Arthur Granville Dewalt

Arthur Granville Dewalt (October 11, 1854 – October 26, 1931) was an American politician and lawyer from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district from 1915 to 1921. Over three consecutive terms in Congress, he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents as a member of the Democratic Party.

Dewalt was born in Bath, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, on October 11, 1854. He received his early education in local schools before attending the Keystone State Normal School, from which he graduated in 1870. He continued his studies at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1874. While at Lafayette, he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity, reflecting an early engagement with collegiate and civic life that would later be mirrored in his public career.

After completing his formal education, Dewalt studied law under John D. Stiles, a prominent Pennsylvania attorney. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced the practice of law in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1878. His legal career advanced rapidly: he served as district attorney of Lehigh County from 1880 to 1883, gaining prosecutorial and courtroom experience that enhanced his public profile. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1883 and to all the courts of Philadelphia in 1888, establishing himself as a capable and widely recognized member of the state’s legal community.

In addition to his legal work, Dewalt maintained a long association with the Pennsylvania National Guard. He served as adjutant of the Fourth Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard for ten years, a role that involved administrative and organizational responsibilities and reflected his commitment to public service beyond elective office. This military-related service complemented his growing involvement in state and party politics.

Dewalt entered state-level politics as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 16th district from 1903 to 1910. During his tenure in the Senate, he became particularly noted for his role in leading the investigation of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Graft Scandal in 1906, a major inquiry into corruption surrounding the construction of the state capitol building. His work on this investigation underscored his reputation as a reform-minded legislator. Concurrently, he was active in Democratic Party affairs, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1904 and 1908 and as chairman of the Democratic State Committee in 1909 and 1910, positions that placed him at the center of party organization and strategy in Pennsylvania.

Building on his state legislative and party leadership experience, Dewalt was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fourth, Sixty-fifth, and Sixty-sixth Congresses, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1915, to March 3, 1921. As a member of the House during a transformative era that included World War I and significant domestic policy debates, he contributed to the legislative process and participated in the democratic governance of the nation while representing Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district. After three terms, he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1920, thereby concluding his continuous service in Congress.

Following his departure from the House of Representatives, Dewalt returned to Allentown and resumed the practice of law, continuing his long-standing professional engagement with the legal field. He remained active in public affairs and sought to return to Congress as an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1926. He continued to reside and work in Allentown until his death there on October 26, 1931. Arthur Granville Dewalt was interred at Fairview Cemetery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, closing a career that spanned local, state, and national public service.