Washington Governor. He served as Washington's seventh governor from 1909 to 1913. He was appointed to the office of governor following the death of Governor Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove. He attended the Bayless Commercial Business College in Dubuque, Iowa before arriving in the Washington Territory in 1888. Shortly after arriving in the Washington Territory, he opened a commercial business in the town of Davenport, Washington and was also the owner of a wheat ranch in Canada. Prior to serving as governor, he served two terms as the mayor of Wilbur, Washington and was the state's lieutenant governor from January 27th to March 28th 1909. From 1898 to 1902, he served as chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party, and was an alternate to the Republican National Convention in 1900. As governor he focused his attention on government corruption, calling a special legislative session to investigate and impeach dishonest state officials. He was a strong backer of the women's suffrage movement, and supporter of amendments to the state's constitution, allowing the public to enter initiatives and referendums to recall public officials from office. He became the first public official to occupy the governor's mansion on the Olympia Capitol Campus, and presided over the opening of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle on June 1, 1909. He was defeated for re-election by Ernest Lister in 1912. Following defeat for governor, he returned to managing his business interests and property holdings in Eastern Washington until his death.
Washington Governor. He served as Washington's seventh governor from 1909 to 1913. He was appointed to the office of governor following the death of Governor Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove. He attended the Bayless Commercial Business College in Dubuque, Iowa before arriving in the Washington Territory in 1888. Shortly after arriving in the Washington Territory, he opened a commercial business in the town of Davenport, Washington and was also the owner of a wheat ranch in Canada. Prior to serving as governor, he served two terms as the mayor of Wilbur, Washington and was the state's lieutenant governor from January 27th to March 28th 1909. From 1898 to 1902, he served as chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party, and was an alternate to the Republican National Convention in 1900. As governor he focused his attention on government corruption, calling a special legislative session to investigate and impeach dishonest state officials. He was a strong backer of the women's suffrage movement, and supporter of amendments to the state's constitution, allowing the public to enter initiatives and referendums to recall public officials from office. He became the first public official to occupy the governor's mansion on the Olympia Capitol Campus, and presided over the opening of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle on June 1, 1909. He was defeated for re-election by Ernest Lister in 1912. Following defeat for governor, he returned to managing his business interests and property holdings in Eastern Washington until his death.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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