Harry Sauthoff, lawyer, Dane County district attorney, state senator, and congressman, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, June 3, 1879, and attended school there. He earned his A.B. degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1902, pursuing an ancient classical course of studies. While at the University he was associated with Phi Alpha Delta. For the next four years he taught high school in Lake Geneva and in northern Illinois. In 1906, Sauthoff reentered the University to work toward his law degree, which he received in 1909. He was then admitted to the bar of Wisconsin and began his legal career.
Sauthoff joined the law firm of Murphy and Kroncke, and soon after, the firm became known as Sauthoff and Kroncke. In 1915 Sauthoff became district attorney for Dane County and remained at that position until 1918. He then returned to private practice until 1921, when he was appointed private secretary to Governor Blaine. From 1923 to 1924 Sauthoff served as divorce counsel for Dane County. In 1924 he was elected to the state Senate from District 26 (Dane County) and served one term, from 1925 to 1929. In 1929, Sauthoff formed a law firm with Herbert F. Hansen.
In 1935 Sauthoff was elected to Congress from the second district and served in the House of Representatives during the 74th and 75th Congresses. Again in 1941 he was elected to the House of Representatives and served during the 77th and 78th Congresses.
Sauthoff was a Republican but belonged to the Progressive wing of the party. In 1924 he served as secretary of the La Follette for President Committee and was active in helping to form Wisconsin's progressive legislation. He was a leading attorney in Madison and belonged to the Dane County Bar Association, the Wisconsin State Bar and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Sauthoff married Mrs. Alice (Thorogood) Kimball on August 10, 1918. She died in October of 1935. In June of 1937, he married Mrs. Lenore (Deering) Gilmour of Michigan. Sauthoff died on June 16, 1966, in Madison, Wisconsin. Sauthoff's son, Harry, Jr., is living in Madison, Wisconsin.
