Minnie J. Grinstead (; born September 30, 1869 – December 24, 1925) was an American teacher, politician, and temperance lecturer and organizer. She was the first female member of the Kansas House of Representatives. Grinstead served as a state representative from 1918 to 1924.

Biography

Grinstead was born on September 30, 1869, in

Crawford County, Kansas Crawford County (county code CR) is a county located in Southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 38,972. Its county seat is Girard, and its most populous city is Pittsburg. The county was named in honor of Samuel J ...

. During her tenure in the Kansas House of Representatives she served as chairman of the House Education Committee, chairman of the House Public Welfare Committee and as a member of the House Roads and Highways Committee. In 1921 she was appointed by Gov. Henry Justin Allen to the State School Code Commission. The commission's job was to study the state's education laws and make recommendations to the 1923 Kansas Legislature for legislation related to education law. Among the bills she had signed into law during her tenure in the House were bills related to organizing free public libraries in every county in Kansas and permitting county governments to have fences cross roads. She was joined in the House of Representatives in 1921 by Rep.

Minnie Minnich Minnie Minnich (January 26, 1889 - February 28, 1941) was an American politician who served one term in the Kansas House of Representatives representing the 69th District in Sumner County, Kansas. A social worker and resident of Wellington, Kansa ...

, Rep. Nellie Cline and Rep.

Ida Walker Ida Walker (February 22, 1876 - June 18, 1968) was an American politician, educator and journalist who served two terms as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives as the representative of the 101st District in Norton County, Kansas. A Repub ...

. In September 1924, it was reported that U.S. president

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...

was considering Grinstead to head the United States Civil Service Commission. After leaving the state House of Representatives she was elected Probate Judge of Seward County, Kansas and held that position until her death. Grinstead died in her home on December 24, 1925, following complications (stroke) arising from a fall.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grinstead, Minnie J. Republican Party members of the Kansas House of Representatives People from Crawford County, Kansas Women state legislators in Kansas American temperance activists 1869 births 1925 deaths People from Liberal, Kansas American women judges