imported>Jevansen: added Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives using HotCat

2024-12-17T03:00:00Z

added Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives using HotCat

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{{Short description|American politician (1869–1935)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Adam Martin Wyant
|image name=AdamMartinWyant1.jpg
|imagesize=
|birth_date= September 15, 1869
|birth_place=[[Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|death_date={{death_date and age|1935|01|05|1869|09|15}}
|death_place=[[Greensburg, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|state=[[Pennsylvania]]
|district=[[Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district|31st]]
|term_start=March 4, 1923
|term_end=March 3, 1933
|preceded=[[John M. Morin]]
|succeeded=[[M. Clyde Kelly]]
|state2=[[Pennsylvania]]
|district2=[[Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district|22nd]]
|term_start2=March 4, 1921
|term_end2=March 3, 1923
|preceded2=[[John Haden Wilson]]
|succeeded2=[[Samuel F. Glatfelter]]
|party=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse=Katherine N. Doty
|alma_mater=[[Bucknell University]], [[University of Chicago]], [[University of Pittsburgh]]
|profession=Professional football player, [[Educator]], [[Lawyer]], [[Politician]],
|residence= [[Greensburg, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Adam Wyant
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| position = [[Quarterback]], [[Center (gridiron football)|Center]]
| college = [[Bucknell University|Bucknell]], [[University of Chicago|Chicago]]
|pastteams=
* [[Greensburg Athletic Association]] (1895–1897)
|highlights=
* First professional football player elected to the U.S. Congress
* [[Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit|W. Pennsylvania Champion]] ([[1897 Greensburg Athletic Association season|1897]])
}}

'''Adam Martin Wyant''' (September 15, 1869 – January 5, 1935) was an American politician who served as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from [[Pennsylvania]]. He served six terms, a total of twelve years, in the House.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/146563518/?terms=%22Adam%20Wyant%22&match=1 Funeral on Monday for Ex-Congressman]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: ''The Pittsburgh Press'', January 6, 1935, p. 10 (subscription required).</ref><ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/346710588/?terms=%22Adam%20Wyant%22&match=1 Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months]." Ligonier, Pennsylvania: ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935, p. 1 (subscription required).</ref><ref>"[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/W000776 Wyant, Adam Martin]," in ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress'' (W000776). Washington, D.C.: Offices of the Historians of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, retrieved online February 21, 2023.</ref><ref>"[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wrightson-wyant.html Wyant, Adam Martin]." Ann Arbor, Michigan: ''The Political Graveyard'', May 2022.</ref>

Wyant is also remembered for being the first professional [[American football|football]] player to be elected to the [[United States Congress]]. He played football from 1895 until 1897 with the [[Greensburg Athletic Association]], an early professional club from [[Greensburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The History of Pro Football At Greensburg, Pennsylvania (1894-1900) |journal=Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |issue=Annual |year=1983 |pages=1–14 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-An-165.pdf |author=Van Atta, Robert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127054500/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-An-165.pdf |archive-date=2010-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Adam Wyant |journal=Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |volume=8 |issue=1 |year=1986 |pages=1–2 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-01-248.pdf |author=Van Atta, Robert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218220000/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-01-248.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-18}}</ref>

He is also known for playing [[college football|collegiate football]] for [[Bucknell University]] and the [[University of Chicago]] from 1890 through 1893. During his playing career, Wyant was cited by his coach at Chicago, [[Amos Alonzo Stagg]], as “one of the best men that ever donned the canvas jacket” (which was then a part of the football uniform). Wyant also served at one time as principal of the Greensburg schools before becoming a U.S. Congressman. His brother, [[Andy Wyant|Andy]], played at Bucknell and Chicago, under Amos Alonzo Stagg. He was elected into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1962.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The History of Pro Football At Greensburg, Pennsylvania (1894-1900) |journal=Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |issue=Annual |year=1983 |pages=1–14 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-An-165.pdf |author=Van Atta, Robert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127054500/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-An-165.pdf |archive-date=2010-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Adam Wyant |journal=Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |volume=8 |issue=1 |year=1986 |pages=1–2 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-01-248.pdf |author=Van Atta, Robert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218220000/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-01-248.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-18}}</ref>

==Biography==
Adam Wyant was born near [[Kittanning, Pennsylvania|Kittanning]]<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/302622895/?terms=%22Adam%20Wyant%22&match=1 Hon. Adam Wyant Called By Death]." Lewisburg, Pennsylvania: ''The Lewisburg Journal'', January 10, 1935, p. 1 (subscription required).</ref><ref>"Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months," ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," in ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," ''The Political Graveyard''.</ref> on his family's rural farm in the village of [[Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania|Montgomeryville]], son of Christian Yerty Wyant and Elizabeth John, both of Washington Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Adam was named after his paternal grandfather whose ancestors (originally spelled Weyandt) were early German settlers of Bedford County, Pennsylvania arriving in October 1770 from [[Freinsheim]], Palatinate, Germany.

