Biography

03/25/1872 - 12/03/1948

Patrick F. Calpin (D20) Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties 1903-1906

Early Life: 

Patrick F. Calpin, born March 25, 1872, Bellevue, Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; son of Patrick M. and Mary Conway Calpin; Wood’s Business College; engaged, coal miner, carpentry, 1890-1914, insurance; elected, Scranton Common Council, 1898-1903, president, Scranton Common Council, 1900-1901; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1903-1906; sheriff, Lackawanna County, 1906; democratic leader, Lackawanna County, 1907; unsuccessful campaign, United States Congress, 1910; appointed, chief food and milk inspector, Department of Health, 1946-1948; married, Jane Clark Calpin, son, James; died, December 3, 1948, heart attack, stricken City Hall, taken, State Hospital Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; Interment, Cathedral Cemetery Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Organizer, Keystone Bank, West Scranton, director, Pennsylvania Trust Company, into which the Keystone Bank merged; appointed, receiver, Liberty National Bank, Dickson City; alternate member, board of review, war veterans’ claims, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware; founder, Irish-American Association, Lackawanna County, (now, Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick) served as president 1928, executive committee member, until death; charter member, Saint Brendan Council; Young Men’s Institute, West Scranton; member Ancient Order Of Hibernians, Scranton Lodge 123; Benevolent Protective Order Elks; communicant, Saint Peter’s Cathedral; member, Holy Name Society.     

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Scranton Common Council, 1898-1903, president, Scranton Common Council, 1900-1901, Scranton, transitioned, third class to second class city. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 20th district, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, 1903-1906; standing committee assignments, Senate of Pennsylvania, extraordinary and regular session, 1906, Banks and Building Loan Associations, City Passenger Railways, Corporations, Judicial Apportionment, Public Grounds and Buildings and Public Supply of Light, Heat and Water.   

Extraordinary session, legislation accomplished by the Senate, 1906, personal registration law, direct primary legislation, enacted; up until this legislation candidates were chosen at conventions.

Sheriff, Lackawanna County, 1906; Democratic Leader, Lackawanna County, 1907.

Unsuccessful campaign, United States Congress, 1910.

Appointed, chief food and milk inspector, Department of Health, Scranton Mayor James T. Hanlon, 1946-1948.

Legacy:

Family founded, Holy Cross Parish, Olyphant, Pennsylvania. 

Cited:

Cox, Harold "Senate Members "C". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1906). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 823, 829-834, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 801.

The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania) Saturday, December 04, 1948, Page 3.

Patrick F. Calpin (1872-1948) - Find a Grave Memorial