Arthur C. Mellette
Arthur C. Mellette | |
|---|---|
| 1st Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office 1889–1893 | |
| Preceded by | Governors of Dakota Territory |
| Succeeded by | Charles H. Sheldon |
| Governor of Dakota Territory | |
| In office 1885–1889 | |
| Preceded by | Louis K. Church |
| Succeeded by | Governors of North Dakota and South Dakota |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 25, 1842 Henry County, Indiana |
| Died | May 25, 1896 (aged 53) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Margaret Wylie |
Arthur C. Mellette (June 25, 1842 – May 25, 1896) was the last Governor of the Dakota Territory and was the first Governor of the state of South Dakota.
Biography
Mellette was the son of Charles Mellette and was born in Henry County, Indiana. He was educated at Marion Academy. In 1862, Mellette entered Indiana University as a sophomore and graduated in 1863. On October 6, 1864, Mellette enlisted in Company H of the 9th Indiana Volunteers, serving as a conscripted soldier until mustering out on September 28, 1865. He served in the army as a substitute for his older invalid brother and experienced many humiliations as a result. In 1866, Mellette graduated from the School of Law at the Indiana University and went to Muncie, Indiana, where he began practicing law with Thomas J. Brady. On May 26, 1866, he married Margaret Wylie. Mellette was elected as district attorney for Delaware County, Indiana. In 1870, he purchased the "Muncie Times" and made the newspaper very influential and prosperous. During that same year, Mellette was elected the county superintendent of schools.
When his wife became ill, Mellette visited western states to find a climate that would be beneficial to her. Mellette's family eventually settled in Springfield, Dakota Territory, for two years; and, Mellette served as register of the United States Land Office in Springfield until the land office was moved to Watertown, Dakota Territory, in 1880. In October 1885, the Republicans nominated Mellette for governor of Dakota Territory. In November 1885, Mellette ran unopposed for the office of governor; and, voters selected Huron as the temporary capitol of Dakota Territory. In 1889, voters approved the new constitution for South Dakota and elected Arthur C. Mellette as South Dakota's first Governor. On November 2, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation to make South Dakota the fortieth state
External links
- Arthur C. Mellette's "Dakota Profile" biography
- Arthur C. Mellette's "Weekly South Dakotan" biography
- Arthur C. Mellette's biography at the Historical Society of North Dakota website
- Arthur C. Mellette's burial record at Findagrave.com
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