Adam attended the Mount Pleasant Institute, which is located in [[Lewisburg, Pennsylvania]], and also attended [[Bucknell University|Bucknell]] for three years, playing on pioneer football teams there with his brother Andy. When Any left Bucknell to attend the [[University of Chicago Divinity School]], Adam followed his brother to Chicago and played [[Guard (American football)|guard]] for the legendary coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg. In 1895, Adam graduated from the University of Chicago and returned to western Pennsylvania to teach in [[Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania|Mt. Pleasant]].<ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," in ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''.</ref> He moved to [[Greensburg, Pennsylvania]], in 1896.<ref>"Hon. Adam Wyant Called By Death," ''The Lewisburg Journal'', January 10, 1935.</ref><ref>"Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months," ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," ''The Political Graveyard''.</ref>

In Greensburg, Wyant was widely known for his football skills and, at 6'0" and 196 pounds, he was considered a big person for that era. In the fall of 1895, was one of four college stars signed to play professionally with the Greensburg Athletic Association. His teammeates consisted of [[Lawson Fiscus]] and [[Charlie Atherton]]. Wyant played [[quarterback]] for the team, a position that was not too different from guard in the style of play at the time. In 1896, while still playing pro football, he became the first principal of [[Greensburg-Salem School District|Greensburg High School]] and soon thereafter became the city's first superintendent of schools.<ref>"Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months," ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=The History of Pro Football At Greensburg, Pennsylvania (1894-1900) |journal=Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |issue=Annual |year=1983 |pages=1–14 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-An-165.pdf |author=Van Atta, Robert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127054500/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-An-165.pdf |archive-date=2010-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Adam Wyant |journal=Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |volume=8 |issue=1 |year=1986 |pages=1–2 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-01-248.pdf |author=Van Atta, Robert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218220000/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-01-248.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-18}}</ref>

In the summer of 1897, he ended his football career and studied law at the [[University of Pittsburgh]], and was admitted to the [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]] Bar in 1902. He then commenced the practice of law in Greensburg. He was interested in [[coal]] mining and other business enterprises.<ref>"Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months," ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," in ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''.</ref>

In 1910, Wyant married Katherine N. Doty, the daughter of a Westmoreland County judge. In 1920, he was elected as a Republican to the [[67th United States Congress]]. He won the [[Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district|state's 22nd congressional district]] with the largest majority ever given a Republican candidate in the district's history. He was then re-elected five more times. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932.<ref>"Funeral on Monday for Ex-Congressman," ''The Pittsburgh Press'', January 6, 1935.</ref><ref>"Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months," ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," in ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," ''The Political Graveyard''.</ref>

==Death==
He resumed his former business pursuits and died in Greensburg, after succumbing to [[cancer]] on January 5, 1935. He was interred in the St. Clair Cemetery.<ref>"Funeral on Monday for Ex-Congressman," ''The Pittsburgh Press'', January 6, 1935.</ref><ref>"Adam M. Wyant Dies After Illness of Several Months," ''The Ligonier Echo'', January 11, 1935.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," in ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''.</ref><ref>"Wyant, Adam Martin," ''The Political Graveyard''.</ref>

==Electoral history==
{|class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"

!|Year
!
!|District
!
!|Republican
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Pct
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1920|1920]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district|PA-22]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Adam Martin Wyant'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |51.6%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |John Haden Wilson
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |38.1%
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1922|1922]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district|PA-31]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Adam Martin Wyant'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |53.4%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |James M. Cramer
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |40.1%
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1924|1924]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district|PA-31]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Adam Martin Wyant'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |60.4%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Chester D. Sensenich
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |39.6%
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1926|1926]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district|PA-31]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Adam Martin Wyant'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |65.7%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Albert H. Bell
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |32.1%
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1928|1928]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district|PA-31]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Adam Martin Wyant'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |95.8%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |''None''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |0.0%
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1930|1930]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district|PA-31]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Adam Martin Wyant'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |70.5%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |James M. Cramer
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |27.2%
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1932|1932]]
|
|[[Pennsylvania's 28th congressional district|PA-28]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Adam Martin Wyant}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |40.8%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[William M. Berlin]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |55.2%
|-
|}

Minor party candidates not shown
<br>
Election winner in '''bold'''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Adam Martin Wyant}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box
| state=Pennsylvania
| district=22
| before=[[John Haden Wilson|John H. Wilson]]
| after=[[Samuel F. Glatfelter]]
| years=1921–1923
}}
{{US House succession box
| state=Pennsylvania
| district=31
| before=[[John M. Morin]]
| after=[[M. Clyde Kelly]]
| years=1923–1933
}}
{{s-end}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 67th–72nd [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]}}
{{USCongRep/PA/67}}
{{USCongRep/PA/68}}
{{USCongRep/PA/69}}
{{USCongRep/PA/70}}
{{USCongRep/PA/71}}
{{USCongRep/PA/72}}
{{USCongRep-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyant, Adam Martin}}
[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1935 deaths]]
[[Category:American athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:19th-century players of American football]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Chicago Maroons football players]]
[[Category:Bucknell Bison football players]]
[[Category:Greensburg Athletic Association players]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Greensburg, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]

Adam Wyant - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: added Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives using HotCat