Representative William Allen Sipe

William Allen Sipe (July 1, 1844 – September 10, 1935) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. He served two terms in Congress during a significant period in American history, participating in the legislative process and representing the interests of his Pennsylvania constituents as a member of the Democratic Party.

Sipe was born near Harrisonville, Fulton County, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1844. He was educated in the public schools and later attended Cassville Academy in Cassville, Pennsylvania. Coming of age during the Civil War, he entered military service at a young age, reflecting the deep national divisions and sense of duty that characterized the era.

In 1862, Sipe enlisted in the Union Army and served in Company K of the 149th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. His military service was cut short when he was discharged for disability later that same year. Following his brief but consequential wartime service, he turned to the study of law, beginning a professional path that would shape the rest of his life.

Sipe studied law in Pennsylvania and was admitted to the bar in August 1865. He commenced the practice of law in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where he began to establish himself in the legal profession. Seeking broader opportunities, he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, in January 1867, and then relocated again to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in December 1868. In Pittsburgh he continued the practice of law, building a career that would eventually provide the foundation for his entry into public office.

Sipe was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Alexander K. Craig, representing Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was subsequently reelected to the Fifty-third Congress, thus serving two terms in office. During his tenure in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process at a time of significant economic and political change in the United States, participating in the democratic process and advocating for the interests of his Pennsylvania constituents. In 1894, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Fifty-fourth Congress.

After leaving Congress, Sipe resumed the practice of law in Pittsburgh. He continued in active legal practice there until his retirement in 1921, marking more than half a century in the legal profession. Following his retirement, he moved to San Diego, California, where he spent his later years.

William Allen Sipe died in San Diego on September 10, 1935. His remains were returned to Pennsylvania, and he was interred in Highwood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, reflecting his long association with that city and the state he had represented in the U.S. House of Representatives.