Walter Welford
Walter Welford | |
---|---|
20thGovernor of North Dakota | |
In office February 2, 1935 – January 6, 1937 | |
Preceded by | Thomas H. Moodie |
Succeeded by | William Langer |
17thLieutenant Governor of North Dakota | |
In office January 7, 1935 – February 2, 1935 | |
Governor | Thomas H. Moodie |
Preceded by | Ole H. Olson |
Succeeded by | Thorstein H. H. Thoresen |
Member of theNorth Dakota Senate | |
In office 1917–1921 | |
Member of theNorth Dakota House of Representatives | |
In office 1907–1911 | |
Personal details | |
Born | North Yorkshire,England | May 21, 1868
Died | June 28, 1952 Pembina County, North Dakota | (aged 84)
Political party | Republican(NPL) |
Walter Welford(May 21, 1868 – June 28, 1952) was inaugurated as the20th Governor of North Dakotaon February 2, 1935, after Thomas H. Moodie was removed after it was determined he was ineligible to hold the office. Welford lost the 1936 election to former governorWilliam Langer,and served until the end of his term in January 1937.
Biography
[edit]Born in theNorth Yorkshirevillage ofBellerbyon 21 May 1868, Welford moved with his family to Pembina, North Dakota, in 1879. A farmer, he also served as Vice President of the Merchants Bank of Pembina County. He was married to Edith Bachmann[1]and they had one child who died in infancy.
Career
[edit]Welford served as township clerk at Pembina for twenty years. He also served in theNorth Dakota House of Representatives(1907 to 1911) andSenate(1917 to 1921).[2]AsLieutenant Governor of North Dakota,Welford became governor afterThomas H. Moodiewas disqualified. Welford was a staunch supporter of the Nonpartisan League (NPL), a farmers' political group. During Welford's administration the state was caught in the grip of theGreat Depression.The 1936 crop yield was disastrously low because of drought. Welford met with PresidentFranklin Rooseveltand obtained federal aid for drought-stricken farmers. In 1936, Welford decided to run for office again. He beat former GovernorWilliam Langerfor theRepublicangubernatorial nomination, but Langer refused to drop out, and entered the general election as an independent. Welford lost the three-way governor's election to Langer. (The third-place candidate was DemocratJohn Moses,who became North Dakota's twenty-second governor, following Langer's second term.)
Death
[edit]Welford died on June 28, 1952, at the age of 84 en route to a hospital in Altona,Manitobaafter being stricken at his home in Pembina County.[3]He is buried in Cavalier Cemetery, Cavalier, Pembina County, North Dakota US.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Walter Welford".Soylent Communications.Retrieved6 September2012.
- ^"Walter Welford".National Governors Association.Retrieved6 September2012.
- ^"Walter Welford, Former N. D. Governor Dies",The Bismarck Tribune,Monday, June 30, 1952, Bismarck, North Dakota, United States Of America
External links
[edit]- 1868 births
- 1952 deaths
- 20th-century American politicians
- English emigrants to the United States
- Lieutenant governors of North Dakota
- Nonpartisan League state governors of the United States
- Republican Party governors of North Dakota
- Republican Party members of the North Dakota House of Representatives
- Republican Party North Dakota state senators