1938 to the Seventy-sixth Congress; commissioner of immigration and naturalization for San Francisco, Calif., in 1939 and 1940; died in San Mateo, Calif., August 25, 1951; interment in St. John’s Cemetery.

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