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BIOGRAPHIES
ELECTIVE STATE OFFICIALS
Transcribed by Debbie
Clough Gerischer
CLYDE L. HERRING, DES MOINES, -
Governor, was born on a farm near Jackson, Michigan, May 3,
1879, and was educated in the public schools. Married Emma
Pearl Spinney of Mobile, Alabama, September 7, 1901. They
have three sons. Was a rancher in Colorado. In 1908 moved to
farm near Massena, Iowa, and in 1910 became automobile dealer
in Atlantic. In 1912 moved to Des Moines, still continuing
automobile business. He was the democratic candidate for
Governor in 1920, and for United States Senator in 1922.
Democratic national committeeman for Iowa from 1924 to 1928.
Elected Governor of Iowa, November, 1932. Spanish war
veteran. A democrat.
NELSON G. KRASCHEL, HARLAN - Lieutenant
Governor, was born on a farm near Macon, Illinois, October 27,
1889. His entire boyhood life was spent on that farm, which
was known for miles around for its pure bred live stock. In
1910, at the age of 21, he came to Harlan, Iowa, where he
engaged in the profession of live stock auctioneering. He was
married April 2, 1913, to Agnes Johnson of Harlan, Iowa, and
has three sons, Frederick 18, Dick 13, and James 9. Some of
the most notable live stock auctions ever held in the United
States and Canada have been under his management and
direction. He has conducted sales in twenty-six states of the
Union and two provinces of Canada, selling more than fifty
million dollars worth of agricultural property. Several
animals have passed under his hammer at more than ten thousand
dollars each. Throughout his life, he has been an ardent
admirer of good live stock, and on his farms has bred some of
the best cattle produced in the State. In 1922, he was a
candidate for State senator from the Cass-Shelby district, and
in that campaign he spent much time in the support of Clyde L.
Herring in his campaign for United States Senator against
Smith W. Brookhart. He was a candidate for the nomination for
United States Senator on the democratic ticket in 1922, being
defeated in the primary by Louis Murphy for the nomination.
He was nominated for the office of Lieutenant Governor at the
democratic state convention July 22, 1932, to fill a vacancy
and was elected at the general election in November. A
democrat.
MRS. ALEX MILLER (OLA BABCOCK), WASHINGTON.
- Secretary of State, was born in Washington county, Iowa;
daughter of Nathan L. and Ophelia Smith Babcock, the former a
native New Yorker, the latter born in Illinois; wife of Alex
Miller, editor of Washington Democrat, newspaper
correspondent, lecturer, and democratic candidate for governor
of Iowa in 1926; mother of three children; the son, Joseph,
died in infancy; Ophelia (Mrs. George Gallup), lives in New
Rochelle, New York; Barbara (Mrs. Edward Benson), in New York
City. She was elected in public schools, Washington Academy,
and Iowa Wesleyan College; taught in public schools before
marriage; active in civic and club work, and the suffrage
movement. Was Iowa president, and national president, of the
P. E. O. Sisterhood; member of the Methodist church, Daughters
of the American Revolution, Daughters of Union Veterans,
Business and Professional Women's Club. Elected secretary of
state in 1932. A democrat.
CHARLES W. STORMS, FORT MADISON. -
Auditor of State, was born in Fort Madison, Lee county, Iowa,
October 12, 1870. Educated in the public schools and business
college. Married and had five children. Business man and
lumber broker. Served twelve years as member of the Ft.
Madison city council; two terms as county chairman and twelve
years on the democratic state committee. Was a member of the
war board during the world war in charge of distribution of
fuel. Elected auditor of state in 1932. A democrat.
LEO J. WEGMAN, CARROLL. - Treasurer of
State, was born at Maries, Missouri, May 17, 1875, and
educated in the rural schools with collegiate course at
Columbus, Ohio. Entered railway service at an early age,
holding various posts as telegraph operator or station agent
with the C. M. & St. P. railway, Iowa Central and C. R. I. &
P. railway. Entered banking business, first in a bank at
Madill and also at Tishomingo, Indian Territory. Then moved
to Iowa and for some five years was cashier of the Peoples
Savings Bank at St. Benedict, Kossuth county, then spent three
years in Omaha, returning to Halbur, Iowa, after purchasing
the Farmers Savings Bank of that place. Located in Carroll in
1914, residing there until elected Treasurer of State,
November, 1932. Democratic chairman of Carroll county for
fourteen years. A democrat.
