Changes

(Lexington, [[Virginia]])

(Lexington, [[Virginia]])

| residence=Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas

| residence=Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas

| branch=[[United States Army]]

| branch=[[United States Army]]

| battles=[[Spanish–American War]]

| battles=[[Spanish–American War]]

==Background==

==Background==

Wurzbach was born in San Antonio to [[Germany|German]] immigrants Charles Louis Wurzbach (1835-1892) and the former Kate Fink (1849-1925). After public schools, he graduated in 1896 from the law department of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, [[Virginia]].<ref name=bioguide>{{cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=W000775|title=Wurzbach, Harry M.|publisher=''Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress''|accessdate=August 18, 2021}}</ref> That same year, Wurzbach was admitted to the bar, established his practice in San Antonio, and married the former Frances Darden Wagner (1888-1974). In 1898, Wurzbach volunteered as a private in Company F, First Regiment of the Texas Volunteer Infantry during the [[Spanish-American War]].

Wurzbach was born in San Antonio to [[Germany|German]] immigrants Charles Louis Wurzbach (1835–1892) and the former Kate Fink (1849–1925). After public schools, he graduated in 1896 from the law department of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, [[Virginia]].<ref name=bioguide>{{cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=W000775|title=Wurzbach, Harry M.|publisher=''Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress''|accessdate=August 18, 2021}}</ref> That same year, Wurzbach was admitted to the bar, established his practice in San Antonio, and married the former Frances Darden Wagner (1888–1974). In 1898, Wurzbach volunteered as a private in Company F, First Regiment of the Texas Volunteer Infantry during the [[Spanish-American War]].

==Career==

==Career==

After the war, he relocated to Seguin in Guadalupe County east of San Antonio and resumed his law practice. He was the Guadalupe County prosecuting attorney from 1900 to 1902 and the county judge from 1904-1910.<ref name=findagrave>Harry McLeary Wurzbach (1874-1931) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed August 18, 2021.</ref>

After the war, he relocated to Seguin in Guadalupe County east of San Antonio and resumed his law practice. He was the Guadalupe County prosecuting attorney from 1900 to 1902 and the county judge from 1904–1910.<ref name=findagrave>Harry McLeary Wurzbach (1874-1931) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed August 18, 2021.</ref>

First elected to Congress in the 1920 [[general election]], Wurzbach unseated the freshman [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Representative Carlos Bee (1867-1932) of San Antonio, 17,265 (55.6 percent) to 13,777 (44.4 percent). Wurzbach was the only representative from Texas to vote in 1922 for the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, sponsored by Congressman [[Leonidas C. Dyer]] of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], which sought to make lynching a federal crime. In 1922, 1924, and 1926, Wurzbach won by margins of 54.8, 62.4, and 57.2 percent, respectively. He won his seat even as the Republican presidential candidates in 1920 and 1924 were losing the [[electoral vote]] of Texas.He was a delegate to the 1924 Republican Convention in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], which nominated [[Calvin Coolidge]] and [[Charles Dawes]].<ref name=bioguide/>

First elected to Congress in the 1920 [[general election]], Wurzbach unseated the freshman [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Representative Carlos Bee (1867–1932) of San Antonio, 17,265 (55.6 percent) to 13,777 (44.4 percent). Wurzbach was the only representative from Texas to vote in 1922 for the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, sponsored by Congressman [[Leonidas C. Dyer]] of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], which sought to make lynching a federal crime. In 1922, 1924, and 1926, Wurzbach won by margins of 54.8, 62.4, and 57.2 percent, respectively. He won his seat even as the Republican presidential candidates in 1920 and 1924 were losing the [[electoral vote]] of Texas.He was a delegate to the 1924 Republican Convention in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], which nominated [[Calvin Coolidge]] and [[Charles Dawes]].<ref name=bioguide/>

In 1928, Wurzbach lost reelection even though Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] won Texas over Democratic candidate [[Al Smith]]. Wurzbach polled 27,206 (49.7 percent) to 29,0555 (50.3 percent) for the Democrat Augustus McCloskey (1878-1950) of San Antonio.<ref name=bioguide/> Wurzbach claimed irregularities in the election and appealed his case to the Republican-controlled House. The House reversed McCloskey's election after eleven months of congressional service and seated Wurzbach on February 10, 1930. Wurbach then won another term in November 1930 and polled an impressive 27,206 (59.3 percent) to Democrat Henry B. Dielmann, Sr. (1892-1970), who received 18,707 votes (40.7 percent).

In 1928, Wurzbach lost reelection even though Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] won Texas over Democratic candidate [[Al Smith]]. Wurzbach polled 27,206 (49.7 percent) to 29,0555 (50.3 percent) for the Democrat Augustus McCloskey (1878–1950) of San Antonio.<ref name=bioguide/> Wurzbach claimed irregularities in the election and appealed his case to the Republican-controlled House. The House reversed McCloskey's election after eleven months of congressional service and seated Wurzbach on February 10, 1930. Wurbach then won another term in November 1930 and polled an impressive 27,206 (59.3 percent) to Democrat Henry B. Dielmann, Sr. (1892–1970), who received 18,707 votes (40.7 percent).

Wurzbach served until his death in San Antonio in 1931. He and his wife are interred at the San Antonio National Cemetery.<ref name=findagrave/>

Wurzbach served until his death in San Antonio in 1931. He and his wife are interred at the San Antonio National Cemetery.<ref name=findagrave/>

Democratic former Congressman Robert Christian "Bob" Eckhardt (1913-2001) of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] was a nephew of Wurzbach.

Democratic former Congressman Robert Christian "Bob" Eckhardt (1913–2001) of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] was a nephew of Wurzbach.

An interstate exit on the [[John Connally|Connally]] Loop, a.k.a. Loop 410 Loop and the Harry Wurzbach Road, both in San Antonio, honor Wurzbach's memory.

An interstate exit on the [[John Connally|Connally]] Loop, a.k.a. Loop 410 Loop and the Harry Wurzbach Road, both in San Antonio, honor Wurzbach's memory.