Melvin Robert Laird Sr. (August 7, 1878March 19, 1946) was an American businessman, Presbyterian minister, and Republican politician from Wood County, Wisconsin.General Catalogue of the McCormick Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois: 1912, page 174 He served five years as a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 24th Senate district from 1941 until his death in 1946. He was succeeded by his son, Melvin R. Laird Jr., who went on to become United States Secretary of Defense and Domestic Policy Advisor to President Richard Nixon.
Biography Melvin Laird was born on a farm in Maysville, Illinois, in 1878. He attended rural schools and high school. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois College, graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary and was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin.Lincoln College Bulletin (49/51st Annual Catalog of the Lincoln College of Millikin University, Lincoln, Illinois), May 1916, volume X, Number 1, page 7. He continued his education, earning his master's from Princeton University and his Doctor of Divinity from Millikin University. He taught school and later became principal of the Barry, Illinois, high school, and president of Lincoln College, Illinois. He then became a Presbyterian minister at churches in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, Lincoln, Illinois, and Omaha, Nebraska.
During World War I, he was inducted into the United States Army as a chaplain with the rank of first lieutenant. He was assigned to the 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Division, and deployed to France for a year.
After the war, he moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he worked as office manager for the Connor Lumber and Land Company. He was elected to the board of supervisors of Wood County, Wisconsin, and ultimately served 14 years on the board. In 1940, he was elected to the Wisconsin Senate, running on the Republican Party ticket. He represented the 24th Senate district and was re-elected in 1944.
He died in Rochester, Minnesota."Biographical Sketch of Melvin R. Laird Sr.", Wisconsin Blue Book 1946, page 32 His son, Melvin R. Laird, was elected in a special election to succeed his father."Biographical Sketch of Melvin R. Laird Jr.", Wisconsin Blue Book 1948, page 36
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