RAY MURRAY, BUFFALO CENTER. - Secretary
of Agriculture, was born on a farm in Iroquois county, near
Cissna Park, Illinois, on April 27, 1892. He moved with his
parents to a farm near Buffalo Center, Winnebago county, Iowa,
in 1895, and was educated in the local schools, graduating
from Buffalo Center high school in 1909. Married January 9th,
1918, to Miss Viola Wise. Entered U. S. army as a private in
battery "F," 337th field artillery. Served with A. E. F., in
1918 and 1919. Organized the legion post in his home town and
has served as post, county, district and state vice-commander
of that organization. Member of the State Historical Society.
Father of two children, Jack and Marjorie. A Methodist.
Elected secretary of agriculture, November, 1932. A
democrat.
EDWARD L. O'CONNOR, IOWA CITY. -
Attorney General, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, Feb. 1,
1891; educated in a country school, Lone Tree high school, and
State University of Iowa, receiving the following degrees:
B.A., L..B., J.D. Admitted to practice of law in 1920;
practicing attorney in Iowa City from 1920 to 1933; county
attorney of Johnson county 1923-1927; president of Johnson
county bar association 1932; served in the national army
during World War from May 14, 1917, to Feb. 9, 1919, as first
lieutenant in field artillery; married Nov. 7, 1917, to Miss
Florence Freeman of Iowa City; has four children, Edward, Jr.,
Martin, Katherine, and Marian. Elected attorney general in
1932. A democrat.
AGNES SAMUELSON, SHENANDOAH. -
Superintendent of Public Instruction, was born in Page county,
Iowa. Graduate Shenandoah high school, Western Normal
college, and State University of Iowa. Phi Beta Kappa.
Experience as rural teacher, high school principal, town
superintendent, county superintendent, and member of faculty
of Iowa State Teachers college. Professional membership in
National Council of Education, National Council of Women in
Administration. National Council of State Superintendents and
Commissioners of Education, and National Society for the Study
of Education. A republican.
WILLIAM D. EVANS, HAMPTON. - Judge of
the Supreme Court, was born in Marquette county, Wisconsin,
1852. In 1858 he came with his parents to Williamsburg, Iowa.
Here he attended the public schools. In 1873 he entered the
state university. While a student at the university he taught
school and was an instructor in a number of teachers'
institutes during vacation. He graduated from the liberal
arts course of the university in 1878 and the following year
took the law course fro which he graduated in 1879. Following
his admittance to the bar in 1879, he located at Hampton. In
1902 he was elected judge of the district court for the
eleventh judicial district. During the year 1907-8 he was law
lecturer at the state university. In September, 1908, he was
nominated for judge of the supreme court by the republican
state convention to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death
of Charles A. Bishop. He was elected at the general election
and by reason of statute served as chief justice of the
supreme court in 1909, 1916, 1921, and 1927. Was re-elected
in 1910, in 1916, in 1922 and again in 1928. Grinnell college
conferred the degree of L.L.D. upon him in 1916. A
republican.
TURMAN S. STEVENS, HAMBURT. - Judge of
the Supreme Court, was born in Tama county, Iowa, in 1868.
Attended the public schools, the Guthrie county high school;
graduated from the law department of the state university and
in 1892 located at Hamburg, Fremont county, where he still
resides. Was appointed judge of the fifteenth judicial
district February 1, 1917, and to the supreme court May, 1917.
Was elected to said office in 1918 and re-elected in 1922 and
1928. Has held no other public office except that of county
attorney of Fremont county for one term. Was married in 1893
to Miss Cora Patterson. They had one daughter born to them,
Velma, who died December 14, 1910, at the age of thirteen. A
republican.
ELMA G. ALBERT, JEFFERSON. - Judge of
the Supreme Court, was born June 5, 1866, near Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania; came to Iowa in 1870. Graduated from the law
department of Drake University in June, 1891, and entered upon
the practice of law. County attorney of Greene county, Iowa,
for six years commencing January 1, 1900. District judge of
the 16th judicial district from January 1, 1915, until elected
to supreme bench in November, 1924. Re-elected in 1913. A
republican.
JOHN W. KINTZINGER, DUBUQUE. - Judge of
the Supreme Court, was born in the city and county of Dubuque,
Iowa, August 12, 1870. Graduated from the public grade and
high schools in the city of Dubuque. Attended the State
University of Iowa and graduated from its law department in
June, 1897, with the degree of L.L.B., and immediately entered
the practice of law in Dubuque. Was a member of the city
council of Dubuque in 1900 and 1901 and was elected city
attorney in 1904 and served several years. Was elected judge
of the district court of the 19th judicial district, and
served in that capacity for 12 years from 1911. Was a
delegate to the national democratic convention at Baltimore in
1912. Was chairman of the legal advisory board of the war
department for Dubuque county during the world war. Married
in July, 1893, to Fannie E. Webb of Fayette county, Iowa, and
had three children, Helen J., John W., Jr., and Robert H.
