Peter Norbeck
| Peter Norbeck | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
United States Senator from South Dakota |
|
|
In office March 4, 1921 – December 20, 1936 |
|
| Preceded by | Edwin S. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Herbert E. Hitchcock |
| 9th Governor of South Dakota | |
|
In office January 2, 1917 – January 4, 1921 |
|
| Lieutenant | William H. McMaster |
| Preceded by | Frank M. Byrne |
| Succeeded by | William H. McMaster |
| 11th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota | |
|
In office 1915–1917 |
|
| Governor | Frank M. Byrne |
| Preceded by | E. L. Abel |
| Succeeded by | William H. McMaster |
| Member of the South Dakota Senate | |
|
In office 1909–1915 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 27, 1870 Clay County, South Dakota |
| Died | December 20, 1936 (aged 66) Redfield, South Dakota |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Well driller |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Peter Norbeck (August 27, 1870 – December 20, 1936) was an American politician from South Dakota. After serving one term as the ninth Governor of South Dakota, Norbeck was elected to three consecutive terms as a United States Senator. Norbeck was the first native-born Governor of South Dakota to serve in office. He is best remembered as "Mount Rushmore's great political patron", for promoting the construction of the giant sculpture at Mount Rushmore and securing federal funding for it.
Norbeck was the oldest of six children born to immigrants George (born in Jämtland, Sweden) and Karen (Larsen) Norbeck, who was Norwegian. At the time of Norbeck's birth, his family was living in a dugout on the family's 160 acres (0.65 km2), located eight miles (13 km) northeast of Vermillion, Dakota Territory. He attended the public schools and the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. In 1895 he was a contractor and driller of deep water, oil, and gas wells. He moved to Redfield, South Dakota in 1900 and added agricultural pursuits.
In June, 1901 he married Lydia Theresa Anderson and they had three daughters, Nellie, Ruth, and Selma (aka Sally); and one son, Harold.
On May 9, 1908, Norbeck ran for the South Dakota State Senate from Spink County. After being elected to the first of three terms, he joined Coe Crawford's inner circle of Progressives. In 1914, Norbeck reluctantly accepted Governor Frank Byrne's invitation to run for Lieutenant Governor on the Republican ticket; they ended up winning.
...
Wikipedia