Death of Representative Bert Lord, May 1939

Death of Bert Lord

Ill Only Week in Hospital at Washington

Representative of 34th District, Was Serving Third Term

Born in Colesville

May 24, 1939

 

 

Representative Bert Lord of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], serving his third term from the thirty-fourth District--Broome, Chenango, Otsego and Delaware--died at 1:30 o'clock this morning in the Naval hospital at Washington.  Death followed his second heart attack in little more than a week.  He was 69.  He was admitted to the hospital a week ago Monday after suffering what physicians described as a mild heart attack while attending the New York World's Fair with a Congressional party.  While his condition improved at first, he took a sudden turn for the worse yesterday. The legislator suffered a relapse shortly after midnight and expired about 1:30 a.m.  His wife, the former, Mrs. Margaret T. Gregg, of Afton, whom he married last fall, was at the bedside.  Also present were his two secretaries, John P. Carr and Miss Louise Hymer, and Mrs. Gregg's son, John of Endicott. 

 

Since coming to Congress in 1934, Mr. Lord had been active in supporting agricultural and "farm-to-market" road legislation.  Only a few days before he was stricken he had opened informal discussions with representatives of the Philippine government looking toward an arrangement whereby the islands would import more American dairy products.  He was a member of the House agriculture and library committees.  Friends of the family said the funeral would be held from the Lord home in Afton.  The time was to be decided later.  It was not immediately known whether Governor Lehamn will call a special election to fill the vacancy.  The immediate thought in district political quarters was that the post would not be filled until the regular election this fall.  He is survived by his widow and George E. Lord of Binghamton, a cousin. 

 

Mr. Lord was first elected to Congress from the 34th district in 1934 and was serving his third term at the time of his death.  During his long political career he had served as Chenango county assemblyman, as state senator from the Fortieth district and as state motor vehicle commissioner during the term of Nathan Miller as governor and the first year of Alfred E Smith's second term. 

 

Born in Colesville [Broome Co., NY] in 1869, he was the son of James A. Lord and Henrietta Hawkins Lord.  In 1893, Mr. Lord married Miss Lillian Kniskern of Sanford.  She died a year ago.  On Dec. 9, 1938, he married Mrs. George Gregg of Afton.

 

From 1893 until 1913, Mr. Lord conducted a general store in Afton.  For the past 20 years he had been a dealer in lumber and was interested in many sawmills.

 

Mr. Lord began his political career as Republican supervisor for the town of Afton, serving from 1905 until 1915.  In 1914 he was elected chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors.  In 1923 he was again chosen supervisor. 

 

In 1921, Mr. Lord was named commissioner of motor vehicles by Governor Miller and he retained that post for six months during the second term of Governor Smith.

 

First elected to the State Assembly from Chenango county in 1915, Mr. Lord served until 1921.  He again was sent to the Assembly in November, 1923, and retained the post through [-?-].  While assemblyman he was a member of committees on ways and means, internal affairs, banks and reorganization of the state government.  He also served on a special committee to redraft town laws.

 

Mr. Lord was appointed to the State Senate in 1930 after the death of Senator B. Roger Wales.  He served in this capacity until Republican candidate for representative from the 34th district, succeeding Mrs. Marion W. Clarke of Fraser.  He has served in Congress since.