Elected to the supreme court in November, 1932. A democrat.
JAMES W. KINDIG, SIOUX CITY. - Judge of
the Supreme Court, was born at Welton, Clinton county, Iowa,
December 3, 1879. He moved to Woodbury county with his
parents in March, 1887, and there attended the public schools.
In 1902 he graduated from the Morningside academy and
received the degree of A. B. from Morningside college in 1906,
and degree of L.L.D. from Morningside college in 1930. After
graduation from the law school, he entered the practice of law
at Sioux City, Iowa, in June, 1907. From July 1, 1915, until
August 1, 1917, he was assistant county attorney of Woodbury
county and advisor to the board of supervisors. Subsequently
he was assistant attorney general of Iowa during the years
1917 and 1918, and then again entered the general practice of
law in Sioux City. On April 19, 1927, he was appointed
justice of the supreme court of Iowa, and in November, 1928,
he was elected for a six-year term. He married Gertrude
Crossan September 2, 1908, and has two children, Burdette and
Lowell. A republican.
GEORGE CLAUSSEN, CLINTON. -Judge of
Supreme Court, was born in Clinton county, Iowa, on August 6,
1882. Attended Clinton public schools, and college of law of
State University of Iowa one and one-half years. Admitted to
Iowa bar in 1909. Was county attorney of Clinton county from
January 1, 1915, to April 1, 1918, when he was elected the
first judge of the Clinton municipal court. Resigned as judge
to return to the practice of law. Married Luella Fahr of
Clinton, in 1920, and has one son, Robert G. Was appointed to
Supreme Court on October 19, 1932, by Governor Dan W. Turner,
to fill vacancy occasioned by death of Hon. Edgar A. Morling.
A republican.
JOHN W. ANDERSON, SIOUX CITY. - Judge
of the Supreme Court, was born on a farm in Buchanan county,
Iowa, July 21, 1871, of Scotch and English parentage.
Attended public schools and the Upper Iowa University, and
was admitted to the bar of Iowa, May 11, 1893. Has two
children; Mrs. Marjora B. Schneider of Des Moines and Mrs.
Elma I. Balls of Sioux City. Mr. Anderson practiced law in
Woodbury and Monona counties, Iowa, since his admission to the
bar. He was elected and served as county attorney of Monona
county 1908-1912. He was elected judge of the fourth judicial
district in 1914, re-elected without opposition in 1918, and
resigned such office in 1920, and resumed the practice of law
in Sioux City, and so continued until January 1, 1933. He is
a past presiding officer of many fraternal organizations and
has been active in the work of the various Masonic bodies and
in the B. P. O. Elks. Elected justice of the supreme court in
1932. A democrat.
MAURICE FRANCIS DONEGAN, DAVENPORT. -
Judge of the Supreme Court, was born on a farm near Welton,
Clinton county, Iowa. He attended the local district school
and DeWitt high school. He later attended Creighton college,
Omaha, Nebr., from which he received the degree A.B., and also
Georgetown university, Washington, D. C., from which he
received the degree A.M. He began the study of law at
Georgetown University and continued it at the State University
of Iowa, where he received the degree L.L. B., in 1901. He
began the practice of law in Davenport, Iowa, the same year,
and from 1903 to 1908 was associated with E. M Sharon in the
firm of Sharon & Donegan. From 1908 to 1912 he was city
attorney of Davenport, and from 1912 to 1921 he was judge of
the district court, from which office he resigned and entered
private practice. In 1932 he was elected associate justice of
the supreme court of Iowa. A democrat.
RICHARD F. MITCHELL, FORT DODGE. -
Judge of the Supreme Court, was born at Fort Dodge, Webster
county, Iowa, on October 11, 1889, the son of Peter M. and
Sarah F. Mitchell. He attended the German Lutheran school at
Fort Dodge, and then graduated from the Fort Dodge high
school. He received a B.A. degree in 1912, and an L.L. B.
degree in 1913 from the State University of Iowa, and was
admitted to practice law in the state of Iowa in 1913.
Started practicing at Fort Dodge, Iowa, and for ten years
practiced in the firm of Kelleher & Mitchell. He was a
candidate for Congress from the tenth congressional district,
and was defeated by Congressman Dickinson, now Senator
Dickinson. In 1928, elected state chairman of the democratic
state central committee, and in 1930 was elected democratic
national committeeman for Iowa, and was re-elected in 1932.
Was a delegate to the democratic national convention at
Houston in 1928, and a delegate to the democratic national
convention in Chicago in 1932. Was elected to the supreme
court of Iowa in the general election of 1932. A democrat.
