George H. Dern
| George Dern | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 52nd United States Secretary of War | |
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In office March 4, 1933 – August 27, 1936 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Patrick J. Hurley |
| Succeeded by | Harry Woodring |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
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In office November 22, 1928 – July 2, 1930 |
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| Preceded by | Adam McMullen |
| Succeeded by | Norman S. Case |
| 6th Governor of Utah | |
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In office January 5, 1925 – January 2, 1933 |
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| Preceded by | Charles R. Mabey |
| Succeeded by | Henry H. Blood |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Henry Dern September 8, 1872 Scribner, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | August 27, 1936 (aged 63) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Lottie Brown (1899–1936) |
| Children | 6 |
| Education |
Midland University University of Nebraska, Lincoln |
George Henry Dern (September 8, 1872 – August 27, 1936) was an American politician, mining man, and businessman. He is probably best remembered for co-inventing the Holt–Dern ore roasting process, as well as for his tenure as United States Secretary of War from 1933 to his death in 1936. He also served as the sixth Governor of Utah for eight years, from 1925 to 1933. Dern was a progressive politician who fought for tax reform, public education, and social welfare. He was an exceptional public speaker, able to captivate and entertain his audience, whether they were Progressives, Democrats, or Republicans.
George Henry Dern was born in Dodge County, Nebraska on September 8, 1872. He was the son of John Dern, a pioneering Nebraska farmer, mine operator, and industrialist, and Elizabeth, whose maiden name was the same as her married name, Dern. His parents were German immigrants. John was president of the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling Company and no doubt had a profound influence on George, who would follow in his father’s footsteps when he entered the mining business. Dern graduated from Nebraska's Fremont Normal College of Midland University in 1888 and from 1893 to 1894 attended the University of Nebraska. Dern was also a talented athlete, serving as the University’s football captain during that time. In 1894 he accompanied his family to Salt Lake City, joining the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling Company, which his father served as president. Rising rapidly from bookkeeper to company treasurer, he was promoted in 1901 to general manager of the company, which had been reorganized as the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines Company. Dern was co-inventor of the Holt-Dern roaster, a furnace for carrying out the Holt-Christenson roasting process, a technique for recovering silver from low-grade ores. Mercur Gold Mining and Milling shut down in 1913, however Dern’s experience and passion for mining would be reflected later on in his political career. On June 7, 1899, in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska, he married Charlotte "Lottie" Brown and had six living children altogether: (Mary J. (1902), John H.(1904), William B. (1907), Margaret (1909), Elizabeth (1915), and James G. (1916), all were married up until the time of his death in 1936. Lottie died on September 5, 1952 in Chicago, and is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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