Clay Freeman Gaumer (March 14, 1870 ― May 20, 1952) was a Prohibitionist member of the Illinois House of Representatives during the 44th and 45th Illinois General Assemblies.[1]
A native of Alvin, Illinois, Gaumer was born March 14, 1870. He was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1904.[2] Gaumer was reelected in 1906. In 1907, he introduced a constitutional amendment to create a statewide ban on alcohol consumption.[3] He lost reelection in 1908.
Gaumer would run for office on behalf of the Prohibition Party on a number of occasions after his time in the Illinois House of Representatives. He was the party's nominee for Illinois's at-large congressional district in 1934 general election; its nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1920 general election and 1936 general election; its nominee for Illinois Treasurer in the 1938 general election, its gubernatorial nominee in the 1940 general election; its nominee for Illinois State Superintendent in the 1942 election; and in the 1944 general election as one of its nominees for a seat on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. He also attempted to get on the ballot as the party's nominee for United States Senate in the 1932 general election.[4] Gaumer died May 20, 1952, in Danville, Illinois.[5]
References
- ^ White, Jesse (ed.). "Illinois Legislative Roster — 1818-2021". Illinois Blue Book 2021-2022 (PDF). p. 375. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Illinois Blue Book 1905-1906. p. 274. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Buenker, John D. (1969). "The Illinois Legislature and Prohibition, 1907-1919". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 62 (4). Illinois State Historical Society: 363–384. JSTOR 40190889.
- ^ "Canvass Churches Today for Dry Petition Signers". Chicago Daily Tribune. September 18, 1932. p. 6 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Clay Gaumer" (PDF). The News-Sentinel. May 21, 1952. Retrieved August 21, 2022.