HUBERT UTTERBACK, DES MOINES. - Judge
of the Supreme Court, was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, in
1880. Graduated from Hedrick normal and commercial school in
1897. Graduated from liberal arts department, Drake
University, in 1903, receiving A.B. degree. Graduated from
law department, Drake University, 1906, receiving L.L. B.
degree, and entered the practice of law in Des Moines. In
1908, received master of laws degree. Instructor in Drake
University College of Law for past twenty-four years. Taught
commercial law class at Iowa Business College for three years.
For twenty years gave course of lectures on medical
jurisprudence at Still College of Osteopathy. Chairman of boy
scout court of honor for past seventeen years. Member of
grand council, order of DeMolay, representing state of Iowa on
said council, for eight years. For the past three years,
president of Iowa Christian Endeavor Union. Chairman of the
Iowa state council of Red Cross chapters since its
organization in 1918, to date. Charter member of Des Moines
Lions Club; past district governor of Lions Club for Iowa.
Member of Phi Beta Kappa; Acacia; Delta Theta Phi, law
fraternity. Honorary member Alpha Phi Omega fraternity.
Member of Polk county, Iowa state, and American bar
associations. From 1912 to 1914 was judge of the police court
in the city of Des Moines. He was one of the judges of the
ninth judicial district of the state of Iowa from 1915 to
1926, inclusive. Assigned to juvenile division of district
court in 1920 and completely re-organized the court and
established it on a modern humanitarian and probation basis.
In October, 1932, he was nominated for judge of the supreme
court by democratic state central committee to fill vacancy
occasioned by death of Justice Edgar A. Morling, and was
elected at general election on November 8, 1932, by a majority
of 95,547 over George Claussen, the republican candidate.
Married October 4, 1904, to Miss Edith Gwynne, who died May
3, 1930. Two children - Mrs. Esther Penquite and Gretchen G.
Utterback. A democrat.
CHARLES WEBSTER, WAUCOMA. - Railroad
Commissioner, was born on a farm at Waucoma, Fayette county,
Iowa, and still resides on the old homestead entered by his
father from the government in 1854. Married Dolly G. Potter
of Lawler, Iowa. Three children were born to this union, Joe
C., Neil A. and Bennett A. Webster. Was appointed first
station agent and telegraph operator at Waucoma; formed a
partnership with his brother Ace under the firm name of
Webster Brothers, who have since been extensive raisers and
shippers of live stock, grain, and produce, as well as dealers
in lumber. President of several retail lumber companies. Has
been extensively interested in the building of telephone lines
and exchanges. Has promoted and built gas and electric
companies in Arizona. Delegate to the national republican
convention in 1908. Member of the state council of defense
during the war and federal fuel administrator. Was appointed
railroad commissioner by Governor Harding November 5, 1917,
and has been elected four full terms since that date. A
republican.
M. P. CONWAY, ATLANTIC. - Railroad
Commissioner, was born and has lived his entire life in Cass
county, Iowa. Attended country school, city school and
business college. Spent boyhood days on farm; one year
railroading. Married an Atlantic girl in 1899. Moved to
Anita and became a realtor. Has four children, three girls
and a boy. Moved back to Atlantic in 1908 and has lived there
since, being engaged in the real estate and insurance business
except during the war, at which time he was chairman of the
council of defense, liberty bonds and all war activities in
Cass county, and was in the next group to go across when
armistice was signed. Member of the democratic state central
committee for sixteen years. Never ran for elective office
except that of Railroad Commissioner, and was elected November
8, 1932. A democrat.
FRED P. WOODRUFF, KNOXVILLE. - Railroad
Commissioner, was born at Knoxville, Iowa, September 21, 1876,
and was educated in the Knoxville public schools. In the
Spanish-American war he served as first sergeant of Co. D,
51st Iowa infantry, in the Phillippines. For meritorious
service in action he was commissioned second lieutenant and
brevetted a captain by Governor Shaw. On his return home he
engaged in the retail clothing and shoe business and continued
in that line until the spring of 1927. he is also engaged in
the operation of a number of farms. During the World war
Captain Woodruff was active in promoting various war work
activities, was a member of the Marion county council of
defense and war work council, and later was commissioned
captain and assigned to duty in the quartermaster department.
He was married September 18, 1901, to Myrtle M. Elliott, and
they have one son, Elliott. Was elected for full term in 1920
as railroad commissioner, was appointed by Governor Hammill to
fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. Dwight Lewis,
July 1, 1927, elected for short term in 1928 and for long term
in 1930. A republican. |
