Joe Crail

Joseph Steele Crail (December 25, 1877 – March 2, 1938) was an American lawyer, military veteran and politician who served as a United States representative from California from 1927 to 1933.

Early life and education Born in Fairfield, Iowa, he attended the public schools and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1898.

Military service During the Spanish–American War, Crail enlisted as a private in the Twelfth Company, United States Volunteer Signal Corps. He was promoted to corporal and served in the American Army of Occupation in Cuba until its withdrawal.

Career He studied law at the Iowa College of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1903, commencing practice in his native Fairfield.

In 1912 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress from the district that included Fairfield, running as a member of the Progressive Party.

Congress Crail moved to California in 1913, settled in Los Angeles, and practiced law until elected to Congress. He served as chairman of the Republican State central committee for southern California, 1918–20. He was elected as a Republican to the Seventieth, Seventy-first, and Seventy-second Congresses (March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1933), representing California's 10th congressional district.

He did not seek renomination in 1932, but was unsuccessful for the nomination for United States Senator.

Later career and death He resumed the practice of law but also engaged in banking.

He died in Los Angeles, California in 1938 and was buried in Inglewood Park Mausoleum, Inglewood, California.

Electoral history