William M. Treloar
Encyclopedia
William Mitchellson Treloar (September 21, 1850 – July 3, 1935) was an American
music professor, composer
, music publisher, and U.S. Representative
from Missouri
.
Treloar was born near Linden, Wisconsin
, and attended the local common school
s. He moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa
in 1864 and attended its high school and then Iowa Wesleyan College
. He moved to Missouri in 1872, where he began a career teaching music at Mount Pleasant College in Huntsville
from 1872 to 1875. In 1875, he moved to Mexico, Missouri
, where he became professor of music at Hardin College
, and also taught at the Synodical Female College in nearby Fulton
and in the local public schools.
Treloar first entered politics in 1894, serving as a delegate to the Republican state convention and running for Congress against Democratic Congressman Champ Clark, whom he beat during the year of a Republican landslide
. Treloar was said to have been the fifth choice of the Republican Party to run for the seat, and upon winning was ridiculed by newspapers as a "banjo player" and "piano tuner". However, the defeated Clark graciously defended him, calling him a "man of fair capacity and good manners" and praising his academic and composing career. After serving a term in the 54th Congress
, Treloar lost his 1896 bid
for reelection in a rematch with Clark, this time during a year of Democratic gains. During his short tenure he sponsored the Treloar Copyright Bill
that would have created a copyright registry and extended copyright terms. The bill was quite controversial and the subject of extensive lobbying efforts from both supporters and opponents. Although it didn't make it out of committee, some of its provisions did later pass.
Upon leaving the House, he became postmaster
of Mexico, Missouri from 1898 to 1904. In 1905, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri
to start a music publishing business. He ran the business in Kansas City from 1905 through 1915, after which he moved it to St. Louis
. There, he also taught and composed music, and served as an election judge
from 1920 through 1924. He died in St. Louis, and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
The town of Treloar, Missouri
is named for him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music professor, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, music publisher, and U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Treloar was born near Linden, Wisconsin
Linden, Wisconsin
Linden is a village in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 615 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Linden.-Geography:Linden is located at ....
, and attended the local common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s. He moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :...
in 1864 and attended its high school and then Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four-year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America. Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River...
. He moved to Missouri in 1872, where he began a career teaching music at Mount Pleasant College in Huntsville
Huntsville, Missouri
Huntsville is a city in Randolph County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,553 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County.-Geography:...
from 1872 to 1875. In 1875, he moved to Mexico, Missouri
Mexico, Missouri
Mexico is a city in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Audrain County. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County...
, where he became professor of music at Hardin College
Hardin College and Conservatory of Music
Hardin College and Conservatory of Music, often simply Hardin College, was a women's college and conservatory located in Mexico, Missouri. The state's first junior college, it was associated with the Missionary Baptist Church of Missouri and operated from 1858 to 1931.A successor of the Audrain...
, and also taught at the Synodical Female College in nearby Fulton
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
and in the local public schools.
Treloar first entered politics in 1894, serving as a delegate to the Republican state convention and running for Congress against Democratic Congressman Champ Clark, whom he beat during the year of a Republican landslide
United States House election, 1894
The U.S. House election, 1894 was a realigning election—a major Republican landslide that set the stage for the decisive Election of 1896. The elections of members of the United States House of Representatives in 1894 came in the middle of President Grover Cleveland's second term...
. Treloar was said to have been the fifth choice of the Republican Party to run for the seat, and upon winning was ridiculed by newspapers as a "banjo player" and "piano tuner". However, the defeated Clark graciously defended him, calling him a "man of fair capacity and good manners" and praising his academic and composing career. After serving a term in the 54th Congress
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
, Treloar lost his 1896 bid
United States House election, 1896
The U.S. House election, 1896 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1896 which coincided with the election of President William McKinley....
for reelection in a rematch with Clark, this time during a year of Democratic gains. During his short tenure he sponsored the Treloar Copyright Bill
Treloar Copyright Bill
The Treloar Copyright Bill was a revision of the United States copyright laws introduced February 13, 1896, in the first session of the 54th United States Congress as House of Representatives Bill No. 5976 by Missouri 9th District Representative William M. Treloar. The bill was then extensively...
that would have created a copyright registry and extended copyright terms. The bill was quite controversial and the subject of extensive lobbying efforts from both supporters and opponents. Although it didn't make it out of committee, some of its provisions did later pass.
Upon leaving the House, he became postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Mexico, Missouri from 1898 to 1904. In 1905, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
to start a music publishing business. He ran the business in Kansas City from 1905 through 1915, after which he moved it to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. There, he also taught and composed music, and served as an election judge
Election judge
In the United States an election judge is an official responsible for the proper and orderly voting in local precincts. Depending on the state, election judges may be identified as members of a political party or non-partisan...
from 1920 through 1924. He died in St. Louis, and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
The town of Treloar, Missouri
Treloar, Missouri
Treloaris an unincorporated community in southern Warren County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Route 94 twelve miles south of Warrenton near the Missouri River. The community was founded in 1899 and was named after William Mitchellson Treloar, in honor of his duties as professor of...
is named for him.